The Rest Is Politics: Leading

The Rest Is Politics’ Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart interview politicians, leaders, intellectuals, and more. From inside and outside of politics, guests join Rory and Alastair to discuss life, leadership, and the philosophy that’s led them to success in their chosen field. Their conversations cover key political events, global affairs, and the big ideas shaping the world today, offering listeners in-depth perspectives from those at the heart of change. The Rest Is Politics Plus: Become a member for exclusive bonus content, early access to Question Time episodes to live show tickets, ad-free listening for both TRIP and Leading, our exclusive newsletter, discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, and our members’ chatroom on Discord. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com.

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Every guest on The Rest Is Politics: Leading

178 guests, ranked by how many people never want them back.

1. —
   Cathy Ashton

   35. Cathy Ashton: Dealing with Putin and Lavrov, Kosovo–Serbia, and 'radical humility' · Sep 2023

   0 votes

   Never again
2. —
   Chris Hipkins

   37. Chris Hipkins, New Zealand PM: Working with Xi Jinping, fighting to stay in power, and zero covid's double-edged sword · Sep 2023

   0 votes

   Never again
3. —
   Chrystia Freeland

   123. Canada Decides: Who will be the next Prime Minister? (Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney) · Mar 2025

   0 votes

   Never again
4. —
   Comfort Ero

   45. Dr Comfort Ero: Resolving deadly conflicts & reforming the UN · Nov 2023

   0 votes

   Never again
5. —
   Dan Neidle

   204. Will a Wealth Tax Actually Fix Britain? (Dan Neidle) · Aug 2026

   0 votes

   Never again
6. —
   David Urban

   95. DNC Special: An alternative view from a Trump supporter (David Urban) · Aug 2024

   0 votes

   Never again
7. —
   Dieter Helm

   69. The brutal truth about net zero and how to vanquish climate populists, with Dieter Helm · Apr 2024

   0 votes

   Never again
8. —
   Dmytro Kuleba

   157. Ukraine, Diplomacy, and the Future of Europe (Dmytro Kuleba) · Oct 2025

   0 votes

   Never again
9. —
   Douglas Alexander

   99. Team of Rivals: Blair, Brown and the secrets of New Labour (Douglas Alexander) · Sep 2024

   0 votes

   Never again
10. —
    Ed Kessler

    68. Israel-Gaza: How the conflict divided Britain and the US, with Ed Kessler · Apr 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
11. —
    Ehud Olmert

    71. Israel's former PM on why Netanyahu is finished, the settler movement, and corruption - Ehud Olmert · Apr 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
12. —
    Eluned Morgan

    114. The future of Wales (Eluned Morgan) · Dec 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
13. —
    Emma Pinchbeck

    142. The Truth About Net Zero's Credibility (Emma Pinchbeck) · Jul 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
14. —
    Francesca Albanese

    126. Israel, Gaza, and the United Nations (Francesca Albanese) · Mar 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
15. —
    Frans Timmermans

    122. How Europe can survive Trump (Frans Timmermans) · Feb 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
16. —
    Gabriel Attal

    140. The Next President of France? Gabriel Attal on Macron, Le Pen, and Israel-Iran · Jun 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
17. —
    Gerry Adams

    17: Gerry Adams: The Troubles, Margaret Thatcher, and the IRA · May 2023

    0 votes

    Never again
18. —
    Gillian Keegan

    55. Gillian Keegan: The future of British schools, union 'barons', and Sunak's Rwanda battle · Jan 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
19. —
    Guy Verhofstadt

    54. Guy Verhofstadt: Is there a case for a European army? · Jan 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
20. —
    Helle Thorning-Schmidt

    84. Denmark's former PM on the power of centrist politics, fighting misogyny, and joining the Kinnock empire (Helle Thorning-Schmidt) · Jul 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
21. —
    Irfaan Ali

    148. The President of Guyana: The Fastest Growing Economy in the World (Irfaan Ali) · Aug 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
22. —
    Jacob Dunne
    0 votes

    Never again
23. —
    James Cleverly

    193. James Cleverly: Why Has There Been A Radical Shift On The Right? · Jun 2026

    0 votes

    Never again
24. —
    James Elder

    152. "A War on Children": A Generation in Gaza at Risk (James Elder) · Sep 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
25. —
    James Manyika

    116. Is AI the answer to human suffering? (James Manyika) · Jan 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
26. —
    Jeremy Fleming

    175. Ex-Director of GCHQ: China, Russia, and the Threats Facing the UK (Jeremy Fleming) · Feb 2026

    0 votes

    Never again
27. —
    John Anzalone

    91. DNC Special: The Pollster (John Anzalone) · Aug 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
28. —
    John Healey

    156. Defence Secretary, John Healey: Is Britain Ready For War? · Oct 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
29. —
    John Swinney

    166. John Swinney: Identity, Independence, and The Future of Scotland · Dec 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
30. —
    Jonathan Powell

    20: Jonathan Powell: How to negotiate with terrorists · May 2023

    0 votes

    Never again
31. —
    Josh Elliot

    94. DNC Special: The Young Buck (Josh Elliot) · Aug 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
32. —
    Kristrún Frostadóttir

    199. Is Trump's Chaos Pushing Iceland Towards the EU? (Prime Minister of Iceland, Kristrún Frostadóttir) · Jul 2026

    0 votes

    Never again
33. —
    Maia Sandu

    170. President of Moldova, Maia Sandu: Holding the Line Between Democracy and Putin · Jan 2026

    0 votes

    Never again
34. —
    Malcolm Turnbull

    195. Can the West Reclaim its Power from Trump? (Malcolm Turnbull) · Jun 2026

    0 votes

    Never again
35. —
    Marina Litvinenko

    2: Marina Litvinenko: Fighting Putin's poison · Jan 2023

    0 votes

    Never again
36. —
    Mark Williams

    167. Faith, Depression, and Finding Calm in the Chaos (Professor Mark Williams) · Dec 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
37. —
    Maro Itoje

    154. Maro Itoje: Inequality, Identity, and Hope · Sep 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
38. —
    Mary McAleese

    21: Mary McAleese: Building bridges as the President of Ireland · Jun 2023

    0 votes

    Never again
39. —
    Michel Barnier

    4: Michel Barnier: The Truth Behind Brexit · Feb 2023

    0 votes

    Never again
40. —
    Miriam González Durántez

    32. Miriam González Durántez: Navigating Silicon Valley, the Cameron-Clegg years, and the fight for gender equality · Aug 2023

    0 votes

    Never again