445. Starmer’s Deputy PM Quits: The Return of Chaos in British Politics?
5 September 2025
Podcast
14 August 2025
Is Starmer too afraid to take on Farage? What does Germany’s turn away from Israel signal? And, how much should kids know about geopolitics?
Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.
The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries, early access to episodes and live show tickets, ad free listening, our exclusive newsletter, discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, and our members chatroom.
The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Fuse are giving away FREE TRIP+ membership for all of 2025 to new sign ups TRIP+ gets you ad-free listening, discounts, and early access to episodes and pre-sale tickets for live shows! To sign up and for terms and conditions, visit https://www.fuseenergy.com/politics
Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/restispolitics It's risk-free with Nord's 30 day money back guarantee ✅
For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com
Instagram: @restispolitics
Twitter: @restispolitics
Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com
Social Producer: Celine Charles
Video Editor: Josh Smith
Assistant Producer: India Dunkley, Evan Green
Senior Producer: Dom Johnson
Head of Content: Tom Whiter
Exec Producers: Tony Pastor, Jack Davenport
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2 minute(s) read
Recent Podcasts
445. Starmer’s Deputy PM Quits: The Return of Chaos in British Politics?
Just how damaging is Angela Rayner’s dramatic exit for the UK government? Has Starmer gone too early with his cabinet reshuffle? What does this mean for Labour and the threat from Nigel Far... Continue5 September 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
444. Question Time: Can Labour Reinvent Itself?
Why is Gaza the deadliest place for journalists? Is Farage copying Trump by silencing the press?And, Is Britain’s Online Safety Act censorship or protection? Join Rory and Alastair as they... Continue4 September 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
443. China’s Plot to Topple Trump: How to Bring Down a Superpower
How is China forging a new world order beyond Trump’s isolationist America? Is Trump’s sudden turn against India uniting Xi, Putin, and Modi – for good? As Washington falters and Beijin... Continue3 September 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
Alastair Campbell’s diary: How Trump lost the moral high ground to China
Right now, Xi Jinping is letting Trump do all the soft power heavy lifting for him... Continue3 September 2025
151. Prime Minister of Norway: On Trump, Tech, and Brexit Lessons (Jonas Gahr Støre)
Why is the nation with the world’s richest sovereign wealth fund not ‘universally happy’? What can the UK learn from Norway’s relationship with the EU? Is Jonas Gahr Støre really sta... Continue1 September 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
442. Question Time: Trump’s Plot To Cancel The Midterms
Is Trump edging the U.S. toward military rule? Can Gaza survive famine amid total collapse? Will Ukraine resist Putin if Western backing falters? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all th... Continue28 August 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
441. The Reality of Farage’s Mass Deportation Fantasy
Is Farage imitating Trump with his desire to deport 600,000 migrants from the UK? How is the media whipping up a toxic debate on immigration? Why is Labour still trying to ape Reform, rather ... Continue27 August 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
Alastair Campbell’s diary: Does Trump deserve the Nobel?
His desperation to follow in Barack Obama’s footsteps deepens day by day, unsolved war by unsolved war... Continue27 August 2025
Dear Alastair,
Enjoying the pod. I have to admit that I listen for balance, being more of a centre-right leaning type and therefore possibly more likely to be drawn further right as the algorithms do their worst. I try to resist but it does take effort!
I was moved by your contributor, Jacob, who is despairing and distraught at the state of politics at the moment and yearning for a centre-ground party he can get behind … he is not alone.
Is it not the case that the British people became hopelessly polarised at the time of the Brexit referendum?
In Farage/Reform they (the general right leaning public) see a man who has achieved at least ‘something’; even if it was a single issue and regardless of whether it was to the good or detriment of the country. It is of course ridiculous … until you examine the outputs and behaviours of the established parties in recent years.
The people of the UK will never, en masse, appreciate incremental steps towards a brighter future – the voting public just aren’t that engaged to do the work necessary to inform themselves. They want and need a vision of a better future. This, I feel, is why Jacob might be so distraught and many others either turn off completely or polarise left and right.
It is a mistake, I believe, for the current government (and the conservatives) to try and play Farage at his own game. To attack him appears weak, and those doing the attacking hardly have a firm foundation upon which to fight. To take the stance of, ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ is even worse.
Votes are up for grabs in all of this turmoil, especially with a younger group of voters coming online.
Farage is winning share of voice by playing on the genuine or perceived fears of mums, dads, and grandparents. Starmer is doing nothing to communicate that the future for the younger generation will be either safe or prosperous.
Unfortunately, the die was cast within weeks of this government coming into power by removing the winter fuel allowance (and then with the own-goal of the U-turn that set the bar at an overly generous £35k).
The reason I mention this first and defining(?) ‘hiccup’ is because it demonstrated that the government doesn’t appreciate the family relationships within the electorate and how people will vote to protect/enhance lives up and down the familial line.
We all know that hard times are ahead economically and culturally. Could the government build a narrative around securing the future of our youth? It is something most people would support and would go some way to justifying some very difficult decisions they must make on areas such as welfare, taxation, law and order, conduct in public office, and immigration … the hot topics.
The ascendance of far-left and far-right is a direct result of the failure of the centre to govern effectively and with purpose. The push factor, if you like. Reasonable people are not ‘pulled’ to a polarised position … they are pushed.
Best wishes,
Chris.