The Rest Is Politics

Latest Episodes:

105. Question Time: Foreign ownership in football, the BBC vs. Modi, and conspiracy theories Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

What should we make of the Qatari bid to buy Manchester United? Why is Modi's government raiding the BBC offices in India? And why did Rory's appearance at the Bilderberg Meeting lead to claims he was part of a global lizard conspiracy?

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Producers: Dom Johnson + Nicole Maslen

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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104. Ukraine: one year on, the fall of Nicola Sturgeon, and Sunak's biggest gamble Feb 22, 2023

Show notes

Who will be Nicola Sturgeon's successor as First Minister of Scotland? What does the future hold for Russia's relationship with the West? Is Boris Johnson staging a comeback? Alastair and Rory look at these topics, plus the role of biodiversity in ecological policy, the Northern Ireland protocol, China's role in bringing peace to Ukraine, and how relevant a politician's religious views are to their campaign.

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Producers: Dom Johnson + Nicole Maslen

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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103. Question Time: Expensing helicopters, the North-South divide, and Rory's return to politics? Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

Will Rory ever return to politics? How do MPs serve effectively from remote areas? Should Russia be allowed to compete in the Paris Olympics? Alastair and Rory cover these topics, plus the role of Cabinet Secretaries, Biden's State of the Union Address, and what it means to be a 'recovering politician'.

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Producers: Dom Johnson + Nicole Maslen

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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102. The Secret Brexit Summit, Erdoğan under fire, and the death penalty Feb 15, 2023

Show notes

Why are ardent remainers and high profile eurosceptics meeting in secret to discuss our relationship with Europe? How has the earthquake in Turkey affected President Erdoğan politically? And why do MPs and members of the public have contrasting views on the death penalty?

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Producers: Dom Johnson + Nicole Maslen

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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101. Question Time: Palestine in 2023, Chat GPT, and what do diplomats actually do? Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

What is the actual role of a diplomat? Would Brexit have had a different result if Labour was under Ed Miliband's leadership? How will artificial intelligence change our society? Rory and Alastair answer these questions and more in this week's Question Time episode.

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Leading:

Have you heard this week's episode of Leading, where Alastair and Rory speak to Michel Barnier? Tune in below to hear them discuss the real story behind Brexit:

The New European:

www.theneweuropean.co.uk/leading

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Producers: Dom Johnson + Nicole Maslen

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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100. The Revenge of Liz Truss, Earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, and China's 'Red Zeppelin' Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

Are Johnson and Truss on manoeuvres against Sunak? Has the Chinese spy balloon pushed US relations with Beijing to a dangerous place? And what's Rory been arguing about with Sandi Toksvig?

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Producers: Dom Johnson + Nicole Maslen

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99. Question Time: Missing refugees, the best type of MPs, and are universities left wing? Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

Are academics generally left-leaning? Should the theatrical nature of PMQs be reformed? What makes an MP 'talented'? Listen to hear these questions answered, plus positive stories about politicians, cultural recommendations, what makes an MP 'talented', and the relevance of vocational education.

Leading:

Have you heard this week's episode of Leading, where Alastair and Rory speak to one of Rory's political heroes, New Labour politician Alan Milburn, on how to save the NHS.

TRIP Plus:

Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up.

Instagram:

@restispolitics

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@RestIsPolitics

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restispolitics@gmail.com

Producers: Dom Johnson + Nicole Maslen

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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98. 100 days of Sunak, the art of resigning, and Israel-Palestine Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

After 100 days as PM, is Rishi Sunak’s power already waning? What happens behind the scenes of a high-profile resignation? Has the US pivoted away from its central involvement in the Israel-Palestine conflict?

Alastair and Rory cover all the latest political news from both the UK and abroad in today's episode of The Rest Is Politics.

Leading:

This week on Leading, Rory and Alastair were joined by the former Labour Health Secretary Alan Milburn to answer a big question...

How can we save the NHS?

TRIP Plus:

Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive a weekly newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up.

Instagram:

@restispolitics

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@RestIsPolitics

Email:

restispolitics@gmail.com

Producers: Dom Johnson + Nicole Maslen

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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97. Question Time: Leaving office, a Labour Scotland, and what's the point of Davos? Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

What do Rory, Mark Zuckerberg and Saif Gaddafi all have in common? Will we see a Labour revival in Scotland? Why haven't the CPS followed up over lockdown parties in Downing Street?

Rory and Alastair answer these questions and discuss the role social media played in Jacinda Ardern's resignation, the current situation in Haiti, and cultural recommendations for the week.

TRIP Plus:

Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening, join the TRIP Plus Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up.

Instagram:

@restispolitics

Twitter:

@RestIsPolitics

Email:

restispolitics@gmail.com

Producers: Dom Johnson + Nicole Maslen

Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport

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96. Johnson's £800k loan, Zahawi's tax trouble, and Russia in Africa Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

Who gave Boris Johnson an £800k loan when he was PM? Is Nadhim Zahawi's political career over? Why is Russia on a charm offensive in Africa?