How much power does the Mayor of London actually have? Have we moved forward - or backwards - as a country when it comes to religion in politics? Should London take a leaf out of New York's book to boost investment in the city? On today's episode of Leading, Rory and Alastair are joined by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to discuss all this and more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to...

Is net zero 2030 impossible to achieve - and is it a mistake to pursue it? Should governments be more brutal with climate investment? Are events like COP a waste of time? Rory and Alastair are joined by Britain’s leading energy economist, Professor Dieter Helm, to answer all these questions and more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book...

What makes international conflicts turn domestic? Does Qatar play the key role in bringing peace to the Middle East? Is there a generational split in the West over Israel-Gaza? On today's episode of Leading, Rory and Alastair are joined by Ed Kessler, a leading thinker in interfaith relations, to answer all these questions and more. 🌏 Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/leadingvpn It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ✅ Learn more about your ad...

Should spies be allowed to break the law while undercover? What should the relationship between government and intelligence look like? Do we overestimate or underestimate the power and reach of Russia’s FSB and China’s intelligence service? On today’s special episode of Leading, Rory and Alastair are joined by Eliza Manningham-Buller and John Sawers to discuss what it’s really like to lead MI5 and MI6, respectively. This episode was recorded before the IS-Khorasan attack in Moscow. 🌏 Get...

Can Britain remain a cultural superpower post-Brexit? How does religion and philosophy inform creativity? How can we prevent arts from being cut from curriculums? Rory and Alastair are joined by Britain's leading sculptor, Antony Gormley, to answer all these questions and more. 🌏 Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/leadingvpn It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ✅ TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast,...

How did peace come to the Balkans? What was it like to be a political prisoner? Is Serbia more allied with the West, or with Putin? Rory and Alastair are joined by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, to discuss all this and more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our Discord chatroom,...

How hard is it to be a one person party in parliament? What can the left learn from the populist right? Could electoral reform actually help Keir Starmer? On today's episode of Leading, Rory and Alastair are joined by the Green Party's Caroline Lucas to answer all these questions and more. Pre order Caroline's book, Another England, here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/another-england/caroline-lucas/2928377252441 🌏 Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/leadingvpn It’s...

What is Sajid's biggest regret from his time in politics? What barriers did he come up against in the Shamima Begum case during his time as Home Secretary? Will the NHS survive? Rory and Alastair are joined by Sajid Javid, former Home Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary of State for Health, and many more cabinet positions, to answer all these questions and more in part two of this two part interview. TRIP Plus:  Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the...

How are politicians working to combat anti-muslim and antisemitic racism in the UK? How does Sajid maintain friendships across party lines? Was austerity the only option for the Conservatives following the financial crash? Rory and Alastair are joined by Sajid Javid, former Home Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary of State for Health, and many more cabinet positions, to answer all these questions and more in part one of this two part interview. TRIP Plus: Become a member of...

“You took me to one side and said be very, very careful of these people, these neo-cons. Because they’re going to use this to do all sorts of stuff that you shouldn’t be involved in.” What are the limits of foreign intervention? Do the American people still want their country to be the world’s policeman? Is Biden closer to Clinton in his outlook than to Obama? On today‘s episode of Leading, Rory and Alastair are joined by James Rubin, former diplomat and commentator on international...

Would a second Trump presidency be far more right wing? What drives the former US president? Is he trying to do a deal with Taylor Swift? In this week's episode of Leading, Rory and Alastair are joined by Anthony Scaramucci, Trump's former spin doctor, where he answers all these questions and more. Buy tickets now for our October TRIP Election Tour: https://www.aegpresents.co.uk/event/the-rest-is-politics/ TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast,...

Why do we get stressed? What are the psychological differences between conservatives and liberals? Is free will a myth? Rory and Alastair are joined by scientist Dr Robert Sapolsky to answer all these questions and more in today's episode of Leading. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our...

What is the future of the independence debate in Scotland? How was it to work with Nicola Sturgeon? Have world leaders done enough to curb civilian deaths in Gaza? On today's episode of Leading, Rory and Alastair are joined by Scotland's First Minister and leader of the SNP, Humza Yousaf, to answer all these questions and more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading,...

What does President Biden need to do to defeat Trump? What went wrong in Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign? Did Republican figures like Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich pave the way for Trump? Rory and Alastair are joined by communications expert and political strategist Tucker Eskew to discuss Donald Trump's chances, what it was like working with Sarah Palin, polarisation in the United States, and much more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the...

How does one of the richest men in the world run a business? Is artificial intelligence going to be as big as the Windows PC? What politicians does Bill Gates admire? Bill Gates joins Rory and Alastair on today's episode of Leading to answer all these questions and more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on...

What's it like to be the Secretary of State for Education who left school at 17? How much power do unions really have in British politics? What's it like to become a Tory MP when your family hails from the Labour Party? Gillian Keegan joins Rory and Alastair on today's episode of Leading to answer all these questions and more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading,...

What's it like to run Belgium for a decade? How many people in the EU actually believe in 'ever-closer union'? What are the pros and cons of being a career politician? On today's episode of Leading, Rory and Alastair are joined by former Belgium prime minister and advocate of a federal Europe, Guy Verhofstadt, to answer all these questions and more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to...

Will doping ever be defeated in sport? What was it like going from world class runner to government whip? Are the Tories finished in Britain? In the first Leading episode of 2024, Rory and Alastair are joined by Seb Coe to discuss all this and more. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our...

Is the West more Christian than it thinks? Why are so many British prime ministers from religious backgrounds? How does the evangelical support for Donald Trump and the culture wars in the US reflect a Christian civil war? For a Christmas Day special of Leading, Rory and Alastair are joined by historian Tom Holland, co-host of sister podcast 'The Rest Is History', to discuss the profound impact religion has had on shaping politics and the Western world. To hear more from Tom, just search...

What is the future of human space exploration? Will people live on Mars in our life time? Are there plans to grow human organs on the moon? British astronaut Tim Peake joins Rory and Alastair to discuss everything from his time in the army, to the geopolitics of space exploration, to the future of colonising other planets. TRIP Plus:  Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading,...

Could Labour still lose the next election? What really went wrong under Jeremy Corbyn? What do the left actually think of the right? Rory and Alastair are joined by Labour's Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner, to discuss all this and more on today's episode of Leading. TRIP Plus:  Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod,...

How do countries cooperate to tackle the climate emergency? Is it unusual for the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in the oil rich UAE? What does the future hold for renewable energies and reducing carbon emissions? Rory and Alastair are joined by Costa Rican diplomat Christiana Figueres to discuss COP28, The Paris Agreement, what it was like growing up in a political family in Costa Rica, and how to balance working in public service and with positive mental health....

Is understanding history a means to peace between Israel and Palestine? Has Putin’s obsession with Russia’s imperial history motivated his invasion of Ukraine? Is it possible to dismantle Hamas under Netanyahu’s leadership?  Rory and Alastair are joined by British historian Simon Sebag Montefiore to answer these questions and more in today's episode of Leading. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free...

Is peace possible in the Middle East? What is the difference between a one-state solution and a two-state solution? What is the role of the international community in resolving the conflict between Israel-Hamas? Rory and Alastair are joined by Tony Klug, leading expert on the two-state solution and conflicts in the Middle East in today's bonus episode. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to...