Nadhim Zahawi Defends Why He Trusts Boris Johnson

[@paulgilliland2992]

Every time Alister folds his arms and looks over his glasses cracks me up.

[@Karen-bm3rj]

Rory said " ...he settled and developed a love for the UK..." that's the same UK for which he tried to evade millions in tax from HMRC, the very organisation he was leader of during his very brief stint as chancellor, and was fined millions for trying to do so. And threatened the tax lawyer who uncovered this with legal action. He also claimed thousands in expenses for heating his stables! He is shifty and shady as hell, completely untrustworthy.

[@XxJack893xX]

I enjoy listening to him and some of the points he has to make but his record is clear, self serving like most other politicians

[@RAF1998-l3c]

I thought the exact same thing

[@t.p.mckenna]

Thank you for that detailed reminder. I enjoy The Rest Is Politics but sometimes is really rather too chummy an affair. Of course he's always maintained he made a mistake. HMRC accepted that he said. Er, hardly. They don't fine people who make genuine errors.

[@RobbieB2606]

Quite. Personally I'd rather see Zahawi in prison rather than laughing it up on podcasts...

[@alisterprice916]

Zahawi is the perfect illustration of why this country is in such a mess. He's shameless, slimy and entirely motivated my his own needs and desires. Defending Boris because Boris "backed him", is borderline narcissistic. Just imagine the type of damage Zahawi, Truss, Coffey and all the other self motivated monsters have done to all the departments in this country over the years. No wonder everything is broken.

[@ajmulla92]

"Boris Johnson was good to work for". He doesn't get that he's meant to be working for the people not a gobshite.

[@RLeaguer_Saint]

I really wanted to like Nadhim Zahawi, even though he's from the opposite side of the politcal spectrum from me, but I'd heard very positive things about him from those who had dealt directly with him as education secretary. However, the more that is revealed about him, the less I find to like. His defence of Boris Johnson is unforgiveable. If he doesn't want to denigrate Johnson on a podcast just before a general election, then fine, but then don't come on to the podcast, knowing that you'll be asked about this, and then continue the lies that he has even an ounce of credibility.

[@mrmarmellow555]

He Is Just Defending🎉his 🧉Mate &But He Just To🥹 NAIVE!!

[@peterkirby7546]

Respect to Nadhim Zahawi for coming on. Despite how people may perceive his flaws of judgement and/or behavior, he showed much strength of character coming onto such a show, that he certainly knew in-advance he would be given a hard time on. He displayed that, whatever else he is, he is undeniably a loyal and committed public-service minded individual, who respects his friends.

[@Crispman_777]

Loyalty as long as it serves him...

[@octaviamcdougall7170]

no fucking respect EVER

[@Red1Green2Blue3]

Christ, no wonder the tories stayed in power so long when people are so easily impressed despite being confronted by someone who cares about nothing more than self enrichment.

[@neilcampbell5963]

Not once did I hear this self serving man mention the electorate of the people he was meant to represent. When asked if Boris is untruthful his argument is almost that well Boris never lied to me. This man should be cast with Boris and Archer into the expulsion category Alistair talks of.

[@KyleJamesFrazer]

That was a hard listen; he really does try to weasel his way out of it.

[@chelokinida]

He thought his story about how he became conservative was endearing when all it did was expose another opportunistic, vindictive, self-serving, untrustworthy weasely character. Defending a known liar for his own benefit tells it all. How the worst people all keep assembling within that party is fascinating.

[@Mercs_Beamers]

A weasel crossed with a rat and a money grabbing snake. Watching him try defend Boris was embarrassing, basically “he was alright to me”

[@jonathanwhite460]

i'm less than a third through this one,finding it really hard work.

[@johnnymnemonic461]

Watching body language in these interviews are so interesting. Going back to Rachel Reeves interview, most of the time she can't hold direct eye contact with Rory, and in this one Nadhim did the same with Alastair especially when he talks about his childhood.

[@TEX360]

Good lord. But all credit to Nadim for coming on and talking. Interesting man

[@williamhicken1206]

This is not a man of integrety.

[@tracyevans8977]

I really enjoyed this session tonight , have him back and really get into the bones of IRAQ for us

[@mujdawood7892]

Really enjoyed the interview. Fabulous insight in to the world of politics . 🎉

[@user-kl6os3gd5s]

These shameful Tory ministers should be nationally embarrassed as the next government open the books and see just how much they’ve siphoned off to their donors whilst borrowing to fill the gap.

[@FRM101]

This ep is already on itunes, and lets just say Nadhim's attempt to flatter Alastair availed him of little and less 😉

[@moffattF]

A very human insight- great job guys.😊

[@UTubeSL]

Alastair was just perfect in this!

[@AliHussain-fz7pd]

At least with this guy he’s not some Oxford, PPE, Eton, public school, career politician. Came from an immigrant family, had a proper career, having come from the working class. Volunteered himself for grillings by the press during covid. I prefer people like him who have no real need to enter politics, when you’ve made a few million, you invariably enter the fray because you’re aghast with the inefficiencies of Govt. His Tax episode was not his finest hour, but the likes of Gove et al are far worse.

[@Tom_murray89]

I think this is a great podcast

[@tosin8401]

The U.S. has not “devolved taxation to the states”. The states just added more taxation on top of the Federal Govt’s

[@Roosterz443]

The story about how/why he first joined the conservative party is frankly pathetic. Actually, most of his answers are weak, meandering and pathetic. Not a very impressive individual.

[@Red1Green2Blue3]

It was clearly a lie.

[@MrShikaga]

lol, I love Alistair still claiming the Blair government didn’t lie about Iraq. Alistair, can you please point to the WMDs that could rain down on London in 45 minutes?

[@clarelear129]

Isn’t You Gov the company that sold Brexit polls to hedge funds & helped short the pound?

[@RaRa-eu9mw]

no?

[@Squarepeg57]

I take from this that Zahawi seems to have very little interest in or concern about the ordinary people of the country. He didn’t mention us or the concept of service once.

[@adejames1960]

Very good point. 👋

[@mmcfarlane001]

I never had any time for Zawahi as a politician, but it's a shame he didn't speak more about his past. He actually seems like.a reasonable guy (politics aside).

[@tracyevans8977]

Too much me my self and I for my liking - get a five bar gate with your pencil lol

[@hawsrulebegin7768]

I’d like to agree but feel he’s just playing nice to set himself up in the future.

[@ER1CwC]

⁠@@tracyevans8977 Well, it is an interview, and they are asking him to talk about his history, his experiences, his views, etc.

[@Red1Green2Blue3]

"politics aside" pretty big thing to put aside considering.

[@Fontaine_de_Can]

Love the body language of Alastair….

[@EmanueleC_BR]

I feel this dwelt to long on Boris, and not enough on someone who's buisness expirience comes from polling and how that influence and view affected his policy decisions. On a simple level, did he find himself polling his own ideas. Or did he ignore the polls when they applied to him?!

[@m00plank90]

Didn’t expect to enjoy this, but I did. For me, there was a lack of confidence and a need to be led, rather than to stride confidently. Also that the factions working against each other in parties are the bane of our politics. We need to actively find compromise and common ground and work together on things more. The commons appears febrile most of the time. I think he gave a good account of himself, as much as I disagree fundamentally with his reasons for the more incredulous behaviour he’s shown, they are plausible and without arrogance to a point.

[@marilynchivers4730]

Interesting & and frankly, he didn't come out of it very well. I wonder if he thought differently 🤔

[@21nickik]

What I learned from all of these podcast is that I can't even begin to understand the characters in the Tory party. Each one is more odd then the others.

[@tommonk7651]

From across the pond, this guy seems really wrong-headed....

[@clarebenton3995]

As an amateur musician I am always impressed by the truly great. So why are you surprised when a low level liar and chancer is impressed by the real thing ?

[@CloudhoundCoUk]

Rory, you really should review the definition of a friend (a person who supports a cause, organisation, or country by giving financial or other help:} The UK requires people to pay their taxes. If Leading wants to keep their audience interview people with integrity.

[@CloudhoundCoUk]

This episode of Leading to Date is the worst. Astonishing lies.

[@zastrozzii]

I wonder whether it might be one of the best. Simply because the line of questioning and space given response was so effective in exposing a deeply problematic character. I thought far far less of him after this

[@hernebaybob]

I didn’t enjoy this one. Unfortunately when he speaks about certain topics I don’t believe him.

[@TT_1221]

If that guy Rory is going to invite friends on the show he at least needs to be professional and balanced enough to ask the questions that need to be asked. Zahawi supports Johnson, excuses Johnson's lies, he backed Truss and her incompetence, he tanked the economy and is a tax dodger. You'd never know this from Rory's interview...

[@jackthemac132]

Rory gets giddy over the guests.... To be fair he's managed to position himself as the presenters of the biggest political podcast in the UK despite having done nothing in government, he must be pretty happy haha

[@Crispman_777]

@@jackthemac132 They wouldn't come on if he didn't

[@user-lk9lp3br3g]

the next Gvt should put Alastair in the House of Lords..he would shake the other Place up....hear hear

[@mediastudiesnetwork]

Labour are scrapping the house of lords… I remember Gordon brown talking about it?

[@MH-sg8rn]

⁠@@mediastudiesnetworkyeah but first they have to add a lot of peers to have a majority to make that happen

[@rogerk.9297]

One thing I find sometimes annoying about Rory is that he likes interrupting and telling a guest's story when they're sitting in front of him. Why invite them then if you know all about them?

[@shulliny120]

He reminds of of Boris himself when answering questions, evasive, vague and a lot of mumbling

[@jamescoburn6789]

Nothing about the serious harms of the Jabberwocky? Odd. Safe and effective? That was the original marketing slogan for Thalidomide.

[@jamesandmikey32]

If my wife wanted to leave me for Nadhim Zahawi I tell her yes as he's absolutely gorgeous.

[@bladdnun3016]

A gorgeous slimy weasel.

[@lukedaniels7750]

When he says, 'to have been found to have been taking "commisions"', do he mean has been found to have been taking bribes ?

[@tornadoeye]

30:46 Rory giving the guest the finger

[@JoshWiniberg]

Wtf!! That's hilarious 😂 That can't be an accident, nobody accidentally waves their middle finger at someone 😂

[@tornadoeye]

@@JoshWiniberg Display of power

[@webMonkey_]

People who have done well in the status quo cannot see how the status quo needs to be broken up, if they do they just see more of extreme of the status quo. Less tax and de regulation makes more for the elites and their life better it does nothing for the working classes.

[@oggyraverbabyghost]

When are you going to get this on Channel 4 lime Rest Is Politics it should be in the TV each interview you do is really interesting & you get to see a lot of these politicians in a different light, you might not like their political views & party but you get to see another side of them which is really interesting.

[@DylanSargesson]

Labour member but I do think Rory and Alistair went a bit too much on the Johnson bashing in this one - would've loved to hear more from Zahawi on what it was like being the Vaccines Minister or being in Truss' Cabinet.

[@stephengreen6683]

A tough watch. Very little (nothing) to like and admire there from my perspective

[@bighty54]

This guy came across as incoherent and grossly trusting in the untrustworthy

[@powg183]

Shameless, out of touch, self-serving, pathological lier. Surprisingly he is Rory's good old friend?

[@fragglet]

Am I crazy to think it or has Nadhim picked up some of Boris's mannerisms?

[@krisle90]

He sounds like Boris himself

[@jamesprice4647]

Clue: Boris was never good to work for.

[@tonydecastro6340]

Rory, for once you made a bad judgment of character...

[@helkiah]

People like Zahawi come across like cartoon characters, cartoon villains in this case. Until they come on a fairly unique show like this. Contrary to the rest of the comments here, I saw a pretty decent, likeable human being, flaws and all. He made mistakes and has paid for them. On the big issues, like Brexit, and support of Boris Johnson, he is clearly, deeply wrong, and unable to reconcile his loyalties with reality.

[@michaelsnelling2918]

Cannot understand the vitriol against this man … his suggestion to bring in outside talent to support inexperienced politicians and the civil service is totally logical … having used a 'task force' approach to many projects, very often the most successful outcomes are for flawed clients (like Boris Johnson) who can inspire a 'good enough' team to do great things … 'the world is not a shed for a perfect machine'

[@Fontaine_de_Can]

The disgust from Alastair is palpable

[@mattgreen1594]

This guy is just so full of shit. Everything he said seemed like a desperate lie that he'd struggled to come up with under pressure. I get the impression that he is totally out of his depth, and that he wheels out things he doesn't properly understand, one after the other, in the hope that eventually he'll say what someone wants to hear. It doesn't seem like he actually cares about anything he talks about, and that, for him, politics is the art of survival, a game of box ticking and promotion, rather than a genuine struggle to solve difficult problems and to help people.

[@schofield4836]

Yuk yuk yuk …. Need to take a bath with disinfectant after that !

[@robfodder5575]

Alistair really needs to have a think about his time in government. Just off the top of my head: war, pension policy, bad PFI deals, gold sell off, naive WRT consequences of FOM, financial deregulation, stoking the housing market...etc. The spin was infuriating as a plebb, especially the issues that caused years of financial treacle. The current Tory government, especially now a few terms in, have racked up a pile of errors but how he manages to paint himself is hilarious. The idea that New New Labour are going to resolve the fundamental issues is utterly naive, I watched as much with the interview with the new education secretary. Sales talk and spin only gets you so far,.

[@Mora2012]

Nadhim needs to learn to up his game on eloquence…very poor orator..umm.mmm..ummmm the whole time. very poor delivery. Posh , intellectually not sharp, and shallow. Why did you invite this guy on Leading???? Not an ounce of Leadership.

[@mrmarmellow555]

🎉HYPE #BORRIS😅

[@jamesgeorge8915]

I lasted 3 seconds, almost

[@Inspectazoid]

So the man talking about Boris is all you need to know. Just another charlatan.

[@simonpendleton6005]

Have to wonder, what dirt Johnson has on him ?????

[@adejames1960]

More like birds of a feather...

[@michaelsnelling2918]

Cannot understand the vitriol against this man … his suggestion to bring in outside talent to support inexperienced politicians and the civil service is totally logical

[@norarafferty4702]

What a weasel. But even he is self aware enough to be unable to speak rubbish without stammering.

[@additionaddict5524]

the flattery got a bit much

[@neilbradley100]

Campbell once again reveals exactly why conservatives are advised to steer clear. Inevitably he turns this from an interview into an argument. He just can’t help himself.

[@simonhunt7269]

What a display of poor judgement. This one in particular would have benefited from the end of interview wrap up

[@hibyeization401]

tax dodger

[@JG-ib7xk]

Bit of a shill isn't he

[@wolfa5151]

A man of little substance and even lesser quality.

[@ajmulla92]

It’s amazing how Rory can make everything about himself, referring to himself 9 times in the first minute hahahaha Christ man

[@stevept1504]

Almost unwatchable

[@lordbonington]

Everyone tells me what a great guy Rory Stewart is. I'm not convinced. Hanging around with people like Nadhim Zahawi and voting to reduce welfare and housing benefits, doesn't strike me as the sort of person one could admire.

[@AlekWheeler]

Still cant believe this guy thought he could suceed Bojo after being Chancellor for like a day

[@t.p.mckenna]

I'll sit this instalment out, thanks.

[@shukyization]

The way keeps flattering the presenters is like deflection of admitting to his own flaws and failings. At least Kwasi had integrity to admit what is wrong about Liz and himself. Also like how Rory got passionate in his questioning at one point looked as if he was sticking is middle finger up at him. lol

[@simac3880]

Rory 'explaining' for the first 5 minutes the story of the guest's life, instead of letting the guest do it himself. That said, pretty nauseating episode. A weasely, Machiavellian, Boris-apologist, Campbell still whining about Iraq, still pushing his bullshit, and a self-important Etonian desperate to look important at all times... Please explain more things to me, oh man of great knowledge.

[@jackthemac132]

Rory loves the sounds of his own voice. "Give us a sense..." Nails on a chalkboard.

[@lukedaniels7750]

That story of the person handing out Socialist Worker magazines is so obviously a lie. This guy needs to be challenged.

[@Nomoreanons]

Christ alive. Alistair Campbell gets more and more arrogant and irritating with every episode.

[@jamesprice4647]

Confirmation bias?

[@adamfrank4192]

Can you guys please have some inspiring people with good ideas (Gary Stevenson, Owen Jones, Yanis Varoufakis, François Ruffin. Yes they are all left wing because in case you hadn't noticed the Overton window had moved outrageously to the right and we desperately need to re-establish a more healthy and balanced economic reality and discourse before the extreme right rules most of Europe) instead of all these characters who are responsible for the mess we are in?

[@rsb8380]

Owen Jones has been permanently relegated to the dregs of Twitter/X, where he belongs. Nobody is interested in him anymore.

[@Jaaj2009]

Utterly shameless, won't say a bad word about Boris when he clearly lied and blundered his way through his premiership on the basis that he is loyal and Boris backed him. He seems perfectly happy to get a leg up in his career and ignore literally everything around him and focus on his own obtuse opinion. He is right, nobody is perfect but there is a difference between someone with some flaws and someone who is classically corrupt, entitled and incompetent. The last 5 years has been a classic example of career politicians that want to have a go at the job and are willing to trade any principles they have to do so. Utterly hilarious defending Brexit, after its clear it has been massively damaging to exports and British agriculture, its all of a sudden about the long view over 10 years time. They didn't run Brexit on short term pain but long term benefit, it was about new control and the Brexit benefit. Utter garbage, everyone in the world knows that the UK stuck a middle finger up to its closest geographical trading partners and has now gone begging to India and the US asking for trade deals and what do they want - they want erosion of food standards to flood our markets with cheap goods, they want visa's, exactly the same issues that the Tories had with the EU are being replicated. The UK is negotiating from a position of weakness, the trade deal with Australia is a perfect example.

[@davidmchale5890]

How can a tax dodger have the cheek to stay in the public eye Shouldn’t he be prison

[@therealbettyswollocks]

This guy is shameless.

[@colintofield1377]

Love Stewart and Campbell but why in hell did they invite Zahawi onto this. The man is a cheat and liar, sorry guys thinking twice about watching you again

[@MrShikaga]

Because they don’t believe in cancel culture. They want to engage with people who have something to say, even if they disagree with everything they stand for. I mean, Rory and Alistair have said repeatedly they want to have Farage on the show, despite clearly disagreeing with him vehemently. Also, the idea that someone being a liar precludes them from being on a politics show is hilarious. Do I need to explain to you who Alistair Campbell is, and his key involvement in taking the UK to war based on lies?

[@hawsrulebegin7768]

Watch things you feel you won’t agree with. It gives you insight or at least the pleasure of watching Alistair frown.

[@susie6133]

Errrrr maybe because it’s their show😮 why can’t people have different opinions, have you walked in the guests shoes?? Be kind it’s not hard😊

[@leeriley924]

@@susie6133he’s a tax dodging shameless fraud