"It's a broken, rotten system" - Rory Stewart on The News Meeting podcast: bonus episode

Join us on Weds 6 December for The News Meeting Live at the Tabernacle, with special guest Robert Peston - tickets here 👉 www.intelligencesquared.com/e...
Rory Stewart joined Tortoise editor-in-chief James Harding to discuss the realities of being a politician, the regrets he had during his time in Westminster, why he wouldn't join Labour, and his hit podcast The Rest is Politics.
He also discusses his new book, 'Politics On the Edge', a memoir about his time in the political arena.
You can hear more from Rory Stewart in the main episode of The News Meeting here: pod.fo/e/201764
Listen to every episode of The News Meeting - subscribe here: podfollow.com/the-news-meeting

[@alana8863]

I'm a staunch Labour voter, but Stewart is one Tory I have real respect for. Tragic that decent people like him tend not to rise to the top.

[@frankbrennan1619]

Rory ''I'm not a Tory'' Stewart certainly did ''rise to the top'' & as so demonstrably evidenced by him holding various Cabinet posts & Enoch ''the best PM we never had'' Powell put it best when he said that ''all political careers end in failure'' & quite literally NO politician ever escapes this occupational certainty & regardless of who they are....

[@welshpenguin7]

Still voted for every brutal policy of his Tory mates

[@annepoitrineau5650]

I do not think he sees himself as a tory anymore. I agree with the rest of your sentence.

[@frankbrennan1619]

@@kiranmcgoldrick4247 Hell is certainly only waiting for the likes of Sir War Criminal Bliar & his Goebbels Campbell & of course not forgetting the elderly, extreme hard far left, Hamas loving & anti - Semitic Marxist Corbyn....

[@frankbrennan1619]

@@welshpenguin7 If only these current sick sad apologies for ANY kind of Tories were actually ''brutal'' for goodness sake.....

[@steveharris2369]

Rory Stewart; the best Prime Minister we’ve never had. Intelligence, integrity, a thoroughly decent human being.

[@williamford8027]

thts why

[@tonysimons988]

Rory is brilliant. Unlike so many politicians he has integrity.

[@steamixion]

Until you check his voting record, e.g. against investigating the Iraq war.

[@mattinterweb]

Excellent interview. I'm halfway through Rory's book and I think it highlights that the people's instincts about politicians and the institutions are correct. Rotten indeed. Such a shame the system rejects decent capable people and rewards liars and frauds.

[@matt_cummins28]

Rory is one of a handful of Tories who strikes me as a genuinely nice, thoughtful, kind human being who genuinely wanted to change the world (or at least our little part of it) into a better place.

[@iandeumayne-jones1557]

Why oh why isn't this guy running or guiding the country through a new system of election of government of this country? Honest, honourable and smart. 3 words I cannot use for 99 percent of politicians today from any party. Keep stating how it is Rory. You are a breath of fresh air.

[@withoutwroeirs]

Why? Because the system that is currently in place will not allow for moral assent. Arguably, as Boris and others have shown they shall do their upmost to prevent accountability, even if that means breaking the laws they set themselves.

[@philltaylor8442]

Why ho why isn't Andrew Bridgend the prime minister! He speaks volumes about WOTS up with this government and the cruked SISSTEM wear being RUN by?.Rory has only a say in this just like you are myself have? THERS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN Rory and Andrew Bridgend?.

[@frankvanhooft3927]

@@withoutwroeirsdon’t forget that the voters also vote for the politicians who are 90% of the time working on their own careers.

[@withoutwroeirs]

@@frankvanhooft3927 True dat.Trotzdem, those that got the vote often had no business representing the country at large.

[@lestrem11]

He has actually done anything in politics except be a failure.

[@TrevorBarre]

Rory - it's highly probable that more people have heard of and are influenced by you through your podcast than when you were an MP. And people will be more genuinely informed about the world of politics.

[@piccalillipit9211]

Absolutely - He is one of the most important politicians in the country right now, far more so than when he was in Government. I think he dramatically underestimates how much he matters. I'm that far left I am a literal communist but my respect for his is unbounded.

[@nigelhardy7218]

Rory's podcast is highly engaging because it's built on the premise that two people from the liberal school of politics can debate positively regardless of their "tribe". I find his progressive views engaging, yet depressing. Given what he says Labour connived with the Tories on switching the mayoral elections to FPTP, how can we hope for any of the long overdue constitutional reforms he argues for. If the Labour Party, which created the run-off mayoral elections two decades ago, could now be complicit in such a regressive step, what hope of them doing anything radical when they (maybe) take office next year?

[@terencefield3204]

Yes they have all emigrated!!!!

[@alanrobertson3172]

Excellent point.

[@ThePatcarolan]

Totally agree . Such a genuine man with a great heart. Such a contrast in every aspect to the quality of leaders they have chosen. I'm reading OBrien's book and it is a horrifying tale of how they are destroying Britain.

[@TrevorBarre]

Interviews with Rory and James O'Brien. Excellent stuff.

[@sararichardson737]

Yeah a great distraction on a dreary grey day.

[@tortoisemedia]

Thanks very much for watching Trevor

[@frankbrennan1619]

@@sararichardson737 It's always a bit ''dreary & grey'' listening to Rory ''I'm not a Tory'' Stewart & that other very rich & very posh multi - millionaire mainstream media performance artist.....

[@TrevorBarre]

A pleasure. It looks like an interesting podcast and I have subscibed.@@tortoisemedia

[@skeovkp48598]

I yearn for.a government that has moral integrity, and always aims to work for the best interests of the country and all its people (not just the ones with money). It's more important to me than whether they're moderately left or moderately right (although I've always voted labour), but we're so far away from that, I despair that it would ever be possible. Rory seems like a man with integrity, I wish there were more like him in politics.

[@hmq9052]

Is Starmer that bad? When put up against most of the rest? He should be given a fair crack at the job at this point. And I've never voted labour in 40 years

[@Yeeted_Utensil]

Then you must become a monarchist. A democracy will never be what you want it to be

[@inhale.exhale.2527]

we all do surely, but until we stand up and demand specific, measureable, achievable, realistic, timetabled change we will be fed swill while the pigs are at the state's trough!

[@howwwwwyyyyy]

There were, once upon a time and not so long ago, they were called the New Jerusalem and made up a lot of the Labour party, that's gone now, sold out to corporate greed

[@halfpintbuckaroo]

It sounds exactly like being a consultant in Emergency Medicine for the last 10 years. The sense of despair and absolute hopelessness. The only difference being that my colleagues in the ED are wonderful, kind people. I'm from a working class background, have been a doctor for 25 years a life long, left wing, labour voter. Despite this, I absolutely admire Rory Stewart. I'm a huge fan of his podcast and wish he was leading our country. He's the best prime minster we never had.

[@davidjohn7510]

Spot on!!

[@cecilefox9136]

What a decent and intelligent man Rory is!!!

[@sa9861]

Rory might be howling at the moon but there are many of us listening.

[@clear-vision]

Rory is the best PM we never had. He is also an excellent writer, there are 127 reservations for the 15 copies of his new book held by West Sussex libraries.

[@ds6914]

*best Tory MP we never had

[@frankbrennan1619]

Rory ''I'm not a Tory'' Stewart & so had ALL the qualifications to be the next Mayor of London, as he most certainly would have defeated, or come very close to defeating, the diminutive Khan & his woeful & dire record when it comes to crime, housing & transport over the last nearly EIGHT YEARS now, for goodness sake, but alas no & Rory ''I'm not a Tory'' Stewart settled for the very easy life of sharing a political podcast with Sir War Criminal Bliar's very own Goebbels Campbell.....

[@ds6914]

@@frankbrennan1619 let you be Frank!

[@annepoitrineau5650]

In order to elect him, tories would have had to be quite a different beast. Current tories being (in their current majority) B.... and P.... etc, there was no chance of Rory Stewart being elected :( And yes, things would have been very different.

[@ingerfaber3411]

@@annepoitrineau5650 He still voted for all the Tory policies

[@tommonk7651]

I recently discovered The Rest Is Politics KZbin channel and have been thoroughly impressed with Rory, in particular, and Alastair. As an American, I find myself fascinated by the democracy in Great Britain in comparison with the Trumpian shitshow we have here in the US. What I see sadly is that there are many similarities. Rory has some great ideas for reform, but none of it will pass without help. Great interview here!

[@silenusut]

Ditto. Much better experience than the podcast: seeing is (more) believing?

[@traceyomalley3797]

Alistair cambell tony Blair two sides of a coin

[@ianbarnes8593]

Two individuals who would walk my country down the garden path faster than you can blink!

[@gwynhyfer]

I'd vote for somebody like Rory Stewart and I'm an English ex-pat living in Scotland who votes SNP/Green! What a refreshing breath of air this man is.

[@kevancook2699]

It’s interesting that Rory still feels he has and wants, at some level, a future in British politics. For me, I think he is now doing far more good for our politics on the outside looking in than being in the House of Commons. I just hope that those in power recognise his views.

[@piccalillipit9211]

Absolutely - He is one of the most important politicians in the country right now, far more so than when he was in Government. I think he dramatically underestimates how much he matters. I'm that far left I am a literal communist but my respect for his is unbounded.

[@penshaw2]

A tory with honesty and integrity is a very rare thing indeed. Rory is one of the very few.

[@cavendish009]

I have such respect for this man - I think he is basically honest and cares about what he does and its consequences for us all. If only he had stayed and reached Prime Minister, I think we would all have benefitted and the country would be a very different and better place now than it is.

[@JaneSoole]

The book had me gripped (and appalled in equal measure from start to finish. Thank you Rory Stewart. I was so relieved when you became i/c prisons - at LAST, competence, hope and determination to mend this broken system, then whoops you were whisked off somewhere else. What a truly mad system of politics we have. Jane Soole, 80 years, Dorset.

[@JediJide2]

The book is such an incredible insight into why we are in the problem we are in as a country.

[@howwwwwyyyyy]

Seems like both parties have emulating the US system in mind, putting as many people in prison as possible, innocent or guilty and making them a money making machine, and then banning them from being able to vote.I shudder to think that we'll copy the US even more, it's turned into a disgraceful advertisement for "democracy"

[@twocardtarot6479]

Rory - given how important being an MP is, should there be a prerequisite degree course ? I'd like to see an MP course involving 6 weeks as a learning support in a state school, or as a hospital porter, or in a refugee centre or 6 weeks on universal credit... PS do not underestimate the power of your podcast. I know it is affecting politics more than you think. PPS I just ordered your book from the library. 79 reservations before mine! For a book on politics that's unheard of!

[@TrevorBarre]

Buy the thing!!

[@twocardtarot6479]

You're making assumptions about my socio-economic status there!@@TrevorBarre

[@rosalindkennedy4624]

I would love to, but the reality of being disabled and on a pension doesn’t allow me to, it is really poverty. Just applied to another superstore for a job, would love to sit at the tills, but age and disability although I have a good CV sadly last things really do block you from work. Equal opportunities very unrealistic.

[@trevorgrant3477]

Bought and read. An impressive human and way too good to be an MP given the current assembly. So sad he’s not our PM………

[@rossgeography]

or a year of public (i.e. national) service ala Germany

[@juliehannam5226]

I could just listen to Rory all day his humanity humility real sense of duty just shines through hes a credit to all that is right about Politics and Britain ... Im an unashamed Rory Stewart addict but no fear its without sychophantism or obsession

[@krismos6618]

Rory Stewart has amazing intelligence, understanding and knowledge. It would be great if the politicians of today would have even half of Rory in them. Very interesting interview.

[@daylight5500]

Rory, you are a good human and you can do more good on the edge of politics.

[@existentialvoid]

I, for one, would love to see you back in government as well - specifically I would love to see you as Foreign Secretary.

[@ellesse7436]

Please read these comments Rory. What makes you different and appealing is your authenticity. That is what we need more of. You have so much to offer the British public. Go to Labour on the right of the party and let's bring centrist back!

[@ellesse7436]

...or focus on public service by leading reform

[@howwwwwyyyyy]

He's too far left for today's "new Labour"

[@jameswhitfield1375]

One can see that Rory believes what he says, and what he says has a strong moral streak. It almost seems that his type of politician is a throw-back to a golden age of honest politicians, except of course that there never was a golden age of honest politicians. Rory's value system is needed now more than ever.

[@keithhill4204]

Excellent interview, Rory's book is fascinating, James - your comments were spot on.

[@tortoisemedia]

Thanks very much Keith

[@coralraven4780]

I love that you have principles, morals and that you care. We need people like you in politics. I think reformation is on the agenda for all institutions and systems of man on the face of the earth.

[@MikeBuckland1954]

I signed up for local politics in 1983 but decided volunteering was the rewarding way to contribute actively in society.

[@DavidAllen-fo4jl]

That was fascinating. Thank you. I find it very interesting that Rory, like so many of us, has found that his loyalty has not survived disillusion upon the discovery of how badly government actually works, and the effective impossibility of changing things for the better. It is a broken rotten system.

[@philipmulville8218]

I’m not convinced Rory would find it any easier representing another political party given that the system itself is so rotten. I hope he finds a representative role where he can put his immense knowledge and experience to use once again. James asked really thoughtful questions. Brilliant podcast.

[@marionlarkin1161]

Admirable person. Gentleman. Thinks. Rationalises. Passionate. Visionary.

[@marionlarkin1161]

Erudite. Has integrity. Entertaining.

[@dmichael_m]

When you are fundamentally a good person, as Rory is, then your political affiliations become far less important. I wish more people like you would step up, because otherwise the void gets filled by very unsavoury characters.

[@neilskiii6936]

What a brilliant man and such a shame he couldn’t be PM! Oh well Parliaments loss is our gain! Love hearing him talk on these issues!

[@simondrew2914]

As always, Rory Stuart is erudite, engaging and entertaining. And he is correct when he identifies the problems that face liberal democracies. But the elitist system that made him is part of what he wants to preserve, and I feel he has to come to terms with dismantling the institutional past in order to shape a fairer future.

[@billfromgermany]

Nicely put! He brings to mind an idealised picture of the old colonial administrators, good men with strong ethics, but managing what we now see to have been an immoral system. Rory is the Dr Jekyll to the Mr Hyde of Rees-Mogg.

[@AdySeifer]

Great interview, thanks for posting

[@tortoisemedia]

Thanks very much for watching!

[@hecter3008]

The Tories have trashed this country over the last 13 years.

[@martinhoult]

I do find myself liking you Rory for many reasons ,I like and admire your honesty empathy kindness , obviously I admire your intelligence and even handedness, your knowledge of global events and of history ! Ican see you have a keen idea of many much needed things to do to right social injustice , I think we have and I hope I'm proved later to be wrong lost the chance of a great leader of any political party who had the common sense to let you join them ? So good luck in anything you choose to do !

[@joehankins7700]

Rory Stewart is probably the only Tory that I'd every consider voting for. I hope that he returns to politics in the future because we need decent people like him on all sides of the debate.

[@terencefield3204]

He has just discovered what many of us knew half a century ago.

[@Logic78600]

What an interesting and intelligent man Rory is What a pity he did not become the PM

[@coralraven4780]

I have just started reading your book. Thank you for sharing

[@godot-whatyouvebeenwaitingfor]

WE NEED PR!!!

[@user-hr8hy3ob8s]

Best man for Great Britain 🇬🇧

[@markchristopher2373]

Rory, your book is gobsmacking. I am disappointed that you did not get the opportunity to lead us; I am sure there are plenty who feel the same. Thank you for your service. Best wishes for your future.

[@daledavies_me]

Please do more recordings for KZbin like this. This was brilliant.

[@lesleyegg]

This deserves watching all the way through. It is really very interesting and inspiring.

[@lizziefreeborn2576]

Rory will represent the people and the county better than anyone else regardless of a party label. How can we get this man back as an MP ASAP.

[@hillywins]

Rory is amazing. Keep observing, keep speaking about this - Britain needs you.

[@johnwright7895]

Rory you should have been Prime Minister.I have followed your career for years A true gent and totally decent.You leave the rest of them completelyin the shade.Your compassion for the people of Afghanistan shone through on your brilliant series.

[@richardthomas9839]

I've never voted Tory but I've read his book....give this guy a 5 year term as PM and I think we would have a country to be proud of again!

[@rosscrichton8584]

Thanks you. Ross

[@67339317Qs]

Even though living in South Africa, i am fascinated by Rory and The Rest is Politics podcast as they display such an honest reflection on issues - amazingly, although based in the UK, almost every session holds extremely important lessons on a global basis - yes Rory, your current situation may have its personal frustrations but you are contributing HUGELY to support and lead meaningful understanding and debate on politics everywhere - really far more impactful than is perhaps first realized.

[@OpenWorldRichard]

Well done Rory for speaking out. We will sort it out. Richard

[@victory-phoenixrising4498]

I voted for him! He is brilliant.

[@victory-phoenixrising4498]

I joined the conservative party so I could vote him in the leadership campaign

[@jimmygallagher3910]

Ive just discovered this podcast. Love this style of detailed analysis..Now subscribed

[@ianbardon8581]

I can't see where to subscribe 🤔

[@JointAccount-yp3nb]

I think STewart is absolutely right iun that the institutions should reflect our best values and the political divisions should be secondary. He provides a glimpse of what a Britain minus its disfunction and tribal blinkers could be like. I have never voted Conservative but Rory Stewart has always stood out to me as a thoughtful decent man and politics has been poorer for his absence. ... If more conservatives were like him the world would be a better place. .... and now there's a brain worm at work -> Stewart v Starmer ... Who'd have thunk it?

[@lublondon]

Rory Steward is the best Prime Minister we never had Exceptionally smart , decent and honest.

[@xwize]

in an era of charlatans and demagogues, Rory would add so much credibility and competence to a centre left labour government. My dream come true.

[@DickusCopernicus]

I am no Tory, but Rory is always interesting to listen to. Sadly democracy does not encourage politics to be a meritocracy.

[@wivory81]

The first past the post election system is what leads to all the issues in U.K. politics. It’s a failed system, and needs to be changed. Coalition Governments work better than a single ideological party bringing in laws to punish one or other sector of the population. We need fairness, compassion, intelligence, honesty and accountability in politics, everything we don’t have currently, ad will never have under the current electoral system.

[@dormoisjean-pierre1436]

Such a lovely personality (besides making a lot of sense). Keeps me having faith in this country of yours.

[@lilesosannaflower9956]

Rory is too much of a honest, decent man with integrity and comittment for politics.

[@sandramcinnesscott2931]

The people who can change organisations often have to leave those organisations before they themselves are destroyed...basic psychology. Rory is a good man in a rotten system...so he now has to protect himself...whilst still having a yearning to serve

[@daisyl2629]

We need Rory back in government. I don’t care which party, I will vote for him over and above anyone else.

[@darren_bassett]

Rory, i think we would all love to have you back in politics. We need honest, straight talking, intelligent, doers.

[@100geemo78]

The Tory party should split and Rory Stewart should lead the centre Right of the party while Farage should lead the Fascists. However, it would be very dangerous as it wouldn’t surprise me if England voted for Farage and his fascists.

[@JelMain]

Rory won't, now.

[@MrTomDangerous]

I don't understand why people write comments about things they don't understand. There is no more than 20% (and probably less than 15% in truth) of the voting public who would vote in an openly fascistic party. Most people - by definition - sit in the centre politically.

[@JelMain]

@@MrTomDangerousAfter the Commons was bombed out in WW2, the question arose whether to rebuild in the round. Churchill argued against, considering face-to-face accountability was preferable, creating the Chimps Tea Party PMQs causing the extremism we now experience. That in turn leaves over 80% feeling taxation without representation makes modern democracy a farce. However, it's actually worse than that, because Dominic Cummings was quite right, they've packed the House full of numpties.

[@sirius_s2028]

Rory to lead the labour party! Unstoppable!

[@roseannemain3710]

You are reaching more ordinary people through your podcast and giving them the sense of perspective that is needed to change the political system which is essential if we are going to manage to rebuild any of the other institutions as they need funding to achieve this. When you are employed as a politician you have no time to impact the grassroots and educate us all as you are too busy infighting to survive.

[@markchurchman662]

Rory, please call Kier! We need you in government. Love listening to you and Alastair. Thank you, Mark

[@malcolmappleford9106]

I agree with most of what you say.

[@barrydavidgaudry4050]

Fascinating discussion I found myself in many many ways in sympathy wth Stewart’s perspectives and his criticisms of both Labour and Conservative Parties. (I am myself a lifelong Labour supporter now disenfranchised by the position Labour takes on Europe and much else.) I concur with Stewart that the political system here is actually rotten farther than merely broken and conclude that both Labour and Conservatives are content for the current system to persist and to accept the status quo where we flip-flop between Labour and Conservative administrations. I believe that nothing will change fundamentally until the electorate decide that the electoral system should change but neither Labour nor Conservatives parties will agree to pursue such a change while it does not serve their perceived interests. The stirring of opinion in favour of proportional representation in the Labour movement seems to have been stifled by the rekindling of support for Labour in Scotland and the potential for a Labour majority in the next UK parliament. I’m for voting Green next time. At least they have some principles.

[@jessiebenz8562]

Missing the point of the party of law and order always talking about tougher sentences, and then being forced to tell judges that they have to put off sending people to prison because there isn't enough room. The point is not whether sending people to prison is right or not, it is that the Tories have manufactured another crisis everyone saw coming.

[@markendicott6874]

This is a discussion i could have listened to at greater length, its a tragedy for our Politics that people like Rory can't get a Leadership role but the Johnson/Braverman/Truss self-servers and utter lunatics can.

[@edcbabc]

There was a quote from someone quite a time ago that said that as a mechanism for keeping 600 odd people - some of them very odd indeed - off the streets, parliament can't be beaten.

[@thehilligan]

v interesting conversation

[@JT-qr8lt]

I’ll vote for him ANYDAY!

[@danremenyi1179]

Anyone who thinks seriuosly about the Bristish political systems will certainly come to the conclusion that the system is broken. The real question is why don't the British people want to change?

[@saxonloganbyo]

I cannot agree more with Rory about Prisons. They are disgustingly inhumane.

[@davecap2641]

The wrong people are in power because the right people do not want to be. We need Rory and others like him to get in the ring to prove this to be wrong.

[@shahlaahy4372]

Rory you're believable unlike most politicians who've lost public trust..no wonder!!

[@celtphoto]

If only we had more politicians of your character. We need morals in politics.

[@terriclinton543]

I think you should run as an independent. I would vote for you and pay your 500 quid. Please rory do it.

[@aspetm3846]

We need more people in politic and parliament like Rory Stewart, Jeremy Corbyn as an honest, descent person who try to work for public rather than corporations.

[@jessicaschimmel7398]

Would love to hear some of your solutions to fix this system!

[@jessicaschimmel7398]

I hear you speak later about the solutions. It is interesting that in The Netherlands (parliamentary elections are next week) Pieter Omtzigt with his party NSC is currently suggesting improving the institutions / good government much as you do.

[@DrVickyHarris]

The PO scandal shows that a compelling exposé of the sickness, perhaps via a podcast is a GREAT way to do it. Why don’t we have people run as an independent

[@DAN13LS70NE]

Great interviewer. Got a lot out of Rory he hasn't said before.

[@derevd]

ı love this guy

[@ArranEye]

What a splendid person Rory is. We really need him to bring his vision to reality for the good of us all.

[@bearsbreeches]

Wouldn't it have been good to put Caroline Lucas in the environment department

[@adrianevitts1799]

Rory Stewart, what a different world we would have if you had beaten Boris Johnson for the Tory leadership! I'm no fan of the Conservative Party, but I am a fan of yours.

[@DrumToTheBassWoop]

25:27 this statement from Rory is why i think i vibe with his views more, and if he were to be leader of the tory party i would vote for them.

[@madelinebaker8992]

Rory’s book is compelling and heartbreaking and challenging for the future of liberal democracies.

[@Accoucheur139]

Wow, so moving, and so applicable to Canadian politics too. We all see the same problems in the US. Is the whole western political edifice overdue for reform?

[@billyb6043]

Rory...I don't necessarily agree with your political leanings but I would welcome your return to help rebuild and inform a functioning progressive democracy in the UK.

[@philoktoday]

BIG QUESTION - WHO BROKE IT ? NOT THE POLITICAL PARTY BUT WHO IS BEHIND THE POLITICAL PARTY. We need to hear journalism that has shed all these daft abstract terms - start talking facts - detail what is gojng on.

[@JelMain]

The Civil Service

[@cazbrian6]

Run for the Greens !!!!

[@effinjamieTT]

I’d introduce term limits for MPs

[@traceyomalley3797]

We need to take the local councils first then go from there only way forward 👍

[@bjbenny88]

. Brilliance right here. An australian just wandering around the www.

[@silversteel6312]

Parliamentary system isn’t broken, the majority of society is broken. The majority are hurting with a laser like self centred focus. The parliament of the day reflects the society of the day. We must look to ourselves.