The Rest Is Politics

21 Aug 2025

440. Question Time: How To Start A Centrist Party

Why do the Lib Dems still fly under the radar? Is Trump quietly setting the stage for an authoritarian takeover? And, why does Alastair swear so much?

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

180. Question Time: Is Suella Braverman pretending to be right-wing?

Would Keir Starmer embrace proportional representation? Is the Tory right just a group of political entrepreneurs using their hardline views to climb the greasy pole? Is a wealth tax the only... Continue

179. Is Keir Starmer ready to be Prime Minister?

Is Labour ready for government? What's causing the SNP malaise? Did an AI deepfake video contribute to the outcome of the Slovakian election?Join Rory and Alastair for today's episode of The ... Continue

Alastair Campbell’s Diary: What Labour should do next

This week, Keir Starmer needed to show, in policy terms, how life in Britain would change if he became prime minister... Continue

178. Israel At War

How did Hamas launch one of the largest invasions on Israeli territory in recent history? What happens now? Will this conflict have geo-political ramifications throughout the Middle East?Join... Continue

39. Theresa May: Donald Trump, David Cameron, and ‘Brexit means Brexit’ (Part 2)

Why did Theresa May prefer Gordon Brown to Tony Blair as a Prime Minister? Does the former PM have any regrets over Brexit? How did things unfold behind the scenes after the Salisbury pois... Continue

177. Question Time: A new centrist party, mafia politics in New Jersey, and was Jesus a socialist?

How corrupt is US politics? Will we see a new centrist party in the UK? How did Tony Blair overcome nerves at the dispatch box? Join Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell as they answer all thes... Continue

176. Can the Tory Party be saved?

What actually happens behind the scenes at a Conservative or Labour Party Conference? What would it take to get the Conservative Party back to the centre-ground? What is going on between Koso... Continue

Alastair Campbell’s Diary: For Labour, it’s all to play for

Polling suggests that a victory for the party at the next general election could be anything from a coalition to a landslide... Continue