I lost count of the number of times in govt and out when people said to me 'Treasury said no' and I have said 'when? and to what exact q?' And they said 'We have not actually asked, because we know what they will say'.

This is a great episode of The Power Test . Topical not just because of what’s happening in Scotland but also what Kezia Dugdale says about the need for ‘progressive devolution’, matters for Mayors as well as the union.

Labour’s alternative to levelling up could mark a step change to a more mature relationship between the centre and the regions, say Annabel Smith and Ben Franklin Centre for Progressive Policy

bit.ly/4bdu9Uo

🚨 LATEST DEBRIEF OUT🚨

*Can Labour step up to fight for peace and international security?*

Defence expert Peter Apps joined the The Power Test team Flo Hutchings (They/Them) Charlotte Alldritt Ed Owen to discuss the global challenges facing a future Labour govt...

🎧thepowertest.substack.com/p/the-debrief-…

LIVE @ 12pm today for our Debrief to discuss the latest The Power Test episode with Lawrence Freedman!

🌎We'll be joined by global defence commentator Peter Apps to discuss how an incoming Starmer government tackles key foreign policy challenges facing the UK twitter.com/i/spaces/1BdGY…

Excellent piece from Jennifer Williams on the problems with how the govt has approached local growth funding in recent years. The current system isn't working for anyone. Keep an eye out for new IfG research coming soon setting out how to reform and improve the system

Our economic success depends on narrowing the gap between London and the rest of the country. This won't happen without a more mature relationship of partners between the centre and our regions.

👇 Ben Franklin and I on Labour's alternative to levelling up.

Last week The Health Foundation published Health Inequalities in 2040.
A ground breaking report looking at current patterns of diagnosed illness & what the future holds
Essential reading for anyone wanting a fairer, healthier society.
My key takeaways in this blog:

health.org.uk/news-and-comme…

Our Commissioner Editor Charlotte Alldritt starts by sharing her experience of running a think tank at Centre for Progressive Policy, the role of think tanks behind the scenes to push the agenda and sometimes say the things The Labour Party can't always say

Charlotte Alldritt Centre for Progressive Policy The Labour Party The Guardian's Aletha Adu comes in to discuss her reporting which has charted the course of Labour Together's influence & how it changed the culture of the The Labour Party - describes them as 'fascinating' and a 'machine'

The Swedes have got it right, and show just how deep/broad capital market reforms are needed in the UK. This isn't about propping up asset prices of the old economy, but accelerating the modernisation of our capital markets & our economy. #FutureofBritain ft.com/content/edc1bb…

British workers are LESS likely to take sick leave than in any other rich developed country. #FactsMatter , thank you Ben Page

Enjoyed this chat with Ayesha Hazarika and Sam Freedman about what we do Labour Together and why.

- Why the centre-left have struggled in power around the world
- Migration policy
- My Scotland comments
- How to think about the first 100 days.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the…

🚨OUT NOW WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODS! Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika go behind the scenes with Josh Simons to look at how Labour is preparing for power and whether the party can break the curse facing centre left governments around the world. LISTEN NOW. pod.link/1685159956

🚨OUT NOW! Sam Freedman and Ayesha Hazarika go behind the scenes with Josh Simons to look at how Labour is preparing for power and whether the party can break the curse facing centre left governments around the world. Oh, and some food based chat... thepowertest.substack.com/p/power-behind…

⏰Midday today!

We’ll be joined by election analyst Lewis Baston + George Peretz KC 🇺🇦 on how Labour’s Take Back Control Bill can reform local govt in crisis

+ we’ve been promised bin chat from The Power Test’s Charlotte Alldritt Jon Will Chambers 🗑️

twitter.com/i/spaces/1Mnxn…

Whether Labour can also hold firm on its commitments over planning was also a question raised by The New Statesman Britain Editor Anoosh Chakelian on the show this week. What’s your thoughts? Join us here at 7pm tonight for The Debrief as we look at this and more from this week’s episode!

I really hope the BBC is laughing with the rest of us on this one. No way impartiality let’s this pass without a raised eyebrow at least

Local elections ARE interesting. At any age. We agree with you Ayesha Hazarika! Bins, potholes, what's happening in the neighbourhood. 'Welcome to the binfire episode of @thepowertest' as Sam Freedman and Anoosh Chakelian also get stuck in on local government. OUT NOW! pod.link/1685159956

On this week's episode of The Power Test, we were joined by the excellent Anoosh Chakelian to talk about the upcoming local and mayoral elections, the possible results, and why they really matter. pod.link/1685159956