The Rest Is Politics

13 Feb 2026

The Battle for the Arctic

One of the most important political issues of our time - the battle for the Arctic. Why is Russia so dominant there? Why does Trump really want Greenland? And why is Climate Change right at the heart of this?Join Alastair and author Kenneth R. Rosen in the first episode of our new members-only miniseries on the battle for geopolitical control of the icy north, the polar war.

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

9 Feb 2026

175. Ex-Director of GCHQ: China, Russia, and the Threats Facing the UK (Jeremy Fleming)

Do Russia or China represent a bigger risk to UK national security? Why are we underestimating the threat posed by cybercriminals? Who holds the real power - ministers or spies?

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

Alastair Campbell’s Diary: The Mail is hiding scandals of its own

The paper’s attacks on Angela Rayner reek of hypocrisy and double standards... Continue

69. The brutal truth about net zero and how to vanquish climate populists, with Dieter Helm

Is net zero 2030 impossible to achieve - and is it a mistake to pursue it? Should governments be more brutal with climate investment? Are events like COP a waste of time?Rory and Alastair are... Continue

236. Question Time: The fight to be Donald Trump’s VP nominee

Who will Trump pick as his running mate? How much do you know about ‘Project 2025’? What’s the story behind Angela Rayner’s tax affairs?Join Rory and Alastair for TRIP Question Time a... Continue

Sunak looks like he is toast, but too many don’t knows for Labour to get complacent

A new development for The Rest Is Politics podcast this week: we have tied up with JL Partners, a polling company Rory Stewart first got to know well when running for London Mayor, and who also did t... Continue

235. What Britain really thinks of politics

Are the Tories in danger of being overtaken by Reform UK? Should polling instruct or inform political decisions? Who is the country’s least popular politician?Join Rory and Alastair for the... Continue

Alastair Campbell’s Diary: Brexiteers’ Singapore-on-Thames promise was a con

Deceitful Brexiters always knew that a post-Brexit Britain and Singapore would be deeply incompatible... Continue

68. Israel-Gaza: How the conflict divided Britain and the US, with Ed Kessler

What makes international conflicts turn domestic? Does Qatar play the key role in bringing peace to the Middle East? Is there a generational split in the West over Israel-Gaza?On today's epis... Continue

234. Question Time: Why New Labour introduced tuition fees, Thatcher and Blair’s canvassing secrets, and the greatest prime minister we never had

Who would have been in Rory’s cabinet if he had won the 2019 Tory leadership contest? Who is the best prime minister we never had? How can we fix England and Wales' struggling universities?... Continue