2 Apr 2026
The Real Reasons Populism Is Taking OverWhat is populism, and why is it so attractive to voters? Which human instincts do populists tap into to get votes? And what does a populist-led country look like?
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
6 Apr 2026
183. From Bradford to Westminster: Faith, Identity, and Power (Naz Shah)How did Naz Shah’s experience growing up in Bradford and her experience with her family in the legal system influence her to go into politics? What does it mean for a political party to truly “stand for something” in modern Britain? How can faith influence politics in a secular society? Rory and Alastair are joined by Labour MP, Naz Shah, to discuss all this and more.
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
SPEECH TONIGHT: ‘What one generation does, the next can undo’
I am making a speech this evening, in memory of Julian Priestley, a lovely man who served as general secretary of the European Parliament from 1997-2007, and who sadly died aged just 66, in 2016. The... Continue
Do manifestos matter? What exactly is a free port? Is there a real difference between One-nation Conservatives and Blairites?Join Alastair and Rory for this week's Question Time episode as th...
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129. Sunak at a crossroads, weaponising ‘woke’, and the Wagner Group
Have the local elections changed how Sunak will run Number 10? What's going on with the Wagner Group and Vladimir Putin? How did the coronation attendees manage to go to the toilet during the... Continue
I am speaking today at a conference in London, on the importance of learning foreign languages. It might seem a bit of a niche issue, but I believe it is central, and all too neglected in English spe...
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17: Gerry Adams: The Troubles, Margaret Thatcher, and the IRA
How much do you know about Thatcher's back channels with Irish republicans during the Troubles? What are Gerry Adams' emotions towards the 1984 Brighton hotel bombing, looking back now in 202... Continue
128. Local Elections: Who’s the real winner?
Was this a win for Starmer? Or should he be disappointed? What does this tell us about next year's general election?Alastair and Rory have hit the emergency pod button - listen now to hear Th... Continue
What role do corporations play in political activism? Could the local elections results push forward a general election? Are communists having a resurgence in Europe? Rory and Alastair answer...
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126. King Charles III’s coronation, the geopolitics of net-zero, and the power of oracy
This Saturday May 6th, the UK will celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. But what is the political impact of such an event? And what is the relevance of the monarchy today? Rory and A... Continue