Yesterday

571. Rory and Alastair Challenge Ed Miliband on Israel-Palestine

Why has Ed Miliband gone further than any previous foreign secretary in announcing the occupation of the Palestinian territories as illegal and placing sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank? Can these limited sanctions really achieve their stated aim of “salvaging” th ... Show More

58m 19s

Sep 10

"Our Generation Was Lied To": Two Gen Z MPs on Fixing Politics

To hear the full series “The Gen Z Story”, sign up at the restispolitics.com – use your student email for a discount How do you get older colleagues to take you seriously when you become an MP at 25? Has the social contract between the state and young people been irreparably brok ... Show More

1h 5m

Sep 9

570. Why Trump Acts Like a Russian Asset and Miliband’s West Bank Sanctions

After Trump’s latest betrayal of Ukraine, why does he act like a Russian asset? Has John Healy already missed his moment to be a radical Chancellor, and does Ed Miliband’s move to impose economic sanctions on Israeli settlements prove he would have been the bolder choice? Is the ... Show More

52m 12s

Nov 2023

46. Arancha González Laya: The World’s Most Powerful Organisations

Are increased military budgets needed following on from Russia's invasion of Ukraine? Will Europe take the same approach to regulating AI as China and the US? What is it like being a woman in front-bench politics? Rory and Alastair are joined by former Minister of Foreign Affair ... Show More

51m 51s

May 2025

132. Former Head of MI6: Russia, China, and Trump (Sir Alex Younger)

What is the real job of a spy? What is the role of the UK’s intelligence community in Trump’s new world order? How does the relationship between politicians and intelligence services work? TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our ... Show More

1h 7m

Dec 2023

50. Angela Rayner: From zero GCSEs to Britain’s most powerful woman?

Could Labour still lose the next election? What really went wrong under Jeremy Corbyn? What do the left actually think of the right? Rory and Alastair are joined by Labour's Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner, to discuss all this and more on today's episode of Leading. TRIP Plus: Bec ... Show More

1h 11m

Jan 2024

54. Guy Verhofstadt: Is there a case for a European army?

What's it like to run Belgium for a decade? How many people in the EU actually believe in 'ever-closer union'? What are the pros and cons of being a career politician? On today's episode of Leading, Rory and Alastair are joined by former Belgium prime minister and advocate of a ... Show More

55m 47s

Jun 2024

81. Alex Chalk, Lord Chancellor: How to fix Britain’s prisons

What are the powers of the Lord Chancellor? How important are friendships in politics? What needs to change to solve the prison crisis in the UK? Rory and Alastair are joined by Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Alex Chalk to answer all these questions and more. ... Show More

58m 53s

Aug 2024

89. David Davis: The danger of Farage and the battle for the soul of the Tory Party

Does David Davis still think Brexit has been a success? Was he wrong on gay marriage and the death penalty? Is meritocracy in Britain now a thing of the past? Alastair and Rory are joined by former Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Davis Davis, to discuss all th ... Show More

1h 7m

Oct 2025

119. Has Trump’s Madman Diplomacy Worked?

Will Donald Trump have the patience to see the Gaza ceasefire through? Why is Trump urging a pardon for Netanyahu? How is Trump using tariffs to control the markets? Join Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramucci as they answer all these questions and more. Become a Founding Member: Go de ... Show More

57m 32s

Jan 2025

117. Is the UN fit for purpose? (Tom Fletcher)

As the US retreats from the international stage, who is going to fill the gap? What will the ‘peace processes of the future’ look like? Who has more power, the tech giants or political leaders? Rory and Alastair are joined by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs ... Show More

1h 3m

Jun 2024

78. David Blunkett: Education, policing immigration, and the future of the Labour Party (Part 2)

What challenges did David Blunkett face as Home Secretary following 9/11? Does he have any regrets relating to his crime and punishment policies? What does the future look like for Keir Starmer's Labour Party? Rory and Alastair discuss all these issues and more in the final inst ... Show More

52m 52s

Jun 2024

83. The Man Who Ran Downing Street

What are prime ministers really like behind closed doors? How do you become Britain’s most powerful civil servant? Are special advisors a force for good or ill? On today’s episode of Leading, Rory and Alastair are joined by Gus O’Donnell, the former Cabinet Secretary and Head of ... Show More

55m 4s

101. Question Time: Palestine in 2023, C...