The Pulse of Power

I’ve always found it fascinating when someone crosses from the business world into politics, especially when they’ve spent decades leading one of the UK’s most recognisable companies.In this episode, I sit down with Andy Street, former Mayor of the West Midlands and long time John Lewis boss, to talk about leadership, public service, and why he believes the UK needs a stronger centre-right movement through his new initiative, Prosper UK.What You'll Discover- Business Lessons in Politics: How Andy’s 30 year career at John Lewis shaped the leadership style he brought to running the West Midlands.- Winning Across Party Lines: Why focusing on delivery, investment and regional pride helped him win two mayoral elections in a traditionally Labour region.- The Prosper UK Idea: Andy’s vision for rebuilding a pragmatic centre-right focused on growth, business confidence and economic realism.What I enjoyed most about this conversation is Andy’s consistent focus on practicality. Whether he’s talking about business or government, the message is the same: get the basics right, focus on delivery, and keep the economy front and centre.If you’re interested in leadership, politics, or where Britain’s economic debate might be heading next, this one’s worth a listen.The Pulse of Power is produced by Urban Podcasts.

I’ve followed Lord Shaun Bailey's career for years, so getting him on The Pulse of Power felt like a real coup - especially with his no-holds-barred take on the city's challenges and the bigger political picture.In this episode, I sit down with Lord Shaun Bailey, former London mayoral candidate and assembly member, for a candid chat about the state of London today. We cover the crime spike, housing crisis, dead nightlife, and why he thinks Sadiq Khan's days are numbered. Then we zoom out to national politics: Keir Starmer's shaky start, Kemi Badenoch's potential, and a quick-fire round that doesn't pull punches.It's a conversation packed with insight from someone who's been in the trenches.What You'll Learn- London's Real Crisis: Why crime, housing, and a dying nightlife have put the city in the doldrums – and what it would take to turn it around.- Khan's Fourth Term: Shaun's bold prediction on why Sadiq won't win again, and the leadership London desperately needs.- National Politics Verdict: Quick-fire takes on Keir Starmer (gone by year-end?), Kemi Badenoch (still leader?), and the chances of an early election.Lord Shaun Bailey's energy and honesty make this one of my favourite conversations yet - if you're worried about where London is heading, frustrated with the current direction, or just want the unfiltered truth from someone who's lived and fought for the city, this is the conversation you've been waiting for.The Pulse of Power is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Are the economic problems we’re facing today really new or are we repeating mistakes we’ve made before?In this episode of The Pulse of Power, I’m joined by Sir John Redwood, former Conservative MP, Cabinet Minister, and Head of Margaret Thatcher’s Policy Unit. We take a wide-ranging look at the state of the British economy, drawing direct parallels between today and the turbulence of the 1970s: high inflation, rising unemployment, weak productivity, and a crisis of confidence in government.Together, we reflect on what it meant to prepare for government from opposition, how economic credibility is built (and lost), and which lessons from the past still apply as the UK faces another period of strain and uncertainty.What We Explore- Economic Lessons from the Past: We reflect on the parallels between today’s challenges and the 1970s, asking what preparation, clarity and policy discipline made possible then and what’s missing now.- Markets, the State and Unintended Consequences: We examine where privatisation, regulation and central banking have worked, where they’ve failed, and how decisions around money, energy and public services can create long-term costs.- Choices, Not Inevitabilities: We challenge the idea that current outcomes are unavoidable, exploring how political and economic choices around tax, energy, debt and growth shape confidence, productivity and national direction.As we close, one message comes through clearly: economic outcomes are the result of choices, not inevitabilities. From spending and borrowing to energy, regulation and taxation, the decisions governments make shape confidence, productivity and growth - often long before voters feel the consequences.If there’s a lesson from history, it’s that credibility, preparation and clarity matter and that ignoring economic reality rarely ends well.The Pulse of Power is produced by Urban Podcasts.

From sneaking into the Labour Party underage to leading it through its darkest defeats and brightest near-misses, few have shaped and survived British politics like Neil Kinnock.In this episode of The Pulse of Power, I sit down with Lord Kinnock for a masterclass in political resilience, collective spirit, and brutal honesty. From the Welsh valleys to the brink of Downing Street, from the miners’ strike to the birth of New Labour, Lord Neil Kinnock tells the story only he can.What You’ll Learn- Why He Joined at 14: How a working-class boy saw libraries, parks, and the NHS and realised only collective power makes them possible. - The Defeats That Defined Him: 1987, 1992, and why losing twice taught him more about winning than victory ever could. - Labour 2025: The real danger isn’t Keir. It’s the team around him who still don’t get that “not being highly political” is his greatest strength right now.At 82, Lord Kinnock remains the beating heart of Labour’s soul - funny, fierce, and unflinchingly honest. Whether you lived through his era or discovered it via the classroom, this is the political education you didn’t know you needed.The Pulse of Power is produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this second instalment of The Pulse of Power, I explore Sir Vince Cable’s extraordinary 50-year political odyssey: Glasgow councillor in his twenties, special advisor to John Smith, Business Secretary in the Coalition, Lib Dem leader, and now the elder statesman who refuses to fade away.What You’ll Learn- The Three-Party Education: What Labour in the 70s, the SDP dream, and the Lib Dems taught him about the fragile centre-left fault line that still defines British politics.- Coalition Confessions: The inside story of the 2010 deal, tuition fees betrayal, and why he still believes the Lib Dems had no real choice.- Quick-Fire Verdict: Keir Starmer gone by next year? Rachel Reeves too? Kemi Badenoch underrated? Sir Vince doesn’t hold back.From surviving seven election attempts to dancing on Strictly and everything in between, Sir Vince Cable remains one of the sharpest, most unflinching voices in British public life.The Pulse of Power is produced by Urban Podcasts.

On the day Rachel Reeves delivered Labour’s first Budget in 14 years, who better to dissect it than the last Liberal Democrat to sit in Cabinet as Business Secretary?In this first instalment of The Pulse of Power, I sit down with Sir Vince Cable - former leader of the Liberal Democrats and Secretary of State for Business (2010–2015) for an unflinching, real-time reaction to the 2025 Autumn Budget.What You’ll Learn- Complicated Over Bold: Why Sir Vince believes the Budget lacks clarity and what he would have changed (yes, even manifesto promises).- Two-Child Cap Victory: The one measure he applauds without reservation and why it’s a game-changer for working families.- Third Budget Nightmare: The political catastrophe that could kill public trust in government if Labour has to tax again.This episode is the Budget deep-dive you’ve been waiting for - clear, candid, and straight from someone who has actually sat at the Cabinet table when the numbers didn’t add up.Part 2 (coming next week) dives into Sir Vince’s extraordinary political journey: Labour → SDP → Lib Dem leadership → Coalition power broker → the wilderness and back.The Pulse of Power is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Power shapes everything - from politics to business and technology. But who really pulls the strings? How did we get to where we are today, and what decisions today are shaping our tomorrow?I’m Alex Duguid and this is The Pulse of Power: a podcast where we track the heartbeat of politics and the world around us.From the corridors of Westminster to Silicon Valley boardrooms, from global summits to grassroots movements - if it moves power, we’re on it.In each episode, I’ll break down the stories that matter, uncover the strategies behind the headlines, and sit down with some of the very people who influenced our past and are shaping our future.Politicians, entrepreneurs, influential thinkers, even disruptors - nothing is off-limits on The Pulse of Power.If you want to understand not just what’s happening, why it matters and what’s coming next, The Pulse of Power if for you. Because power never sleeps and neither do we.The Pulse of Power is produced by Urban Podcasts.