The Rest Is Politics
Episodes
74. Question Time: Women in politics, AI advancements, and airports
10 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Rory and Alastair for this week's Question Time episode where they discuss everything from the growth of artificial intelligence in professional ...
73. COP, Gavin Williamson, and US midterms
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Alastair and Rory as they discuss Gavin Williamson, COP, Johnson's resignation honours list, Scholz in China, the latest from the war in Ukraine,...
72. Julia Gillard on Rishi Sunak, compulsory voting and that misogyny speech
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Alastair is joined today by former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard to discuss the view of British politics from Australia, the role of the mon...
71. Question Time: Elon Musk, Twitter, and regulating 'Big Tech'
03 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Alastair and Rory for the latest episode of Question Time where they discuss Elon Musk, Twitter, nation states vs. big tech, Amazon, John Reith, ...
70. Braverman, Brazil, and Hancock in the jungle
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rory and Alastair discuss Suella Braverman's return to the front bench, the significance of security breaches in ministerial positions, and why Tony B...
69. François Hollande on Putin, Obama, and Brexit
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In a special guest episode, we speak to former French president François Hollande from his office in Paris. Tune in to hear his views on Putin, Xi Ji...
68. Question Time: Battle for the National Trust, getting over Brexit and boycotting Qatar
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What would it take for the UK to have a general election? Would Rory ever rejoin the Conservative Party? How does confirmation bias affect politics? A...
67. PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK
24 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rishi Sunak is the new Prime Minister. Join Alastair and Rory as they discuss the new leader of the Conservative Party and Britain's first Asian Prim...
66. LIZ TRUSS RESIGNS
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this emergency podcast Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell react to the news that Liz Truss has resigned as Prime Minister after barely six weeks in...
65. Question Time: Imposter Syndrome, the Commonwealth and fox hunting
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How does public backlash affect politicians' mental health? Do Labour and the Liberal Democrats have an unwritten agreement to win seats? Should we su...
64. Hunt U-turn as Truss goes missing
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As a divided Conservative Party tries desperately to work out how to replace Liz Truss, Rory and Alastair discuss the likely moves over the coming day...
63. TRUSS DOWN, KWARTENG OUT
14 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Alastair and Rory for an emergency bonus podcast after the news that Kwasi Kwarteng has been sacked as Chancellor. Facing the lowest ever approva...
62. Question Time: Liberal Democrats, Lordships and Labour's return
13 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Who would Rory vote for in a General Election today? Did Alastair vote for Jeremy Corbyn? Where do MPs work after they've left Parliament? Rory and ...
61. "Detested" Tories, the SNP, and Israel
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why is Liz Truss thinking of moving the UK embassy to Jerusalem? Does the word 'detest' belong in politics? How long will the Conservatives remain un...
60. Fear and Loathing in Birmingham
07 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are we on the brink of Tory civil war? Has Truss painted herself into a corner with her conference speech? What on earth is an 'anti-growth coalition'...
59. Question Time: Biden, barristers and the Black Watch
06 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do Alastair and Rory maintain a work/life balance? How dangerous are AI deepfakes for politics? Does Rory regret not pursuing a military career? R...
58. U-turns, Ukraine and election season
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Will Truss and Kwarteng survive a week of U-turns? Have worldwide elections followed the populist trends set by Sweden and Italy? Plus news on the con...
57. The Week Everything Changed
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In a special bonus episode Rory and Alastair discuss whether the writing is already on the wall for Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng, how Starmer found hi...
56. Question Time: Prison reform, lobbying, and Alastair on Strictly
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Should MPs be drug tested? Does the UK have a corruption problem? How could we radically reform prisons? Alastair and Rory join each other in person t...
55. The Kamikwaze budget, Iranian protests, and Italian 'post-fascists'
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a quiet week in UK politics... On today's (in person) episode Rory and Alastair discuss Kwasi Kwarteng's mini-budget, Liz Truss and her que...
54. Albanian PM Edi Rama on Putin, Macron, and combating corruption
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Alastair and Rory are joined by Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania, to talk Putin, Merkel, Macron, the European Union, small boats, cyber attacks...
53. Question Time: Blair-Brown, the Special Relationship, and official apologies
22 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Who would you cast to play yourself in a film? Rory and Alastair give their answers to this question and many more in today's Question Time episode. P...
52. The Queen's funeral, United Nations, and fracking
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Alastair and Rory as they discuss Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, Liz Truss' visit to the UN, the pros and cons of fracking and the drastic fall in...
51. Mark Drakeford on Labour success, Tory PMs, and Welsh nationalism
16 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Alastair and Rory are joined by Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales and Leader of Welsh Labour, to talk Boris Johnson, devolution, Welsh nationali...
50. Question Time: King Charles III, Scottish accents, and left vs. right
15 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What's the true definition of right-wing and left-wing? Alastair and Rory debate what defines the two sides of the political spectrum, who their favou...
49. Queen Elizabeth II, Ukrainian counter-attacks, and Sweden
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Alastair and Rory as they discuss Queen Elizabeth II, the Ukrainian counter-offensive, Rory's trip to Kenya, the far right in Sweden, and the Sha...
48. Question Time: Parents, Austerity, and talking with hands
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What’s more annoying, a stupid person pretending to be clever or a clever person pretending to be stupid? On an unrelated note Rory and Alastair giv...
47. Liz Truss, lido politics, and Chile
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How will Liz Truss operate in Number 10? Why is The Rest Is Politics banned on FCDO official phones? And what's going on in Chile? Plus foreign aid, ...
46. PRIME MINISTER LIZ TRUSS
05 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In an emergency podcast, Rory and Alastair react to the news that Liz Truss has won the race to become the UK's next prime minister. Plus Kwasi Kwart...
45. Question Time: BBC impartiality, books vs. newspapers, and Stewart spoofery
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What shared regret do Rory and Alastair have about their time at university? Plus local journalism, bikes, John le Carré, musical instruments, rhetor...
44. Freezing bills, mental health in politics, and Rory's new job
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are windfall taxes and freezing energy bills the best ways to deal with the cost of living crisis? Join Rory and Alastair as they discuss the skyrock...
43. Question Time: Margaret Thatcher, Rupert Murdoch, and Mick Lynch
25 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
At what points in their political careers did Rory and Alastair feel under the most pressure? Plus the wonders of sleep, Murdoch's subtle influence, a...
42. Working for Truss, Blackpool with Clinton, and Sewage
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why is raw sewage being pumped into UK rivers? How easy is it to stand up to Liz Truss when she's your boss? And which former US president walked for ...
Introducing Empire
19 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today's feed drop features historian and friend of the show William Dalrymple discussing our new sister podcast, Empire, which he hosts alongside broa...
41. Question Time: Classified documents, Eddie Jones, and A-levels
18 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Just how easy is it to waltz out of office with classified government documents? In the latest episode of TRIP QT, Alastair and Rory take your questio...
40. Salman Rushdie, the energy price cap, and Afghanistan
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Alastair and Rory as they discuss the one year anniversary of Afghanistan falling to the Taliban, the French withdrawal from Mali, the Wagner Gro...
39. Question Time: Clan Campbell vs. Clan Stewart, Tartan Trews, and Lindsay Hoyle
11 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Alastair and Rory for the latest episode of TRIP: Question Time, where they answer your questions on the historical Scottish clashes between Clan...
38. Amnesty International, cabinet duels, and fuel poverty
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Alastair and Rory as they discuss lame ducks, Amnesty International’s Ukraine report, politicians’ holidays, energy prices, fuel poverty, Geo...
37. Question Time: Scottish Unionism, growth, and cannibalism
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Alastair and Rory for the latest episode of TRIP: Question Time, where they answer your questions on Bhutan's Gross Domestic Happiness, Scottish ...
36. William Hague on Boris Johnson, Blair, and Brexit
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In a special episode of The Rest Is Politics, Alastair and Rory are joined by former Foreign Secretary and former Leader of the Conservative Party, Wi...
35. Al-Qaeda, Pelosi in Taiwan, and working for Truss
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart as they discuss al-Qaeda, Kosovo, Kenya, Tunisia, the 'age of impunity', Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit, working ...
34. Question Time: The last days of Blair and May, carbon footprints, and remaining hopeful
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
May's downfall, Blair-Brown, Celtic vs. Rangers in Belfast, remaining hopeful, charter cities, climate change, carbon emissions, and wildfires. Join ...
33. Blue on blue, famine in Africa, and David Trimble
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart as they discuss the Tory leadership race, the life and legacy of David Trimble, Mario Draghi's resignation, ch...
32. Question Time: Treating addiction, feminism, and a fear of ketchup
22 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Rory and Alastair for the latest episode of 'The Rest Is Politics: Question Time', where they discuss removing the stigma around addiction, femin...
31. Rishi Sunak vs. Liz Truss
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
And then there were two... After finding out that Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak will compete to be the next UK Prime Minister, Rory and Alastair recorded...
30. Keir Starmer on rebuilding Labour, Tory leadership, and Brexit
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In a special episode recorded in Westminster as temperatures approached 40C in London, Rory and Alastair are joined by the Leader of the Opposition an...
29. Heatwaves, semiconductors, and Johnson's return?
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's the hottest day of the year so far, but Rory and Alastair are still managing to disagree fairly agreeably! Tune in to hear them talk heatwaves, ...
28. Question Time: Shinzo Abe, Sri Lanka, and 'Big Society'
14 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Rory and Alastair for the seventh episode of 'The Rest Is Politics: Question Time', where they discuss the assassination and legacy of Shinzo Abe...
27. Tory leadership race: contenders and pretenders
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rishi Sunak. Liz Truss. Penny Mordaunt. Tom Tugendhat. And about fifty others. Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart discuss the runners and riders in t...
26. BORIS JOHNSON RESIGNS
07 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Boris Johnson has resigned. Join Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart for this emergency podcast as they react to the news of Johnson's resignation. Af...
25. British scandals, global recession, and Elvis
07 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Rory and Alastair as they discuss British scandals, moments of madness, civil service interventions, Starmer on Brexit, technocracy, global econo...
24. SPECIAL: SUNAK AND JAVID RESIGN
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart respond to the breaking news that Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid have both resigned from t...
23. Question Time: Roe v. Wade, military MPs, and Ismail Kadare
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Roe v. Wade, the impact of military service on sitting MPs, Britain's global reputation, Labour's stance on strike action, progressive alliances, John...
22. Tony Blair on the UK's relegation battle
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tony Blair joins Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell to discuss his fears that Britain may soon be relegated from the Premiership of nations. Also disc...
21. Question Time: The Queen's toilet, Carole Cadwalladr, and climate crisis
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Find out which historical world leaders Rory and Alastair would be like to work alongside, what they would say if they had the world's attention for 3...
20. By-elections, strikes, and populists
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Rory and Alastair as they discuss by-elections, how Alastair would run as a Tory, strikes, trade unions, Colombia, France, Henry Kissinger, Carri...
19. Question Time: Ukraine, Tony Blair, and foreign languages
16 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart for the third edition of 'The Rest is Politics: Question Time', where they answer your questions on the situat...
18. Keir Starmer, Northern Ireland, and disagreeing 'agreeably'
15 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Rory and Alastair as they discuss the performance and future of Keir Starmer, what they both think of Wes Streeting, Rory's appearance on BBC Que...
17. Question Time: Austerity, diaries, and impostors
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer your questions on Austerity, John Bercow, protest, schools, carbon footprints, imposter syndrome, cheese, interv...
16. Johnson, monarchy, and the West Bank
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: [email protected] Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor & Jack Davenp...
15. Question Time: Hong Kong handover, human rights, and Tintin
02 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the first ever episode of 'TRIP: Question Time'! During our Question Time pods, Rory and Alastair will attempt to answer even more of the ...
14. Charisma, Portugal, and gun control
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rory going viral, Alastair's trip to Portugal, Labour's Brexit position, Olaf Scholz, the UEFA Champions League Final, the 1922 Committee, charisma, N...
13. Rupert Murdoch, Taiwan, and Burnley
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Partygate photos, Teals in Australia, why Rory ran as an independent in London, Anthony Albanese, Mhairi Black, Bill Cash, Rupert Murdoch, China, Taiw...
12. Food shortages, Francois Hollande, and Shireen Abu Akleh
18 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Shireen Abu Akleh, Alastair's catch-up with Francois Hollande, Rory's reflection on the Tory leadership debates, Northern Ireland, Nick Clegg, Sri Lan...
11. Putin’s blanket, election fallout, and China in Africa
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Beergate, local elections, Tower Hamlets, Northern Ireland, Putin, Chinese foreign policy, Oxbridge, and porridge talk. Join Rory and Alastair for di...
10. Bad politics, local elections, and toxic debates
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell work out a plan for improving the quality of debate in Westminster. They also wonder what it would take for the ele...
9. Biggest snakes, Basic Instinct, and meeting Miley
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Defeating populism, the way to win a leadership contest, and Boris Johnson meeting Miley Cyrus. Join Alastair and Rory from Scotland in our first eve...
8. Rwanda, Religion and the Return of Trump
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Alastair and Rory for this week's pod, where they discuss Patel's plans to send refugees to Rwanda from Britain, the role of religion in politics...
7. Partygate fines, political partners, and voting at 15?
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In today's pod Alastair and Rory discuss the police fines that Johnson and Sunak have received for their roles in Partygate, the current political sit...
6. Globalism, Scottish Nationalism, and Rory's new job
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Could this be the final ever episode of The Rest Is Politics after Rory's revelation last Friday, 1st April? Hopefully not! After more terrible news f...
5. Tribal politics, anonymous sources, and Malcolm Tucker
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do the Royal family and the Commonwealth still have a place in the modern world? Alastair and Rory discuss Rwanda and countries recovering from war, w...
4. Iraq, brave opposition, and powerful Chancellors
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As Rory returns from a tour of Iraq with a landmine charity, what lessons can be learned from the country since the occupation, and how could they be ...
3. Zelenskyy's humanity, Lebvedev's parties, and Eton
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Who is winning the communications landscape in Ukraine? Alastair and Rory discuss the importance of soft power, the sacrifices needed to free European...
The Rest Is History: Young Putin, the KGB and the Soviet Union
14 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In our most recent episode, Alastair mentioned our sister podcast, The Rest Is History, and its recent mini-series on the Soviet Union, its fall, Puti...
2. Lying, vanity and friendship in politics
09 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the second episode of The Rest Is Politics with Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell! With Ukrainian refugees struggling to claim asylum in ...
1. Putin in person, Russian money in British politics, and Bono vs Blair
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What's Vladimir Putin like to deal with in person? On the first episode of "The Rest Is Politics", Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart tackle the lates...