Why Taiwan's Ballot Result is so Crucial to Geopolitics | "China to Re-think 'Unification' Strategy" 

Hearing Rory describe conservatism, it sounds like for him it means an intense and romantic love for history and an attachment to an ideal image of Britain, which anyone might have. None of that is really a political stance in terms of how power should be put into action today. The Conservatives are (and have been for some time) using power to dismantle much of what Rory loves, and they aren’t conservative at all.

Smart, knowledgable and pleasant. Thank you to both of you for bringing civility and decency in public space

Whenever there is blatant corruption Gove always appears to be involved at some stage, I watched the questioning and was just astonished at Gove’s manipulation and avoidance in his answers.

Aussie dual citizen / ex union rep / centre left man here. If only currently elected politicians talked civilly and intelligently like you two do, we might make it somewhere as race. Listen to this you guys regularly. Rory, thank you for illustrating not everyone on the right is a Johnson (pun intended) or a Tony Abbott.

Thank you for finally segmenting your video! Been waiting for ages

You guys do a fantastic job adding very balanced nuances to very many topics - is their available TV about the project in Kabul?

I think Rory is so trapped by his background that he feels compelled to defend traditional "Toryism", whereas in actual fact he is at heart a radical and would feel much more at home in a radical party.

Thank you, a great talk.

Loving the podcast’s.

My view of the terms "conservative" vs "Tory" is the exact opposite of what Rory says. The first political issue I remember from my childhood was Tories from Bromley council wanting to build a big multiplex cinema over Crystal Palace Park, an almost universally unpopular proposal among local residents. People opposed to the plans talked of "conservation" of history, green spaces etc, and when I learned that the party behind this mad proposal was called "conservative" I was extremely confused. So for me it's "Tory" for laissez-faire radicals and "conservative" for people who bother to check bathwater for babies. But in historical contexts these terms can mean many other things, so I'm not surprised people understand them differently.

Thank you for sharing Alastair. Your word to me sound like encouragement to me. Since I had a really hard childhood that still haunts me today. I'm doing psychotherapy(thanks in part in a program to help victims of criminal acts) and I’m getting better. I was thinking, as a survivor, to enter politically but I think I will wait , I got 3 children and one more coming (5 years 3 years 2 and minus 5 months). So any advice at how long I should wait because unlike you when you were younger. I feel the pressure from climate crisis. Since it seems to me, it needs to me tackle as soon as possible but like you say i fear to regret it.

The saddest thing for me about this country of England is that it has lost it’s self belief.We make very little, we have lost our great industries.We import most of what we used to make and the industries we still have are foreign owned.We have lost our Fishing industries which is terrible for an island set in the richest seas.Every other country seems to be more important to British Politicians than the British people they are supposed to represent.

Love the podcast. Bravo!

Those saying "Taiwan was / has been part of China for centuries..." Wasn't Ireland part of the GB for centuries? Does that mean it should return to British rule?

We really need to apply the strategy of enabling people via crafts and vernacular architecture in the UK.

Any time Gove gets "mentioned" the word "scandal" is warming up on the bench just waiting to get subbed on to provide the "of course it's hugely dodgy." context..........

Are we watching live Rory's slow realisation that he'll find a better home with a different party!

Great podcast, very interesting. I wondered what your views were on Javier Milei`s speech at the World Economic Forum?

That think about being ‘flattered into’…happens to many of us…

Thanks Gents. A bit more revealed by Rory. Getting a bit more of a One Nation vibe, "Tory men and Whig measures!" What I got was affection for structures through rationalisation and background, then a realisation from the inside that that they could and should be better, after employing empiricism by looking at the outcomes for the people affected the most. Respect.

The events in Teeside are scandalous!! The scandal is that I didn't think of it first.

If you are looking for scandal number 3 then forget about the post office and look at the mix of corruption and funding ( including funnelling money through Gbeebies, PPE, track and trace ) and the not so murky links of private wealth to public policy

Wow someone who says guomindang right, nice one rory

Paris is a very different country to the rest of France .... go and ask people in the more(even slightly more) regional parts what they think - i think you will find it is very different!

I am afraid as I get older I'm getting more and more on the side of George Carlin when it comes to politicians.

As a political term, Tory was an insult (derived from the Middle Irish word tóraidhe, modern Irish tóraí, meaning "outlaw", "robber", from the Irish word tóir, meaning "pursuit" since outlaws were "pursued men") that entered English politics during the Exclusion Bill crisis of 1678-1681.

Isnt tactical voting disallowed in the labour party?

I've suddenly realised, thanks to Rory, that I'm failing to utilise the features of my Kindle.

Interesting about the whole "politician resigns but is then back [a short amount of time] later." For a lot more people in politics these days, politics is their 'job' - why would it be different? The notion that politics is a public duty done by the aristocracy who can afford not to work and can also afford to bow out of that public duty if they massively f it up - well, that doesn't work any more, does it? That said, the revolving door also gives ordinary voters (like me!) the impression that there isn't 'really' any accountability. You can f it up massively and... just come back. You have the obvious inconvenience of having to move out of one office (poor dears!) but you just move into another one... My view is that part of the problem is that none of the parties are adequately generating, supporting or allowing new (and competent...) politicians up through the ranks. I think our overall party system is broken in a way that is really dangerous for British politics. No-one really mentions that very much at the moment, but along with issues of voting system, corruption over constituency boundaries, politicisation of the civil service etc, the bedrock of politics - our parties - I'm afraid aren't fit for purpose any more. [Edited for typo!]

It takes a brave man to appoint an ex- to your Cabinet as Foreign Minister ...and get away with it.

It's called corruption.

Nice to see Lai won….the guy has had some ups in downs with his mouth….lol But when he is on, his words cut like knives.

I think one bit of this rather demonstrates the difference between the business of politics - which is what this podcast is all about - and the business of running the countries of the world, which is what we assume politicians are there to do. It was when AC said Sunak had got it wrong by saying he felt Partygate had been made out to be more than it was, he'd failed to gauge the mood of the country and he should have made more effort to differentiate himself from the past - would have helped his political standing. Possibly right from an electoral point of view, but in the end, if that is what he thinks, then probably he should say that, because it's honest, as opposed to saying what he feels might go down well, honest or not. That's politics, I guess.

What no one talks about is that there are actual Taiwanese people who are not Chinese and have suffered under the Imperial Chinese and the Republicans. Also, Taiwan wasn't historically part of China its only because the Kuomintang ended up there and so is the remnant of the Republic of China the old civil war foe of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Thank you for the amazing discussions! What do you think of Pakistan's upcoming 'elections', US culpability in interfering with domestic affairs and leadership (the whole ongoing debacle with Imran Khan, worsening economy and inflation, and roll in effects in the wider region?

UK freeports? I think you will find they are English! I'm not a (Scottish) Nationalist, but there is no wonder that the Scots, Welsh and NI peoples are so disgruntled about the way they are ignored by the central UK government! Not dismissing the validity of the 8 areas picked, but surely 1 area from the 'minor partners' could have been at least as equally deserving of freeport status! I understand that subsequently Scotland/Wales/NI were invited to create their own, but no doubt the financing of these would/will be more difficult, and much of the explanation is surely due to personal and Tory/Conservative animosity towards in particular the SNP and Nicola Sturgeon, and jealousy of their popularity with the people of Scotland! And ditto to a lesser extent with the government and people of Wales. As for Northern Ireland, well many conservatives would like to wink, and have them just disappear! Whatever, you can't calll them UK freeports when they are all English!

Some proportional represention so votes count more equally is absolutely needed before going through with the team's nasty authoritarian impulse on compulsory voting. It appears self aggrandising to force voters to attend, when both major parties can be unacceptable and other options are usually wasted. You'd be asking a party's disaffected voters to actually change their habit rather than simply not show up, so even fewer seats may be swing ones, meaning bad governance with even less consequences. Fundamentally elected representatives are supposed to serve us, not us their self importance.

I dont think they are bad at dealing with the private sector it was planned this way from the start look at the post office sale 8:45

11:40 - The problem is that there are three sorts of ‘conservatives’ who are actually quite different from one another. First, there are dispositional conservatives like Rory Stewart who like to preserve good traditions and are generally cautious, but recognize the need to evolve - except, step by step. Second, there are substantive conservatives like Ann Widdecombe who care more about realizing the ideal society as they understand it (usually some highly traditionalist, almost pre-modern golden age), and thus can be very reactionary and welcome sweeping changes to turn the clock back. I think these first two sorts of conservatives emerge out of different stands of Edmund Burke’s thought. And third, there are free-marketeerers like Liz Truss who are actually right wing liberals, not conservatives. Thus, they sometimes call themselves classical liberals. They have no attachment to tradition. What is happening now is that the dispositional conservatives are becoming uncomfortable with the willingness of the other two to damage democracy in order to get what they want. So the dispositional conservatives are drifting into alignment with the center-left liberals and moderate social democrats. But the big umbrella term “conservative” is slowing down this process. So even Stewart here still sort of wants to vote Conservative.

The Kuomintang won the legislative ones though, but Chinese propaganda working hard on painting this as a independist win. If the attack happens it will happens when China feels it can do it. You need a bigger provocation that an election where the winning candidate says he wont declare independence.

Rory your comment is disingenuous the public sector is not awful at dealing with the private sector. Ministers are the issue. Contracts for mates who may or may not have made donations to the Tory party. Sadly there are many examples.

Surely someone Johnson promoted to the Lords couldn't be corrupt...

Prisons keep being mentioned almost every program. We have an over crowding problem. Government want to make large, high security expensive prisons. Surely the way to ease the problem is to build 'low security or open prisons for those serving the final weeks of their sentences or for prisoners of very low risk. There are still plenty of ex military sites around the country to build them. Takes the pressure off the old overcrowded Victorian monstrosities which can then be updated.

Maybe there should be a referendum on whether to rejoin the EU, I suspect the outcome would have a far bigger majority than the Brexit vote did.

Rory…I bet you’re relieved that ‘Spitting Image’ isn’t aired anymore..?…🤣

Always interesting analysis. Please go to these ‘hot spot’ places you speak of. Direct interviews from the real places the UK try’s to work for the people suffering or under threat to freedom. Just the big three is enough and then up to the North of the UK. Britain needs your time and energy. Data and fact finding thank you for explaining the details and definitions Rory. Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Interviews with informative people from these places. Informing the people of the UK and World. The access you have is a multiplier for your viewers and subscribers. Best value is important Alister, shine a light on the process, capitalism and free trade creates wealth and wealth that is a force for good. Please talk about the free ports more. The poorest parts of the UK needs the opportunity to create wealth through free trade. Please don’t undermine the process of access to trade. BB11 needs free trade to get past 150 years of economic decline to poverty. With capitalism and wealth creation we will improve our own lives and our health and our homeland and football team. As with the Industrial Revolution we need the opportunities. Make the process quick open and fair.

Vietnam ports are taking Chinese container traffic….

Why haven't you covered the abhorrent failings of GMP in the Asian grooming gangs scandal?

Our microprocessors and microcontroller chips are safe, then? The World is not in danger of collapsing in the near future?

I don’t agree with you two and I’m likely to vote Reform at the next election but I like getting your perspectives on things. The problem with the Conservative party is they don’t actually want to bring in Conservative policies that people vote for them to do. Immigration is a big issue and the vast majority want to control and restrict immigration and the Conservatives pretend they will but never do. Tory’s profit too much from mass immigration and care little about the negative effects it has on the British people. Housing is a big issue for me. All the mainstream wants to talk about is building more houses instead of dealing with the cause of rising house prices. It is due to high housing demand caused by growing population, which is mainly caused by migration into the country. Furthermore, our civilisation is at risk, and at the rate it is going, in the next 100 years British people will be a fringe minority in Britain. Culturally and ethnically, we are slowly losing our country, and it’s a strange act of self-destruction. The few profit from doing so, whilst the rest of us watch on in horror or apathy. One issue of many that the Conservatives do a poor job of placating, and people are getting sick of it.

Now I want to hear more about Rory's girlfriends.

What’s behind the sudden approval of giving Brits abroad for more than 15 years voting rights. It’s been promised for many years and just feel it’s a Gov hope that most of us retirees will lean towards the Tories. Am happy at last to have a vote since I can’t vote in the country where I pay tax (Malta) and look forward to how this is going to be implemented in practice, to prove where I was last registered all those years ago.

I get this show is supposed to be both sides of the divide. However it is a bit left and proper left. The actual centre seems to have shifted so far these last fifteen years. I’d like some actual central and centre right views. I do read both sides I enjoyed The Blair Years, Kind of Blue. For the Record has an author who has a uniquely different view to reality especially where the police are concerned.

I'm presently reading the labour manifesto and it riles me that they say the word 'Tory' or Tories so often it seems very petty. They're not doing themselves any favours with me. However, I probably will vote labour because the conservatives have been so awful what with Boris, Truss, post office scandal etc etc

Dont forget Britain has never recognised Taiwan as a sovereign nation and neither has the US.

I’m still waiting for Rory to answer the question. Which party would he vote for?

Of course you have to vote tactically in a FPTP system. Otherwise your vote is wasted. For the life of me I can’t work out why you don’t have preferential voting. It works in Australia, everyone understands it, everyone’s vote counts. Voting is a chess move, not a love letter.

In order to secure the shipping in the Taiwan straight we need to develop relations with China not try to set-up a puppet state in Taiwan.

The lovely Rory should watch the equally lovely ladies of Fascinating Aida sing about the qualities of a Tory MP. Then he may not wish to label himself with that moniker. He may also not appreciate such cultured ladies using words which he associates with working class women on the Labour benches who are able to call a spade a spade. One day he’ll see the light and serve his country honestly and humanely in a Labour government.

Please don’t say “reunification” its never been one country 😂

Warmongering again, these two Berks, why don't you talk about Gibraltar which is now practically part of the EU, hence part of Spain? Countries around the world should support Scottish independence. Then Wales. And by the way, the biggest political party in Northern Ireland these days is Sinn Fein.

Rory can never answer a question, he always just deflects. He was asked about which parliamentary party he would join/campaign for and he went on a tangent about Lee Anderson.

You obviously have no clue about China or East Asia. What a waste of time.

It’s very irritating to see people with no knowledge of Chinese history, culture and worldview making infantile, speculative commentary about China. Stick to talking about UK politics please.

Dont worry about Taiwan, things will change much sooner than you think in that regard and yes Taiwan will indeed rejoin China, that I can tell you 100% for sure. Its not in doubt at all and there wont be any war in it happening. You simply havent woken up to how the world is changing and what its all going to mean.

Rory is in complete denial about “conservatism” and “being a Tory” because he can’t just come out and say that ever being a Tory was a massive, obvious, and predictable mistake that he should analyse and try to prevent in others rather than romanticise.