17 Apr 2026
523. The Starmer-Mandelson Scandal: Lying or Incompetence?Can Starmer survive if it emerges he was previously told about Mandelson's failed vetting? Is he developing a pattern of blaming others when things go wrong? Will this lead Labour MPs to start questioning their leader ahead of crucial local elections?
Two men who’ve been at the heart of the political world – former Downing Street Director of Communications and Strategy Alastair Campbell and cabinet minister Rory Stewart – join forces from across the political divide.
9 Apr 2026
184. President of Ukraine: Volodymyr ZelenskyyAt a time when the United States is threatening to withdraw from NATO, how can Europe maximise its power to deter Russia's threat? If Vladimir Putin were given the territory Donald Trump offered in his peace plan, what would his next move be? Why does the White House keep misunderstanding Putin’s real war aims?
Every Monday, Rory and Alastair interrogate, converse with, and interview some of the world’s biggest names – from both inside and outside of politics – about life, leadership, or leading the way in their chosen field.
Alastair Campbell’s diary: We expect politicians to lie – and that’s the problem
We have become too accustomed to figures like Donald Trump, who see misinformation as a weapon rather than an issue... Continue
163. Prison Reform, Masculinity, and Restorative Justice (James Graham and Jacob Dunne)
Jacob Dunne killed someone as a teenager, how did he seek forgiveness from his victim’s parents? What is restorative justice? How did Jacob’s experience of the criminal justice system com... Continue
472. Is Trump’s Peace ‘Plan’ Forced Surrender for Ukraine?
Who is really behind the White House 'peace plan' for Ukraine: Trump or Putin? Why isn't Europe taking the threat from Russia more seriously, and doing more to protect Ukraine? How does all o... Continue
471. Rory Stewart: Why the Government Tried to Silence Me on Lockdowns
Why did Boris Johnson and the British government not only fail to listen, but actively try to suppress early warnings about the pandemic? How did groupthink and optimism bias cripple the UK's... Continue
471. Rory Stewart: How the Government Tried to Silence Me on Lockdowns
Why did Boris Johnson and the British government not only fail to listen, but actively try to suppress early warnings about the pandemic? How did groupthink and optimism bias cripple the UK's... Continue
470. China vs Japan, the BBC at Breaking Point, and The Future of Satire (Question Time)
Is Japan provoking China, or responding to a real threat over Taiwan? What does the BBC’s credibility crisis reveal about Britain’s fight over truth? And, why is Chile swinging from the l... Continue
469. Is Starmer Out of Moves? Asylum Gamble, Tax Chaos, and Open Infighting
After a week of turmoil, can Labour recover their support or are they already doomed to lose the next election? Are Shabana Mahmood's immigration reforms the answer to the threat of Reform, o... Continue
Alastair Campbell’s diary: This government is like The Thick Of It, but unfunny
It is ludicrous that, in little over a year, Keir Starmer has gone from landslide high to record low satisfaction ratings... Continue