
The Power Test
Ayesha Hazarika and Sam Freedman present The Power Test, the weekly political podcast asking whether Labour can really change Britain for the better.Follow @ThePowerTest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThePowerTestFollow @AyeshaHazarika: https://twitter.com/ayeshahazarikaFollow @SamFreedman: https://twitter.com/SamfrSubscribe to The Power Test substack for all the latest developments: https://thepowertest.substack.com/For more information head to thepowertest.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

29 snips
Dec 8, 2023 • 56min
Reconnecting To The World: Can a Labour Foreign Policy Make Any Difference?
Labour's former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw discusses the UK's standing in the world, ethical foreign policy, and working with populist leaders. Analysis on these topics is provided by Olivia O'Sullivan of Chatham House and Matthew McGregor, CEO of 38degrees.

Dec 1, 2023 • 46min
Can Labour deliver, Fair, Green Growth?
Sam Freedman quizzes Ed Miliband live on stage at London's Inclusive Growth Conference in partnership with the Centre For Progressive Policy. The former Labour leader talks about how Labour's green agenda can deliver growth that benefits all parts of the country. Giles Wilkes, the former aide to Theresa May and Vince Cable, and Charlotte Alldritt, CEO of the CPP, join Sam for analysis.The Power Test is a political podcast where each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the biggest and most difficult political issues into focus and put fresh ideas to the test to see if they are capable of winning popular support and delivering real change in government.Follow @ThePowerTest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThePowerTestFollow @AyeshaHazarika: https://twitter.com/ayeshahazarikaFollow @SamFreedman: https://twitter.com/SamfrSubscribe to The Power Test substack for all the latest developments: https://thepowertest.substack.com/For more information head to thepowertest.co.uk.The Power Test is a Tempo & Talker Production: tempotalker.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 24, 2023 • 58min
Working The Machine: Whitehall Under Labour
This week Sam and Ayesha explore how a Labour might operate the machinery of government following a successful election. With expert insight from Dr. Hannah Wright, CEO of the Institute for Government, and former Political Secretary to Tony Blair, Baroness Sally Morgan. The Power Test is a political podcast where each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the biggest and most difficult political issues into focus and put fresh ideas to the test to see if they are capable of winning popular support and delivering real change in government.Follow @ThePowerTest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThePowerTestFollow @AyeshaHazarika: https://twitter.com/ayeshahazarikaFollow @SamFreedman: https://twitter.com/SamfrSubscribe to The Power Test substack for all the latest developments: https://thepowertest.substack.com/For more information head to thepowertest.co.uk.The Power Test is a Tempo & Talker Production: tempotalker.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 17, 2023 • 55min
The State We'll Be In
Sam and Ayesha discuss the fall of Suella Braverman, the return of David Cameron, and much more besides whilst looking ahead to next week's Autumn statement. Joined by Jonathan Portes, the chief economist at the Cabinet Office under Gordon Brown, and Gemma Tetlow, the chief economist at the Institute for Government, they assess wether a potential Labour government could, would, and should work to actively shape the economy.The Power Test is a political podcast where each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the biggest and most difficult political issues into focus and put fresh ideas to the test to see if they are capable of winning popular support and delivering real change in government.Follow @ThePowerTest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThePowerTestFollow @AyeshaHazarika: https://twitter.com/ayeshahazarikaFollow @SamFreedman: https://twitter.com/SamfrSubscribe to The Power Test substack for all the latest developments: https://thepowertest.substack.com/For more information head to thepowertest.co.uk.The Power Test is a Tempo & Talker Production: tempotalker.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 10, 2023 • 47min
Education, education, higher education
Sam and Ayesha come to you live from the inaugural Festival of Higher Education at London's Senate House, joined by former Labour minister and president of University of the Arts London James Purnell, CEO of Universities UK Vivienne Stern, and founder of Wonkhe Mark Leach. They discuss the problems with funding Universities face, the reliance on income from foreign students, the question of grade inflation, and the claim that the UK has too many students taking low value degrees. What should a future government do?The Power Test is a political podcast where each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the biggest and most difficult political issues into focus and put fresh ideas to the test to see if they are capable of winning popular support and delivering real change in government.Follow @ThePowerTest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThePowerTestFollow @AyeshaHazarika: https://twitter.com/ayeshahazarikaFollow @SamFreedman: https://twitter.com/SamfrSubscribe to The Power Test substack for all the latest developments: https://thepowertest.substack.com/For more information head to thepowertest.co.uk.The Power Test is a Tempo & Talker Production: tempotalker.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 3, 2023 • 55min
Taming the beast: Labour and the media
In the 1990s Tim Allan worked alongside Alistair Campbell on Tony Blair's media strategy. At the same time, Sarah Sands was an editor at the Daily Telegraph. In this episode, Tim and Sarah reflect on that period, and discuss how the relationship between politicians and the media has since changed.The Power Test is a political podcast where each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the biggest and most difficult political issues into focus and put fresh ideas to the test to see if they are capable of winning popular support and delivering real change in government.Follow @ThePowerTest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThePowerTestFollow @AyeshaHazarika: https://twitter.com/ayeshahazarikaFollow @SamFreedman: https://twitter.com/SamfrSubscribe to The Power Test substack for all the latest developments: https://thepowertest.substack.com/For more information head to thepowertest.co.uk.The Power Test is a Tempo & Talker Production: tempotalker.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 27, 2023 • 57min
Daring to Dream? How Labour wins and governs
Polling expert and former president of YouGov Peter Kellner breaks down the latest by-election results and Neal Lawson, the chair of pressure group Compass, makes the case for a progressive alliance.The Power Test is a political podcast where each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the biggest and most difficult political issues into focus and put fresh ideas to the test to see if they are capable of winning popular support and delivering real change in government.Follow @ThePowerTest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThePowerTestFollow @AyeshaHazarika: https://twitter.com/ayeshahazarikaFollow @SamFreedman: https://twitter.com/SamfrSubscribe to The Power Test substack for all the latest developments: https://thepowertest.substack.com/For more information head to thepowertest.co.uk.The Power Test is a Tempo & Talker Production: tempotalker.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 20, 2023 • 53min
Winning the Politics of Net Zero
Former environmental aide to US President Bill Clinton, Paul Bledsoe, the Telegraph’s environmental editor Emma Gatten, and the economist and former treasury advisor to Rishi Sunak, Tim Leunig, join Sam and Ayesha to discuss the economics and politics of achieving net zero by 2050.The Power Test is a political podcast where each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the biggest and most difficult political issues into focus and put fresh ideas to the test to see if they are capable of winning popular support and delivering real change in government.Follow @ThePowerTest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThePowerTestFollow @AyeshaHazarika: https://twitter.com/ayeshahazarikaFollow @SamFreedman: https://twitter.com/SamfrSubscribe to The Power Test substack for all the latest developments: https://thepowertest.substack.com/For more information head to thepowertest.co.uk.The Power Test is a Tempo & Talker Production: tempotalker.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 13, 2023 • 53min
Behind the Glitter
The Power Test is back for a new series with hosts Ayesha Hazarika and Sam Freedman. In this first episode, they are joined by Anne McElvoy, Marc Stears and John McTernan live from the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool to ask how a future Labour administration will govern and change Britain for the better - and whether it can deliver radical change in tough times.The Power Test is a political podcast where, with the help of invited guests, each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the biggest and most difficult political issues into focus and put fresh ideas to the test to see if they are capable of winning popular support and delivering real change in government.Follow @ThePowerTest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThePowerTestFollow @AyeshaHazarika: https://twitter.com/ayeshahazarikaFollow @SamFreedman: https://twitter.com/SamfrSubscribe to The Power Test substack for all the latest developments: https://thepowertest.substack.com/For more information head to thepowertest.co.uk.The Power Test is a Tempo & Talker Production: tempotalker.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 21, 2023 • 51min
Is Keir ready for power?
Former Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett, host of Rock N Roll Politics Steve Richards, and The Times journalist Rachel Sylvester are live from The Future of Britain conference where Tony Blair and Keir Starmer share a stage for the first time. After hearing his keynote speech, our guests assess wether Keir is ready to win and govern successfully.The Power Test is a political podcast that asks if it really is all over for the Tories, and what Labour should do to win and change Britain for the better. With the help of invited guests, each week Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika bring the biggest and most difficult political issues into focus and put fresh ideas to the test to see if they are capable of winning popular support and delivering real change in government.Follow @ThePowerTest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThePowerTestFollow @AyeshaHazarika: https://twitter.com/ayeshahazarikaFollow @SamFreedman: https://twitter.com/SamfrSubscribe to The Power Test substack for all the latest developments: https://thepowertest.substack.com/For more information head to thepowertest.co.uk.The Power Test is a Tempo & Talker Production: tempotalker.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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