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
56. Bill Gates: Conspiracy theories, AI, and the politician he most admires
How does one of the richest men in the world run a business? Is artificial intelligence going to be as big as the Windows PC? What politicians does Bill Gates admire? Bill Gates joins Rory an... Continue
How did Ecuador’s notorious gang leader escape from prison? What does Taiwan’s new anti-Beijing president mean for the country’s future? When is it right for MPs resign?Listen to Rory a...
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Margaret Thatcher would send Jenrick packing PDQ
On the podcast interview with Gillian Keegan that I wrote about earlier this week, I said to her that I felt the government of which she was a member was doing things that even Margaret Thatcher woul... Continue
210. Is the Middle East sliding into a wider regional conflict?
Should there have been a vote on the UK airstrikes in Yemen? How has the Post Office scandal moved from activism to politics, and could there be another Conservative leader before the electio... Continue
Alastair Campbell’s Diary: Sunak is no different from his predecessors
Where is the “integrity and accountability” the prime minister promised?... Continue
The perils of interviewing serving politicians
First of all, welcome to my new, or at least revamped, website. It was starting to look a bit old and tired, perhaps channelling how I tend to feel in January, so I asked for a little refresh. I must... Continue
55. Gillian Keegan: The future of British schools, union ‘barons’, and Sunak’s Rwanda battle
What's it like to be the Secretary of State for Education who left school at 17? How much power do unions really have in British politics? What's it like to become a Tory MP when your family ... Continue
209. Question Time: What happens when privatisation goes wrong?
Is it possible to be politically active as a civil servant? How did private finance initiatives contribute to the Post Office scandal? Is a transfer of power possible in Myanmar?Listen to Ro... Continue