The Rest Is Politics 464. Labour’s Tax Timebomb, Climate Backsliding, and Sudan’s Forgotten War
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Nov 5, 2025 Rory and Alastair dive into Labour's potential tax challenges as they navigate tough public expectations. They tackle climate skepticism, revealing rising doubts about climate action's effectiveness and costs. Elon Musk's provocative social media influence on politics also gets discussed, alongside the devastating humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The hosts highlight the complexities of geopolitical involvement in the region and call for increased global diplomatic efforts. Join them for insightful takes on pressing political and social issues!
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Labour's Budget Tightrope
- Labour has signaled possible manifesto-breaking tax rises to fill a larger-than-expected fiscal hole left by the Tories.
- Rory Stewart says breaking promises risks trust but may be justified if it stabilises growth and debt ahead of the election.
We Are Missing Climate Targets
- Major metrics show the world is failing to reduce fossil-fuel dependency and will miss 1.5°C and likely 2°C targets.
- Alastair Campbell stresses we must both cut emissions and massively invest in adaptation for unavoidable impacts.
Health Harms From Climate Rise
- The Lancet Countdown highlights worsening health impacts: heat deaths, air-pollution deaths, lost labour hours and disruption to sleep.
- Rory Stewart warns these human costs underline the urgency beyond abstract emissions targets.
