The Rest Is Politics: Leading

Latest Episodes:

150. Nicola Sturgeon: What Really Happened In The Scottish Referendum (Part 2) Aug 24, 2025

Show notes

How did the media and Westminster impact the Scottish Referendum? Why are spin rooms "utterly pointless" in Nicola's view? Is misogyny in politics as bad as it used to be, or getting worse due to social media?

Rory and Alastair are joined by Nicola Sturgeon for part 2 of their interview to answer all these questions and more.

Visit HP.com/politics to find out more.

Join The Rest Is Politics Plus: Start your FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair’s miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, an exclusive members’ newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord.

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor, Jack Davenport

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149. Nicola Sturgeon: On Margaret Thatcher, Alex Salmond, and the Push for Independence (Part 1) Aug 17, 2025

Show notes

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?

Rory and Alastair are joined by former Leader of the SNP and First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, to answer all these questions and more.

Visit HP.com/politics to find out more.

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell

Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor, Jack Davenport

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148. The President of Guyana: The Fastest Growing Economy in the World (Irfaan Ali) Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

How does Guyana balance its unprecedented economic growth, largely due to oil discoveries, with environmental sustainability? How does Guyana perceive and address the historical scar left by slavery? What has happened to West Indies cricket, and how does the future look?

Alastair is joined by President of Guyana, Ifraan Ali, to answer all these questions and more.

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell

Producer: Nicole Maslen

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor, Jack Davenport

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147. I Thought It Was a Prank - Then I Was Chancellor: Jeremy Hunt (Part 2) Aug 10, 2025

Show notes

What was it like to be handed the reins to the economy following the Liz Truss mini-budget collapse? How did Jeremy Hunt feel fighting an election that he knew the Conservatives would lose? How would Thatcher have dealt with Trump?

Alastair and Rory are joined by former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to answer all this and more.

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Social Producer: Celine Charles

Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell

Producer: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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146. The Rise and Fall of The Conservative Party: Jeremy Hunt (Part 1) Aug 03, 2025

Show notes

How did Jeremy Hunt lose the Conservative leadership race to Boris Johnson? What does the longest serving Health Minister think will fix the NHS? What does Jeremy Hunt really think of Kemi Badenoch’s leadership?

Alastair and Rory are joined by former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to answer all this and more.

Visit HP.com/politics to find out more.

TRIP Plus:

Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics.

Instagram:

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Email:

restispolitics@gmail.com

Social Producer: Celine Charles

Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell

Producer: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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145. Gary Stevenson: Masculinity, Money, and the Myth of Meritocracy (Part 2) Jul 27, 2025

Show notes

How did Gary become a multimillionaire by the age of 25? How big a difference can a wealth tax make on regular people's lives? Have centrist politics failed on the economy?

Rory and Alastair are joined by author of The Trading Game, Gary Stevenson, to answer all these questions and more.

Visit HP.com/politics to find out more.

TRIP Plus:

Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics.

Instagram:

@restispolitics

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restispolitics@gmail.com

Social Producer: Celine Charles

Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell

Producer: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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144. Gary Stevenson: From Teenage Drug Dealer to Millionaire Trader (Part 1) Jul 20, 2025

Show notes

How did Gary Stevenson go from being expelled for drug dealing, to one of the most successful traders in London? How does class and privilege play into the world of finance in the UK? What could men do differently to deal with their mental health at work?

Rory and Alastair are joined by author of The Trading Game, Gary Stevenson, to discuss all this and more.

The Rest Is Politics Plus: Join with a FREE TRIAL at therestispolitics.com, for exclusive bonus content including Rory and Alastair’s first ever miniseries The Real JD Vance, early access to Question Time episodes and live show tickets, ad free listening for both TRIP and Leading, our exclusive newsletter, discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, and our members’ chatroom on Discord.

Visit HP.com/politics to find out more.

For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com

Instagram: @restispolitics

Twitter: @restispolitics

Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell

Producer: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor, Jack Davenport

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143. Iraq, Trump, and America’s Slide to Authoritarianism (Congressman Seth Moulton) Jul 13, 2025

Show notes

How did Congressman Moulton keep fighting the Iraq war when he thought it was a mistake? Is there anyone who can stop Trump, or is he an absolute monarch? Have substandard politicians used military service as a get-out-of-jail-free card?

Rory and Alastair are joined by Congressman Seth Moulton to discuss all this and more.

Visit HP.com/politics to find out more.

TRIP Plus:

Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics.

Instagram:

@restispolitics

Twitter:

@RestIsPolitics

Email:

restispolitics@gmail.com

Social Producer: Celine Charles

Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell

Producer: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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142. The Truth About Net Zero's Credibility (Emma Pinchbeck) Jul 06, 2025

Show notes

Why are the British paying more for energy than anywhere else in Europe? How does society navigate the anxiety of having children during the climate crisis? What does the UK government need to do in order to speed up our transition to green energy?

Rory and Alastair are joined by the Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee and former CEO of Energy UK, Emma Pinchbeck, to answer all these questions and more.

The Rest Is Politics Plus: Become a member for exclusive bonus content, early access to Question Time episodes to live show tickets, ad-free listening for both TRIP and Leading, our exclusive newsletter, discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, and our members’ chatroom on Discord. Join today or enjoy a free trial at ⁠therestispolitics.com⁠⁠.

Visit HP.com/politics to find out more.

For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com

Instagram: @restispolitics

Twitter: @restispolitics

Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Assistant Producers: Alice Horrell

Producers: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor, Jack Davenport

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141. The President of Cyprus: Iran, Israel, and the Cyprus Issue (Nikos Christodoulides) Jun 29, 2025

Show notes

What role does Cyprus play in the Middle East conflicts? How can Europe and the United Kingdom strengthen their relations during this tumultuous time? How can governments fight corruption?

Rory and Alastair are joined by Nikos Christodoulides, the President of Cyprus, to discuss all this and more.

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Instagram: @restispolitics

Twitter: @restispolitics

Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Assistant Producers: Alice Horrell

Producers: Nicole Maslen

Senior Producer: Dom Johnson

Head of Content: Tom Whiter

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor, Jack Davenport

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices