Ayesha Hazarika

Ayesha Yousef Hazarika, Baroness Hazarika, was born on December 15, 1975, in Bellshill Maternity Hospital, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Her early life saw her grow up in Coatbridge, the daughter of Indian Muslim immigrants from Assam. She pursued her education at Laurel Bank, an all-girls private school in Glasgow, and later studied law at the University of Hull. Initially planning a career as a solicitor, Hazarika shifted her focus to journalism, an early indicator of her dynamic career path spanning various professional fields.

From 2007 to 2015, Hazarika served as a special adviser to prominent Labour Party figures including Gordon Brown, Harriet Harman, and Ed Miliband. In this role, she specialized in media relations, speechwriting, and advising on parliamentary debates, including Prime Minister’s Questions. She also contributed to policy development, particularly in women’s issues, and played a part in drafting the landmark Equality Act 2010. Following her departure from political advisory roles, Hazarika was recognized for her contributions with an MBE for services to politics in 2016, and an Honorary Doctorate in Law from Hull University in 2019.

Transitioning from government, Hazarika established herself as a celebrated political commentator and broadcaster. She became a columnist for the Evening Standard, the Scotsman, and the i paper, offering sharp observations on current affairs. Her broadcasting career includes appearances on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Newsnight, Sky News, Good Morning Britain, LBC, and CNN International. In 2019, she was appointed editor of The Londoner, the Evening Standard’s diary pages. Since July 2020, Hazarika has hosted her own news and current affairs show on Times Radio every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. She is also a noted stand-up comedian, performing critically acclaimed one-woman shows at the Edinburgh Festival and across the country. Her book, ‘Punch and Judy Politics,’ an insider’s guide to Prime Minister’s Questions, was published in May 2018. In March 2024, she was created Baroness Hazarika, of Coatbridge, and became a Member of the House of Lords.