The Rest Is Politics

Latest Episodes:

Divided or Dependent? The Real Gen Z Story May 09, 2026

Show notes

Are the challenges faced by Gen Z unique or have we seen them before? Do workplaces need a Gen Z strategy, or is there something bigger at play? And, why does it feel like young people's attitudes are becoming more traditional?

Vicky Spratt, investigates the question: How bad are things really for young people? This week she is joined by generations expert, Professor Bobby Duffy.

To hear the whole episode, and the rest of the series sign up at therestispolitics.com

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Hosted by: Vicky Spratt

Producer: India Dunkley

Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Adam Thornton, Lorcan Moullier

Researcher: Olivia Taylor Hooper

Exec Producer: Tom Whiter

Editorial Director: Emily Kent Smith

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530. Is Starmer the Next Joe Biden? Rory and Alastair React to Local Elections May 08, 2026

Show notes

Will Keir Starmer survive presiding over seismic Labour losses in the local elections, and if he doesn’t who should replace him? Do historic Reform and Green wins for Farage and Polanski confirm the death of two-party politics in the UK? Did the Ed Davey’s Lib Dems and Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives actually perform better than expected?

Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.

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Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

Producer: Evan Green

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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529. Antisemitism, Polarisation, and How the King Outplayed Trump May 06, 2026

Show notes

How is polarisation fuelling antisemitism, and how should religious and political leaders respond? What can politicians learn from the King’s speech to Congress about how to challenge Trump? Is Russia's security partnership model collapsing across Africa?

Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in this week's edition of Question Time.

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Our new student discount: get TRIP membership for just £20 per year when you sign up using your university email at checkout on ⁠therestispolitics.com⁠.

Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory.

The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription.

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Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Vasco Andrade

Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

Producer: Evan Green

Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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528. Trump vs. Germany and Farage’s £5m ‘Gift’ May 05, 2026

Show notes

As Trump threatens to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, has European appeasement of Trump officially failed? Will historic local election losses for Labour trigger a change of Prime Minister? Why has Nigel Farage faced such little scrutiny on his £5 million ‘gift’ from a Thai-based crypto billionaire?

Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.

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Our new student discount: get TRIP membership for just £20 per year when you sign up using your university email at checkout on therestispolitics.com.

Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory.

The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription.

Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/restispolitics It's risk-free with Nord's 30 day money back guarantee ✅

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Instagram: @restispolitics

Twitter: @restispolitics

Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com

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Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Josh Smith, James Clayden

Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

Producer: Evan Green

Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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Lucky or Left Behind? The Gen Z Money Story Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

Is Gen Z the most informed generation in history, or the most financially trapped? Is a university degree still worth it, or have we sent too many people to study the wrong things? Has Britain gone from a meritocracy to an inheritocracy, where the “Bank of Mum and Dad” are more essential than ever?

Vicky Spratt, Housing and Society Correspondent, investigates the Gen Z story and how bad are things really for young people? This week she is joined by generational historial Dr Eliza Filby.

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To hear the whole episode, and to get access to all TRIP bonus content, sign up at therestispolitics.com

Instagram: ⁠@restispolitics⁠

Twitter: ⁠@restispolitics⁠

Email: ⁠therestispolitics@goalhanger.com⁠

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Hosted by: Vicky Spratt

Producer: India Dunkley

Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Adam Thornton, Lorcan Moullier

Researcher: Olivia Taylor Hooper

Exec Producer: Tom Whiter

Editorial Director: Emily Kent Smith

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527. Are American Tech Billionaires Threatening British Democracy? Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

Given Palantir’s controversial manifesto – described by some as having “techno-fascist” tendencies – why is the UK Government expanding its work with the company? Why has the Foreign Office closed its international humanitarian law unit, and what does this say about the UK's commitment to international law? Is the government doing enough to address mental health issues, particularly among young people and Gen Z?

Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in this week's edition of Question Time.

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Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory.

The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription.

Stream Secret Service now on ITVX. Visit https://www.itv.com/watch/secret-service/10a3104

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Instagram: @restispolitics

Twitter: @restispolitics

Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com

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Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Video Editor: James Clayden, Lorcan Moullier

Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

Producer: Evan Green

Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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526. Trump's Orwellian Maths and the King's Special Relationship Mission Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

Is the so-called ‘special relationship’ between America and Britain already broken, and is it even worth saving? How can the UK and Europe achieve independence from the US on defence, tech and nuclear? Is Trump's comical mathematical illiteracy actually a serious threat to democracy?

Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.

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Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory.

The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at https://fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription.

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Instagram: @restispolitics

Twitter: @restispolitics

Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com

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Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Video Editor: Josh Smith, Bruno Di Castri

Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

Producer: Evan Green

Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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525. JD Vance vs. the Pope and the Far-Right Funding Machine (Question Time) Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

Why do Trump and JD Vance keep arguing with the Pope about theology? Who is funding the British and European far-right? As nationalism grows in Scotland and Wales, did devolution make this inevitable?

Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.

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Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory.

The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription.

Secret Service starts Monday 27th of April, on ITV1 and ITVX

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Instagram: @restispolitics

Twitter: @restispolitics

Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com

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Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

Producer: Evan Green

Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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524. Starmer’s Mandelson Mess and the Iranian Nuclear Threat Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

Did Starmer show a fatal lack of judgement and curiosity about Peter Mandelson’s suitability for public office? How and why did Trump destroy years of successful Iranian nuclear ‘containment’ policy? Four years into the Sudan war, what does the failure of peace efforts reveal about the unravelling of the world order?

Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.

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Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory.

The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription.

Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/restispolitics It's risk-free with Nord's 30 day money back guarantee ✅

__________

Instagram: @restispolitics

Twitter: @restispolitics

Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com

__________

Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Josh Smith, Bruno Di Castri

Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

Producer: Evan Green

Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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

523. The Starmer-Mandelson Scandal: Lying or Incompetence? Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

Can Starmer survive if it emerges he was previously told about Mandelson's failed vetting? Is he developing a pattern of blaming others when things go wrong? Will this lead Labour MPs to start questioning their leader ahead of crucial local elections?

Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.

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Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory.

The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at ⁠https://fuseenergy.com/politics⁠ and get a free TRIP+ subscription.

Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/restispolitics It's risk-free with Nord's 30 day money back guarantee ✅

__________

Instagram: @restispolitics

Twitter: @restispolitics

Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com

__________

Social Producer: Celine Charles

Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne

Producer: Evan Green

Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer

General Manager: Tom Whiter

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