The Rest Is Politics: Leading

Why is Sir John Major a Tory? How did he make it from Brixton to 10 Downing Street? What was it like to witness the fall of Margaret Thatcher first hand? In the first of two episodes, Rory and Alastair are joined by the former prime minister to answer all these questions and more. John Major - Episode 2: If you'd like to hear episode two right now, sign up to The Rest is Politics Plus at therestis...

In the 21st century, the impact of financial and environmental crises can be felt by all. But how do we marry the nature of the economy with the ever depleting means of the planet? Rory and Alastair discuss the radical doughnut economic model with economist Kate Raworth to unpick how it could work politically, and how it is already helping cities to thrive in balance. TRIP Plus: Become a member of...

For former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, the personal is the political. Growing up in Belfast with a deeply personal link to sectarian violence, her aim as President was to promote unity and build bridges between political, religious and cultural divides. Alastair speaks to her about misogyny in the Catholic Church, her role as a human rights lawyer, the violence of the Troubles, and much, m...

The role of Downing Street Chief of Staff was created for him, and he was the only senior advisor to last the whole period of Tony Blair's premiership - but who is the real Jonathan Powell, and how did he do it? Rory and Alastair are joined by Jonathan Powell to discuss the New Labour years, the Northern Ireland peace process, how he negotiates with terrorists, and more. Instagram: @restispolitics...

How does the Irish Taoiseach feel about Brexit? Would Leo Varadkar consider himself a Tory in the English parliamentary system? Does Ireland have a problem with alcohol? Leo Varadkar speaks to Rory and Alastair about all this, plus his childhood in Dublin, juggling social liberalism with economic conservatism, and the future of AI in healthcare. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics...

Does George Osborne regret leaving politics? Does he think Sunak can win the next general election? What did he admire about New Labour, Tony Blair, and Gordon Brown? Tune in to today's episode of Leading to hear Alastair and Rory's conversation with the former Chancellor of the Exchequer. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening to bo...

How much do you know about Thatcher's back channels with Irish republicans during the Troubles? What are Gerry Adams' emotions towards the 1984 Brighton hotel bombing, looking back now in 2023? Who were the most important people in the negotiations that brought peace to the island of Ireland? Alastair and Rory sat down with the former Sinn Féin president to discuss all these questions and more in...

How was peace achieved in Northern Ireland? What was it like speaking to the IRA, loyalist paramilitary groups and victims simultaneously? Who were the most important individuals involved in the peace process? To mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Alastair and Rory are joined by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to answer all these questions and more. Instagram: @restispolit...

Will Donald Trump return to the White House? What happened behind the scenes during the killing of Osama Bin Laden? How should we combat the insidious effect of technology and social media on the younger generation? Alastair and Rory are joined by Hillary Rodham Clinton to discuss all this and more on today's episode of Leading. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become...

Why did David Miliband leave British politics? How did he get involved in the New Labour project? And what does he spend his time doing now? Join David as he talks to Rory and Alastair about Labour, international development, US politics, life in New York City, and the International Rescue Committee. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Poli...

What do the Murdochs think of Succession? Should the SNP change its name? Why do some actors swear by method acting while others find it such an alien approach? Actor Brian Cox sits down with Alastair to answer these questions and talk Succession, Scotland and socialism... Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the pod...

How aware are you of anti-Semitism in Britain? Comedian and author David Baddiel tells Alastair and Rory about his family, his upbringing and his views on anti-Semitism in modern Britain. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics 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, j...

Gary Lineker is regularly told to 'stick to football'. Now, after recently tweeting his views on the Government’s refugee policy, the Match Of The Day presenter sits down with Alastair and Rory to discuss his upbringing, life in the public eye, and what really happened after he was suspended (and later reinstated) in his role at the BBC. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plu...

How much do you know about what's happening to the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China? Alastair is joined by Rahima Mahmut, an Uyghur artist, activist, and the chair of 'Stop Uyghur Genocide' to explore the harrowing topic in detail. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive a weekly newsletter, enjoy ad-free...

Longest serving independent Senator of the United States Bernie Sanders has spent his life fighting for the rights of working people. Today, he joins Rory and Alastair to discuss income inequality, the two-party system and its limitations, healthcare reform and whether or not his success in debates against Hillary Clinton inadvertently played a part in Trump's presidential victory... Buy Bernie Sa...

How did the violence of The Troubles come to an end on the island of Ireland? Bertie Ahern, former Irish Taoiseach who served from 1997 to 2008, speaks to Alastair about his father's time in the IRA, how Ireland has changed over the last three decades, and what it was liking working alongside Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley on the road the Belfast Good Friday Agreements...

From a coal-miner's daughter to the White House. Fiona Hill became a leading foreign policy advisor to three presidents, a United States National Security Council official, and a key witness in Donald Trump's 2019 impeachment hearings. In this fascinating interview for Leading, Hill talks about her upbringing in Bishop Auckland, the future of the Ukraine conflict, and what it was really like worki...

Is David Lammy the next politician to represent Britain on the global stage? Alastair and Rory speak to the Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs about his upbringing, the Department for International Development, the Labour Party, tribalism in politics, and the role of foreign policy for Britain today. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP...

Do athletes now have a responsibility to use their platform to promote political change? Four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson sits down with Alastair to discuss the future of athletics, drugs in sport, political polarisation, and recovering from a stroke that doctors feared could stop him from ever walking again. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a me...

Who is the EU's man behind Brexit? How did he combat Britain's negotiating tactics? What is life like at the top of European politics? Alastair and Rory are joined by Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, three years on from Britain's exit from the European Union. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the...

Is the NHS beyond saving? Could a Labour government fix it? How should Rishi Sunak deal with strikes? This week on Leading, Alastair and Rory are joined by former Secretary of State for Health, Alan Milburn. Alan is credited for delivering modernisation to the NHS in the New Labour years, introducing foundation trusts, and is Rory’s hero for his work on reform. Tune in to hear his thoughts on the...

Alexander Litvinenko: the man who solved his own murder after being poisoned by the Russian State in London. Marina, his widow, battled for justice successfully in both a UK public enquiry and a case at the European Court of Human Rights. As a leading critic of Vladimir Putin's regime, 'mafia state' and invasion of Ukraine - Marina sat down with Alastair to discuss Alexander's murder, her fight fo...

In the first ever episode of ‘Leading’, Alastair and Rory are joined by former Deputy Prime Minister, Michael Heseltine. One of the biggest names in the last half-century of British politics, Lord Heseltine discusses everything from his crucial role in the rise and fall of Margaret Thatcher to his current position in the House of Lords.  Tune in to hear Michael talk about how politics has changed,...

Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell, hosts of Britain's biggest podcast (The Rest Is Politics), have joined forces once again for their new interview podcast, ‘Leading’. Every Monday, Rory and Alastair interrogate, converse with, and interview some of the world's biggest names - from both inside and outside of politics - about life, leadership, or leading the way in their chosen field. Whether they...