“The Rest is Politics” is a podcast that perfectly personifies the shift in consumption of news and media that has occurred over the last couple decades. At least twice a week, Alistair Campbell, former director of communications for Tony Blair, as well as Rory Stewart, former Tory MP and leadership rival against Boris Johson in 2019, talk about both domestic and international issues, giving often valuable insights they have garnered from their respective careers in politics.
The podcast has gained plaudits for its centrist angle with its motto “disagreeing agreeably” providing a departure from a political landscape that has become increasingly polarised over recent years. This has led to it gaining a significant audience consistently ranking as the number one podcast for news in the UK, with its sister podcast “The Rest is Politics Leading” ranking number two, gaining in excess of a million downloads an episode. With this number of listeners it places this podcast in terms of reach among the conventional news channels such as Channel Four news.
Given the scale of its reach the influence that it now has on the British political landscape cannot be understated. However, while certainly its long form format as well as insights on the workings of politics are positive contributions to the political landscape, rightly exposing some of the intentionally pretentious and ludicrous veneer that surrounds our political system, I will argue this is not the entire picture.
Both Campbell and Stewart view politics through a very party political perspective. Discussions around Suella Bravemen and her frequent disgusting remarks such as her recent suggestions that homelessness is a “lifestyle choice” are discussed largely from a frame of: What does this mean for the Tory party and its internal disputes? With the more important question of: What does this mean for the homeless?frequently secondary in the discussion. Something that is consistent in their political discussion.
Although, of course this perspective is certainly informed by their own personal experiences, it dehumanises issues seconding the real and often devastating impact of such statements and policy decisions, forefronting what appears to me to be political rivalries and factional disputes reminiscent of the rivalries we see in football each week. This frame of discussion from two people formerly involved in politics reflects a wider attitude in Westminster where seemingly factional disputes are given precedence in political discussion.
With this article I am not trying to say that the podcast is bad. I still listen to almost every episode, and it does give good insights into the inner workings in Westminster. However, it is important that it is listened to with perspective and an understanding of the frame with which issues are being presented. Care needs to be taken given the influence of the podcast that the human impact of politics remains the core tenant of political discussion. We cannot continue to play into party labels that seek to divide us but move to a situation where political discussion is centred about what is best for the country and not the party. This is something I think that the “Rest is Politics” and its party political focus is not helping move towards.
“Alistair Campbell” by CIPD is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
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The negative repercussions of ‘The Rest is Politics’ on political discourse
“The Rest is Politics” is a podcast that perfectly personifies the shift in consumption of news and media that has occurred over the last couple decades. At least twice a week, Alistair Campbell, former director of communications for Tony Blair, as well as Rory Stewart, former Tory MP and leadership rival against Boris Johson in 2019, talk about both domestic and international issues, giving often valuable insights they have garnered from their respective careers in politics.
The podcast has gained plaudits for its centrist angle with its motto “disagreeing agreeably” providing a departure from a political landscape that has become increasingly polarised over recent years. This has led to it gaining a significant audience consistently ranking as the number one podcast for news in the UK, with its sister podcast “The Rest is Politics Leading” ranking number two, gaining in excess of a million downloads an episode. With this number of listeners it places this podcast in terms of reach among the conventional news channels such as Channel Four news.
Given the scale of its reach the influence that it now has on the British political landscape cannot be understated. However, while certainly its long form format as well as insights on the workings of politics are positive contributions to the political landscape, rightly exposing some of the intentionally pretentious and ludicrous veneer that surrounds our political system, I will argue this is not the entire picture.
Both Campbell and Stewart view politics through a very party political perspective. Discussions around Suella Bravemen and her frequent disgusting remarks such as her recent suggestions that homelessness is a “lifestyle choice” are discussed largely from a frame of: What does this mean for the Tory party and its internal disputes? With the more important question of: What does this mean for the homeless?frequently secondary in the discussion. Something that is consistent in their political discussion.
Although, of course this perspective is certainly informed by their own personal experiences, it dehumanises issues seconding the real and often devastating impact of such statements and policy decisions, forefronting what appears to me to be political rivalries and factional disputes reminiscent of the rivalries we see in football each week. This frame of discussion from two people formerly involved in politics reflects a wider attitude in Westminster where seemingly factional disputes are given precedence in political discussion.
With this article I am not trying to say that the podcast is bad. I still listen to almost every episode, and it does give good insights into the inner workings in Westminster. However, it is important that it is listened to with perspective and an understanding of the frame with which issues are being presented. Care needs to be taken given the influence of the podcast that the human impact of politics remains the core tenant of political discussion. We cannot continue to play into party labels that seek to divide us but move to a situation where political discussion is centred about what is best for the country and not the party. This is something I think that the “Rest is Politics” and its party political focus is not helping move towards.
“Alistair Campbell” by CIPD is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
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