How Nations Defend Themselves | Persuading Political Rivals to Defect | Scotland's Leadership Fiasco

What is next for the SNP after Humaz Yousaf’s resignation? Dan Poulter defects from the Conservatives to Labour. How did Alastair Campbell handle defections? Why is the world spending so much money on military defence?

Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more on today's episode of The Rest Is Politics.

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00:00 Intro
01:12 First Minister Humza Yousaf resignation
16:10 Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez one-man protest
23:27 Political defections
35:41 Defence spending around the world

[restispolitics]

Did you like the video? Let us know in the comments below 👇

[jackganley]

Hi Alistair and Rory, as a UK student currently studying at Princeton, I would love to hear your opinions on the student protests and encampments going on around the US right now. Keep up the good work, an avid listener and Politics major.

[Highland-Rogue]

Hi Alistair and Rory, enjoying your channel a lot. Being an ex-military man it is devastating to hear and see the current state of our once proud services. My father (35 years service) and seven uncles all fought in WWII and served in different arms of the Military, would be spinning in their graves at the current state of our forces. How, politicians can deceive themselves, and us, that everything is fine is beyond belief. Basically, our military now is not fit for purpose, in terms of a large scale war, and hasn't been for quite a while. Thank you for pointing this out towards the end and it is shameful that, as a country, we can barely deploy an effective armoured brigade. Furthermore, I feel even our RAF cannot effectively defend our skies over the whole of the UK.

[FRM]

35:02 the real malcolm tucker, indeed 😂

[-Gramps]

Subscriber from Texas- thanks, as always, for providing British viewpoints regarding our geopolitical world. I catch every YouTube video, & always gain perspective from the analysis you 2 & your guests provide. I also gain a lot through perusing the comments section. Certainly composed of a variety of viewpoints, usually worthy of some thoughtful reflection.

[r_bix]

Whenever I see a new video/podcast from The Rest is Politics, I immediately click on it without thinking twice. I only discovered this podcast a few months ago and I'm hooked! Thank you Alistair and Rory for making this program worth listening to! You truly make these discussions interesting. Keep it up!

[CloudhoundCoUk]

Theodore Roosevelt, “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”
The West needs a strong military. Spending must increase. Hopefully, the threat of use would deter any nation from attacking and or threatening the West.
Soft power is my preference but those who wish us harm need to know we have the force to protect ourselves and if necessary take the offensive.

[ArodWinterbornSteed]

Spouses of politicians are not a tricky topic. Spouses should avoid the possibility of the appearance of any impropriety. If this is an issue then the politician should never have become a politician. No one *has* to be a politician.

[dwightschrute]

Hi Alistair and Rory, would you consider sharing some light on some Australian politics with regards to the whistleblower and war hero David McBride?

[grahamwalker]

The anger and frustration I feel when I hear when hearing about how our military is run and funded, plus how our personal are treated. This subject is so important as are our service personnel. However, I'm glad this situation is being called out.

[julianfoulger]

The weirdness around the UK military spending numbers et al surely reflects ultimately poor political oversight = Poor quality of MPs?

[gailhill]

Seriously depressing conversation over defence but this is what happens when incompetent politicians and leaders are in charge of procurement etc

[bandit]

My parents were Polish. WW2 was a horrendous experience for Poland as it was for any country that was invaded and occupied. The reason that Poland has increased its spending by so much is that it has clearly vowed 'Never again'. Any country whose borders adjoin Russia must be feeling the same way. And clearly if Poland falls we are all next.

[davidk]

I just do not understand what HY was thinking. I cannot comprehend how he thought it would play out any other way than it has. Utter kamikaze mission.

[goonadan]

Should invite Mike Martin on to discuss defence, NATO and Ukraine issues! He is also running to become a Lib Dem MP for Tunbridge Wells at the next election

[philipmulville]

Another brilliant episode. Thanks gents!

[Murray-wkhz]

In fairness to Prime Minister Sunak, maybe he was thinking that the next 5 years of conservative rule the GDP of the country would fall enough to have military spending 2.5 of GDP.

[wolverine]

I think the issue we have is that we are effectively an entire generation distant from any real threat of invasion.

Iraq and the Taliban were never that kind of threat.

Younger generations (of which I am, I think) have never really faced the threat of a real, full and total war.

[julianholman]

it's quite fascinating to see what parochial and personal things compell the interest of these professional political observers

[jeromedavies]

Any chance of you getting the chief of the defence staff (probably retired) on?