The Rest Is Politics

Introducing Empire

Today's feed drop features historian and friend of the show William Dalrymple discussing our new sister podcast, Empire, which he hosts alongside broadcaster Anita Anand. How do empires rise? Why do they fall? And how have they shaped the world around us today? This new show explores the stories, personalities and events of empire over the course of history. The first series looks at the British in India, covering The East India Company, the Raj, Gandhi, Independence and Partition. In the opening episode, William and Anita discuss the rise of The East India Company, exploring how a small corporation with only a handful of employees came to rule India. The episode begins with the birth of the Company in Tudor England and culminates with Robert Clive and the Battle of Plassey. Listen to the second episode of Empire below: Apple - apple.co/3A0tEw9 Spotify - spoti.fi/3K4LZNk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

41. Question Time: Classified documents, Eddie Jones, and A-levels

Just how easy is it to waltz out of office with classified government documents? In the latest episode of TRIP QT, Alastair and Rory take your questions on Trump's FBI raid, Gordon Brown and Gillian Duffy, scuffles, Eddie Jones, A-levels, and more. Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up. Blackpool tickets - Saturday 8th October: wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/events/the-rest-is-politics-live/ Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

40. Salman Rushdie, the energy price cap, and Afghanistan

Join Alastair and Rory as they discuss the one year anniversary of Afghanistan falling to the Taliban, the French withdrawal from Mali, the Wagner Group, how Gordon Brown lets his hair down, the Kenyan election, the cost of living, Keir Starmer's holiday, the energy price cap, Salman Rushdie, freedom of speech, and more. Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up. Blackpool tickets - Saturday 8th October: wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/events/the-rest-is-politics-live/ Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport The New European sponsorship: www.theneweuropean.co.uk/trip Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

39. Question Time: Clan Campbell vs. Clan Stewart, Tartan Trews, and Lindsay Hoyle

Join Alastair and Rory for the latest episode of TRIP: Question Time, where they answer your questions on the historical Scottish clashes between Clan Stewart and Clan Campbell, Rory’s tartan trousers, the performance of Lindsay Hoyle as Speaker, and labour shortages in the UK. Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening, 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 Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

38. Amnesty International, cabinet duels, and fuel poverty

Join Alastair and Rory as they discuss lame ducks, Amnesty International’s Ukraine report, politicians’ holidays, energy prices, fuel poverty, George Canning, Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan, the wildfires and US Climate Bill, Boris Johnson’s dancing, and The Rest Is Politics bingo. Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, enjoy ad-free listening, 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 Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

37. Question Time: Scottish Unionism, growth, and cannibalism

Join Alastair and Rory for the latest episode of TRIP: Question Time, where they answer your questions on Bhutan's Gross Domestic Happiness, Scottish Unionism, political biographies, cannibalism, and more. Show notes: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln - Doris Kearns Goodwin De Gaulle - Aidan Crawley  The Years of Lyndon Johnson - Robert Caro  The Power Broker - Robert Caro Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Editor: James Hodgson Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

36. William Hague on Boris Johnson, Blair, and Brexit

In a special episode of The Rest Is Politics, Alastair and Rory are joined by former Foreign Secretary and former Leader of the Conservative Party, William Hague. They discuss the future for Boris Johnson, William’s days facing Tony Blair in the Commons, packing the House of Lords, Putin’s offer to build a gas pipeline to the UK, the Hong Kong handover, Brexit, leaving politics on a high, education, vaccines, and reasons to be optimistic. Show notes: The Great Firewall: Wie China das Internet verändert (German language podcast) Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

35. Al-Qaeda, Pelosi in Taiwan, and working for Truss

Join Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart as they discuss al-Qaeda, Kosovo, Kenya, Tunisia, the 'age of impunity', Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit, working for Truss and Sunak, terrorism, and resignation honours. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Show notes: The Holocaust: A New History - Laurence Rees Boris Johnson is planning to fill the Lords with his cronies and legitimise bribery - Gordon Brown (The Guardian) Which prime minister is being described here? - Robert Saunders (Twitter) Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

34. Question Time: The last days of Blair and May, carbon footprints, and remaining hopeful

May's downfall, Blair-Brown, Celtic vs. Rangers in Belfast, remaining hopeful, charter cities, climate change, carbon emissions, and wildfires. Join Alastair and Rory as they answer all your questions on the above and more in the latest Question Time episode of The Rest Is Politics. Reading list: The Brexit revolutionaries have barely begun, Britain need to wake up fast (The Sovereign Individual) - Alastair Campbell The Tories are upping their attack on our democracy, under cover of the leadership contest - Gina Miller (The Guardian) The Value of Everything: Making and Taking in the Global Economy - Mariana Mazzucato Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

33. Blue on blue, famine in Africa, and David Trimble

Join Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart as they discuss the Tory leadership race, the life and legacy of David Trimble, Mario Draghi's resignation, charter cities, famine in Africa, populism, and Marilyn Monroe's poetry. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Show notes: The Irish Diaries (1994–2003) - Alastair Campbell David Trimble Channel 4 Clip (Twitter) Italy’s loss of Mario Draghi is a warning to progressives across Europe – and to the EU - Lorenzo Marsili (The Guardian) The Sovereign Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age - James Dale Davidson + William Rees-Mogg Would-be Tory leaders aren’t facing up to dire state of the NHS - Polly Toynbee (The Guardian) Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

32. Question Time: Treating addiction, feminism, and a fear of ketchup

Join Rory and Alastair for the latest episode of 'The Rest Is Politics: Question Time', where they discuss removing the stigma around addiction, feminism, Eton, Alastair's fear of ketchup, political cliches, Rory's worst interview gaff, whether the SNP has a mandate for another independence referendum, and how Iran and Afghanistan have changed since Rory's walk. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

31. Rishi Sunak vs. Liz Truss

And then there were two... After finding out that Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak will compete to be the next UK Prime Minister, Rory and Alastair recorded a special episode devoted to that very topic. They discuss Truss and Sunak's reputation among Tory members, their suitability for the top job, and the relationship between ambitious MPs and the British media. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

30. Keir Starmer on rebuilding Labour, Tory leadership, and Brexit

In a special episode recorded in Westminster as temperatures approached 40C in London, Rory and Alastair are joined by the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer. They debate and discuss the Tory leadership race, Scotland, rebuilding Labour, economic policy, global recession, Brexit, Boris Johnson, the path to power, the Lib Dems, electoral reform, written constitutions, the British press and more. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport Sign up for free to The Knowledge: www.theknowledge.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

29. Heatwaves, semiconductors, and Johnson's return?

It's the hottest day of the year so far, but Rory and Alastair are still managing to disagree fairly agreeably! Tune in to hear them talk heatwaves, climate change, leadership debates, food shortages, semiconductors, Thatcher and taxation, China, Joe Biden, Boris Johnson's return, and more. Plus, stay tuned for a special guest episode later this week too... Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

28. Question Time: Shinzo Abe, Sri Lanka, and 'Big Society'

Join Rory and Alastair for the seventh episode of 'The Rest Is Politics: Question Time', where they discuss the assassination and legacy of Shinzo Abe, the situation in Sri Lanka, Tory leadership, marriage, Rory's wedding ring, the Met, and more.  Reading List: Not For The Faint-Hearted: My Life Fighting Crime - John Stevens Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Editor: James Hodgson Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

27. Tory leadership race: contenders and pretenders

Rishi Sunak. Liz Truss. Penny Mordaunt. Tom Tugendhat. And about fifty others. Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart discuss the runners and riders in the chaotic Tory leadership contest, with Rory giving an insider's guide into what goes on behind the scenes. How do you attract support? When do campaigns really start? And who will succeed Boris Johnson? Reading list: Tory leadership candidate endorsement tracker (New Statesman) - Ben Walker Who started each Tory leadership race as favourite? - Tides of History Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

26. BORIS JOHNSON RESIGNS

Boris Johnson has resigned. Join Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart for this emergency podcast as they react to the news of Johnson's resignation. After a tumultuous few days, Johnson is finally standing down, and Alastair and Rory answer the key questions raised by this landmark announcement. Can Johnson stay on as caretaker? Who are the candidates to replace him? What happens next? Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

25. British scandals, global recession, and Elvis

Join Rory and Alastair as they discuss British scandals, moments of madness, civil service interventions, Starmer on Brexit, technocracy, global economic recession, tech bubbles, China and Taiwan, Xi Jinping, Britain's dwindling military, Lebedev, Elvis, Jimmy Carter and a tribute to Peter Brook. Reading list: Xi Jinping: The Most Powerful Man in the World - Stefan Aust and Adrian Geiges Starmer is right to say Brexit won’t be reversed (The Times) - William Hague Mozart in Motion - Patrick Mackie The State We're In: Alastair Campbell Meets Rory Stewart (Men's Health) - Alastair Campbell Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport The New European Offer: theneweuropean.co.uk/trip Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

24. SPECIAL: SUNAK AND JAVID RESIGN

Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart respond to the breaking news that Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid have both resigned from the Government. How long can Boris Johnson survive as Prime Minister after two of his heavyweight ministers resign a few minutes apart? Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

23. Question Time: Roe v. Wade, military MPs, and Ismail Kadare

Roe v. Wade, the impact of military service on sitting MPs, Britain's global reputation, Labour's stance on strike action, progressive alliances, John Smith, Alexander the Great, and the novels of Ismail Kadare. Join Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell for the fifth episode of The Rest Is Politics: Question Time, where they answer your questions on all of the above and much, much more. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Reading list: Broken April - Ismail Kadare Spring Flowers - Ismail Kadare Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

22. Tony Blair on the UK's relegation battle

Tony Blair joins Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell to discuss his fears that Britain may soon be relegated from the Premiership of nations. Also discussed, his views on the future of the NHS, technology and how Labour can recover from the Corbyn years. Plus Ukraine, Russia, China, Scotland, and how to handle Alastair Campbell. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport The New European Offer: theneweuropean.co.uk/trip Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

21. Question Time: The Queen's toilet, Carole Cadwalladr, and climate crisis

Find out which historical world leaders Rory and Alastair would be like to work alongside, what they would say if they had the world's attention for 30 seconds, their thoughts on the 'Tory power stance' and body language coaching in politics. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Editor: James Hodgson Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

20. By-elections, strikes, and populists

Join Rory and Alastair as they discuss by-elections, how Alastair would run as a Tory, strikes, trade unions, Colombia, France, Henry Kissinger, Carrie Johnson's ghost story, Rory's visit to a kibbutz, Welsh Labour, ethics advisors and unrequited love! Reading list: Here’s what Labour should say on Brexit and immigration - Peter Kellner Henry Kissinger at 99: how to avoid another world war - Niall Ferguson Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport The New European Offer: theneweuropean.co.uk/trip Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

19. Question Time: Ukraine, Tony Blair, and foreign languages

Join Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart for the third edition of 'The Rest is Politics: Question Time', where they answer your questions on the situation in Ukraine, the role of former world leaders in politics, and their multilingual capabilities. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Editor: James Hodgson Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

18. Keir Starmer, Northern Ireland, and disagreeing 'agreeably'

Join Rory and Alastair as they discuss the performance and future of Keir Starmer, what they both think of Wes Streeting, Rory's appearance on BBC Question Time, austerity, what Labour needs to do to win, train strikes, Tony Blair, Northern Ireland, the ERG, Liz Truss, and disagreeing 'agreeably'. Reading list: Paul Krugman - The Austerity Delusion Anton Spisak - Fixing the Northern Ireland Protocol: A Way Forward Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport The New European Offer: theneweuropean.co.uk/trip Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

17. Question Time: Austerity, diaries, and impostors

Join Rory and Alastair as they answer your questions on Austerity, John Bercow, protest, schools, carbon footprints, imposter syndrome, cheese, interview techniques, political diaries, and the Duc de Saint-Simon. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

16. Johnson, monarchy, and the West Bank

Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor & Jack Davenport The Week: theweek.co.uk/rest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

15. Question Time: Hong Kong handover, human rights, and Tintin

Welcome to the first ever episode of 'TRIP: Question Time'! During our Question Time pods, Rory and Alastair will attempt to answer even more of the fantastic listener questions we get each week. While the Wednesday pod will still dig into the main issues of the day, TRIP QT allows Alastair and Rory to debate wide-ranging topics and recount stories from their lives in politics and beyond. This week the pod covers prisons, how to talk to totalitarian leaders about human rights, Alastair's memories of the Hong Kong handover, how Tintin inspired Rory, Alastair's most right wing view, Rory's most left wing view, and how your upbringing can shape your political outlook. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor & Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

14. Charisma, Portugal, and gun control

Rory going viral, Alastair's trip to Portugal, Labour's Brexit position, Olaf Scholz, the UEFA Champions League Final, the 1922 Committee, charisma, Nelson Mandela, teaching politics in school, US gun control, and ABBA. Tune in to today's pod to hear all this and more! ANNOUNCEMENT: Make sure you come back tomorrow for our first episode of 'TRIP: Question Time' (in the same podcast feed), where Alastair and Rory will devote a whole show to answering more listener questions and recounting some incredible stories from their time in politics. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor & Jack Davenport The Week: theweek.co.uk/rest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

13. Rupert Murdoch, Taiwan, and Burnley

Partygate photos, Teals in Australia, why Rory ran as an independent in London, Anthony Albanese, Mhairi Black, Bill Cash, Rupert Murdoch, China, Taiwan, PR, and Nigel Farage. This week's pod has got it all. Join Rory and Alastair as they drill down into the political talking points from at home and abroad, plus plenty of listener questions. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Tony Pastor & Jack Davenport The Week: theweek.co.uk/rest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices