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 their first ever TRIP Polling episode, in collaboration with JL Partners, as they answer all these questions and more.
To see the polling results in full each month, go to ... Show More
Oct 31
David Blunkett on Blindness, Adversity and Why Politicians Give Up Too Easily
To hear the full episode, and the whole series, sign up at therestispolitics.com This week, Alastair sits down with someone who – in his opinion – is the most persevilient person in politics, Lord David Blunkett. Blind since birth, he lost his father at the age of 12 and grew up ... Show More
22m 46s
Oct 30
584. Why Is Trump Losing Voters and Will Texas Turn Blue?
Why are these US midterms so important, and what has Rory been seeing on the ground in Ohio? Could the Democrats really flip Texas, and is Trump alienating the Hispanic voters that were crucial to his 2024 victory? If the Republicans lose control of Congress, will Trump accept th ... Show More
1h 1m
Oct 28
583. Is Burnham’s Budget Too Safe and How Brazil Defied Trump
With the UK’s new Chancellor, John Healey, announcing his first budget and Kemi Badenoch asking him, “is that it?”, how will the public judge his plans? With Lula making an historic return to Brazil’s presidency, was it the strength of his campaign or Bolsonaro Jr’s electoral gaf ... Show More
1 h
Jan 2024
53. Seb Coe: Corruption, gender, and the geopolitics of sport
Will doping ever be defeated in sport? What was it like going from world class runner to government whip? Are the Tories finished in Britain?
In the first Leading episode of 2024, Rory and Alastair are joined by Seb Coe to discuss all this and more.
TRIP Plus:
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1h 1m
May 2024
74. Kwasi Kwarteng: Liz Truss, becoming Chancellor, and Britain on the brink (Part 2)
Why did the Tory Party choose to make Liz Truss and Boris Johnson prime minister? How does it feel to be the second shortest-serving chancellor in post-war history? What was the true thinking behind the disastrous Truss-Kwarteng mini-budget?
On today's episode of Leading, Rory ... Show More
54m 38s
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
Sep 2023
34. Ed Davey: Leading the Lib Dems, fighting the Tories, and a coalition with Starmer’s Labour?
What was it like for the Liberal Democrats in coalition? Would Ed Davey be prepared to work alongside Keir Starmer in another coalition government? Is tactical voting a good idea? Join Rory and Alastair as they speak with leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, to discuss all ... Show More
1h 12m