The Rest Is Politics – Episode 481: “Polanski, Macron & al-Sharaa: The Best & Worst Politicians of 2025”

Date: December 24, 2025
Hosts: Alastair Campbell & Rory Stewart

Overview

In this Christmas Eve special, Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart engage in their annual deep-dive analysis of the UK and international political landscape. They reflect on the best and worst politicians of the year, headline interviews, political speeches, major moments, and under-discussed issues shaping 2025. The episode is marked by the show’s signature blend of expert insight, sharp disagreement, and friendly banter, culminating in an unexpectedly moving meditation on hope, frailty, and political leadership.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Christmas, Theology, and Personal Traditions

[02:28 – 04:30]

• Rory teases Alastair for being a Christmas “grinch”; brief light-hearted talk comparing Christmas’s religious and cultural meanings.
• The two discuss reading books in different languages, notably about trees—setting a tone of broad curiosity.

2. Best UK Politician of 2025

[05:24 – 08:46]

• Rory’s Nominee: Zach Polanski (Green Party Leader) – Highlighted for tripling party membership, boosting poll position, and capturing left-leaning voters.
  “If Farage was the story of last year, I think Polanski is the story of this year.” (Rory, [06:44])
• Alastair’s Nominee: Ed Miliband (Labour Cabinet) – Praised for resilience and clarity on the green brief despite internal opposition.
  “I like resilience. I like perseverance. I like people who just keep going…” (Alastair, [07:58])

Notable Mention

• Al Khan: Former Royal Marine, now Defence Minister. Lauded for real-world experience, candor, and literally climbing Everest in six and a half days during Parliament recess.
  “If we were the United States, he would already… be talked of as a future Prime Minister.” (Alastair, [10:25])

3. Worst UK Politician of the Year

[11:12 – 14:24]

• Rory: Rachel Reeves – Criticized for lack of vision in the Budget and “buying off” backbenchers.
  “That was extraordinary... it was not a budget driven by a big economic idea or what you would call, I don't know, a narrative or a story or an argument.” (Rory, [12:10])
• Alastair: Nathan Gill (former MEP, convicted of bribery); with “supporting actor” Nigel Farage for enabling and downplaying the scandal.
  “I think that Gill is my worst politician of the year because of what he did. But I think it's foolish if we don't realize that there is a lot more to this story than is yet known.” (Alastair, [14:24])

4. Favourite “Leading” Interview

[14:32 – 18:47]

• Ahmed Al-Sharaa, new Syrian leader: Standout for candor on his past in jihadist movements, his vision for Syria, and being the most listened-to episode in both Arabic and English. “We got him at a moment where he was being extremely frank in a way that he probably wouldn't today...” (Rory, [15:35])
• Also praised: Baroness Hale, Alex Younger, Ben Wallace, Marwan Barghouti, Jonathan Haidt, Michael Gove, Gareth Southgate, Jonas Gahr Støre, and Jacinda Ardern.

Notable Moment

• Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s White House visit, where “Trump sprayed him with perfume” in an odd diplomatic gesture.
  “One of the big moments of the year really was Ahmad El Shara going to the White House and having Donald Trump spray him with perfume, which was extraordinary.” (Alastair, [18:32])

5. Best Foreign Politician of the Year

[18:47 – 23:38]

• Rory: Mark Carney (Canadian Prime Minister) – Noted for his seamless transition from central banker to politician, remaining authentic. “What’s amazing about Mark Carney … is that he is a surprise.” (Rory, [21:28])
• Alastair: Maia Sandu (President of Moldova) – Recognized for standing up to Russian interference, winning a contested election, and leading with courage. “She fought an election with massive interference from the Russians and she saw it off and she won. And I think she's got guts.” (Alastair, [19:16])

Other mentions: Rob Jetten, Greek PM Mitsotakis, Jonas Gahr Støre (Norway), Jacinda Ardern.

6. Worst Foreign Politician of the Year

[24:03 – 27:13]

• Both hosts exempt Trump (“assumed, let’s not bore the listeners”).
• Alastair: Ben-Gvir and Smotrich (Israeli cabinet), for undermining peace and Palestinian rights; Netanyahu as responsible for empowering them.
• Rory: Emmanuel Macron (French President), for failing to live up to centrist potential. “I think Macron has absolutely demonstrated the most catastrophic failure of what could have been the incredible potential of a highly intelligent centrist politician...” (Rory, [25:09])
• Honorable (dishonorable) mentions: Boris Johnson (referenced due to the ongoing COVID inquiry).

7. Political Speech of the Year

[28:21 – 34:20]

• Alastair’s Picks:

  • Most Consequential: J.D. Vance in Munich, laying bare US foreign policy drift. “He basically said, you lot think that Putin’s your biggest threat. Your biggest threat is you don’t believe in free speech.” (Alastair, [28:36])
  • Best Parliamentary: Kemi Badenoch’s Budget reply as effective and brutal for solidifying her leadership hopes.
  • Best Overall: Pep Guardiola (football manager), for a heartfelt Manchester speech on Gaza and humanity. “I’m not speaking here about taking sides or ideology. I’m speaking about our basic humanity.” (Alistair, [30:46])

• Rory:

  • Most Revealing: Stephen Miller at Charlie Kirk’s funeral, chilling invocation of “civilization and warriors” rhetoric—echoes of fascist language. “We are the light, they are the darkness.” (Rory, [32:29])
  • Uplifting: Jane Goodall’s chimpanzee mating call during an honorary degree acceptance, a moment of levity and humanity.

8. Biggest Political Moment of the Year

[40:10 – 47:30]

• Alastair: Zelenskyy’s tense Oval Office meeting—symbolizing US-Ukrainian rupture under Trump. “They were doing it by saying to Zelenskyy, you’re little, we’re big. Putin’s big. You’re still little, you’ve lost, give up.” (Alastair, [41:09])
• Rory: Trump’s “Liberation Day tariffs” – Dramatically increased US tariffs (from 3% to 18%), undermining global order, especially hurting allies. “If historians looked back in 30 years time, this was the big change, because it changed so many things in a single moment.” (Rory, [43:12])

9. Most Under-Discussed UK Issue

[48:33 – 54:08]

• Rory: Persistently high inactivity (those not working; e.g. disabled, long-term sick) in UK—still “a million people out” of the workforce, straining welfare spending.
• Alastair: Special Educational Needs (SEND) crisis—huge local authority debts, system at breaking point. “SEND has grown and grown and grown and grown as a problem… and it sparked this debate finally about whether…is it going to come out of education budgets, or…another massive spending cost?” (Alastair, [49:32])
• Wider concern: Is Britain able to fund a responsive modern welfare state as needs/expectations grow?

10. Most Under-Discussed International Issue

[55:27 – 58:57]

• Rory: The AI revolution – Nvidia’s $5 trillion valuation symbolizes a world where tech companies, not states, dominate geopolitics, yet politicians aren’t prepared. “Here is something which, in technology terms, potentially could change the world more than the Industrial Revolution and far more quickly…” (Rory, [55:40])
• Alastair: The ongoing suffering in Gaza, post-Trump “peace” – Despite headlines, the misery beneath the news narrative remains. “You would think, to all intents and purposes, that he’s brought peace to Gaza and the Middle East. Life for most people in Gaza remains utterly horrible.” (Alastair, [58:26])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Polanski:
  “I have a big issue with Zach Polanski, which is that I’m completely horrified by the fact he doesn’t think it’s necessary to get the most basic economic data. …But there is no doubting that he has done something unbelievable.” (Rory, [06:33])
• On Mark Carney’s rise:
  “He’s just the same person. He’s totally comfortable inside his own skin.” (Alastair, [21:18])
• On Macron:
  “Through sheer vanity and ineptitude, blown his position in Parliament, blown the power of his presidency…” (Rory, [25:09])
• On the burden of leadership:
  “I’m just so moved by how at the center of the Christian message is the sense of human frailty and weakness and that nothing’s ever perfect.” (Rory, [59:58])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [02:28] – Show proper begins, Christmas banter
• [05:24] – Best UK Politician
• [11:12] – Worst UK Politician
• [14:32] – Favourite “Leading” interview
• [18:47] – Best Foreign Politician
• [24:03] – Worst Foreign Politician
• [28:21] – Speech of the Year
• [40:10] – Biggest Political Moment
• [48:33] – Most Undiscussed UK Issue
• [55:27] – Most Undiscussed International Issue
• [59:02] – Closing reflections

Tone, Banter, and Final Thoughts

The episode delivers a balance of somber reflection, keen political analysis, and hearty humor, leaning at times into moving commentary on the psychological toll of leadership. Campbell and Stewart disagree agreeably, showcase rare political optimism, and close on notes of vulnerability, community, and hope.
“It is other people, other voices and whatever, in different ways people are trying to get at when they talk about God, which in the end provides that final consolation at Christmas.” (Rory, [61:57])

For more, tune in to their Christmas Day episode or join The Rest Is Politics Plus for bonus content.