16 Aug 2025
438. Inside the Trump-Putin Summit: What Really Happened in Alaska?What does 'no deal' mean for Ukraine and Europe? What was agreed behind closed doors? How will Zelensky respond?
The Rest Is Politics
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.
Leading
18 Aug 2025
149. Nicola Sturgeon: On Margaret Thatcher, Alex Salmond, and the Push for Independence (Part 1)What is the difference between class distinctions in Scotland and the rest of the UK? How did Nicola Sturgeon's childhood in Scotland inform her politics? What was Margaret Thatcher's influence on Nicola's career?
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.
Latest
66. Antony Gormley: Art, religion, and the battle for culture
Can Britain remain a cultural superpower post-Brexit? How does religion and philosophy inform creativity? How can we prevent arts from being cut from curriculums? Rory and Alastair are joined... Continue
230. Question Time: £91,000… Should MPs be paid more?
Why do so few people know who the Lib Dem leader is? Should the arts feature more prominently in school curriculums? What are freeports and should we be concerned about them?Rory and Alastair... Continue
229. Putin’s sham election, Sunak under threat, and the rift between France and Germany
Who would Putin’s successor be? Could the Conservatives change leader again? Why is the Franco-German relationship deteriorating?Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all this and more on t... Continue
Alastair Campbell’s Diary: Keir Starmer is better suited to government than opposition
Tom Baldwin’s biography of the Labour leader suggests we will see a return to serious politics if Starmer makes it to No 10... Continue
65. Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of Kosovo: Vladimir Putin, surviving prison, and Serbia
How did peace come to the Balkans? What was it like to be a political prisoner? Is Serbia more allied with the West, or with Putin?Rory and Alastair are joined by the Prime Minister of Kosovo... Continue
228. Question Time: The legacy of Theresa May, abolishing National Insurance, and Sweden joins NATO
What will Theresa May be remembered for as PM? Who are the best and worst prime ministers of the post-war era? What is the significance of Sweden becoming the latest European country to join ... Continue
227. Biden’s aid port in Gaza, Tory defection to Reform, and a mole at the top of the IRA
Are we witnessing a Biden resurgence after his State of the Union address? Will Tory MPs follow Lee Anderson to Reform UK? Who was the double agent at the top of the IRA?Join Rory and Alastai... Continue
Alastair Campbell’s Diary: Isaac Levido’s tactics have lost their shine
The old tactics of wedge politics, dog-whistling and dead cats are not working quite as well as they once did... Continue