The New Statesman

Hi Rory, it's Olly Dougmore here from The New Statesman. Can't wait to talk to you today. Plenty going on in the Middle East, but of course, Middelland, regionalism, Cumbria, I want to talk about all of it with you. See you soon. Bye-bye. Hi, Oli, yeah, really looking forward to it. I'm going to grumble a little bit about the fact you're going to drag me up to some weird bit of had-and-gance to do some kind of jewell. But yeah, no, I'd love to talk to you, hope you as well, and see you soon.

Since leaving politics, Rory Stewart has become one of the most influential voices on the matter in

Britain. In this episode of The Exchange, I sat down with the former diplomat, cabinet minister and

broadcaster to understand the formative experiences that shaped him. His early years in boarding

school and the early influences that informed his view of Britain and its place in the world.

We also explore his views on the war in the Middle East, drawing on decades of personal and professional

engagement in the region. And as geopolitics shifts and the old assumptions come under strain,

he offers his view on how the history, politics and religion intersect, and where Western understanding has fallen short.

What alternative really would it feel for the regime if the regime wants to survive other than to demonstrate that if you attack around, there are consequences?

The conversation then turns to Britain itself.

And what Stewart sees as a growing intolerance towards

Muslims, what are the consequences of that misunderstanding? And what does it mean for our politics

more broadly? Where does this go? What does this mean for the way that we think about

fellow citizens, human rights, our equality as humans, dignity, right?

Finally, we discuss the state of Westminster politics, its incentives, its blind spots,

and how it can increasingly feel disconnected from the lives of the people it is meant to represent.

I'm Olly Doug Moore, this is the exchange from the new statesman,

and here's my conversation with Rory Stewart.

Rory, there's a great deal to talk about. We're going to talk about the Middle East. We're going to talk about Midlands. And I think probably a brief detour to English identity as well.

I'd like to start with you, if I may.

I want to talk about your life a little bit before we do that.

...