For those following Rory Stewart's personal processing of politics

Irismarle

A talented interesting man who I think could have done a good job of running the country. How on earth did the Conservative membership prefer people like Boris Johnson and Liz Truss to him? Baffling. What a waste.

This indeed. THIS thread is NOT about ears being syringed, please.

Great interview and great, amazing man. Has anyone read his new book- can't wait to buy it.

This Tory also has bought the Audio
Book while son bought the hatdback. Rory is not a Conservative really. He is more of a mixture. I too enjoy the podcast with Alistair Campbell. Always interesting. Boris was a fatal mistake as a PM. I read yesterday that Carrie Johnson was running 10 Downing St. I was not surprised. I will say it again. These days politicians seem in Parliament to advance their oen careers. Even Max Hastings the doyan editor of the DT is going to vote Labour at the next elrction! I am not surprised. The tories have run out of steam and do not deserve another chance. I think Rishi has done his best but Sir Keit Starmer needs a steady team around him. Wes Streeting will be good but Lisa Nandy will need reining in.

Hubby and I have met Rory on various occasions, we even stayed at his parents Scottish house for a few days. Absolutely lovely man. His mum and his Down Syndrome sister are utterly gorgeous.

But what happened to his dog?

I'm profoundly deaf, so I can't listen to it! (Nothing to do with ear syringing..)

www.google.com/gasearch?q=rory%20stewart%20hedgehog%20speech&tbm=&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:da62f865,vid:vqTkLoekm_0,st:0 X

Rory Stewart and hedgehogs, hope the link works.

I cannot stand 'party politics.' We have to be smart in this era of 'corporate agendas' where, in fact, it is not the government making decisions, it IS those mega corporations, whose focus is on profit. Profits they make from you and I. My mother used to say 'money speaks all languages.' In other words, our spending reflects who they trade their wealth). For them, there are no countries, borders or boundaries where money is involved. Truth is, this is what rules MPs decision-making. I would vote for Rory in a flash, simply because he is well-travelled, lived a full life, diverse life and knows more than most, particularly politicians. (We are but tools in billionaires daily investment transactions, related to our consumerism).

spabbygirl

He is very charismatic but as a Tory has also voted in favour of private healthcare replacing the NHS even in a limited way. Last week I had problems with my ears, my GP said I needed the wax removing. The NHS no longer offer that service so I paid £55 at specsavers. That's ok for me, I can afford it, but what about people who can't? For that reason I don't like any Tory, they're selfish

RS was Labour as a young man spabbygirl but watching Tony Blair and knowing as much as he did about Iraq and the surrounding area and countries made him change. I don't know if you've watched the interview but he was hortified at just how true the cannon-fodder description of MPs was.

You could see how upset he still was dog MayBee I wonder if real humanity ever survives politics.

tattygran14

I'm profoundly deaf, so I can't listen to it! (Nothing to do with ear syringing..)

He found a huge Afghan hound who followed him on his walk across Afghanistan. One day, when walking in snow for many days, and in very hot sun- Rory began to feel so so tired and just could not go on. He lay in the snow, and would have died if he had gone to sleep. But the dog kept barking at him, coming back and barking and moving on. Rory understood the dogs was telling him he had to keep going- and he did, followed the dog.

Finally they made it to Kabul and it was time for Rory to come home. they travelled by taxi to Pakistan, but Baboo the dog began to feel unwell as it was too hot for him- being a mountain dog. As he was too unwell to travel back with Rory- a war reporter he knew well said he would look after the dog and send him by plane as soon as possible. Baboo was fed lamb ribs that somehow broke and despite urgent vet visit, he died.

Rory felt so bad about this, and he clearly still feels awful and very emotional about what happened to the dog who saved his life.

Louella12

2mason16

Spabbygirl - not on topic but I had my ears syringed free at my local doctor's surgery.

My husband as well . Clearly available on the NHS in some areas

I looked into this. Apparently it was removed from the list of services GP surgeries are required to provide. They would have had to invest in more up to date equipment so most seem to have stopped doing it. I paid at Specsavers but my son, in another area , had his done at GP’s.

DaisyAnneReturns

spabbygirl

He is very charismatic but as a Tory has also voted in favour of private healthcare replacing the NHS even in a limited way. Last week I had problems with my ears, my GP said I needed the wax removing. The NHS no longer offer that service so I paid £55 at specsavers. That's ok for me, I can afford it, but what about people who can't? For that reason I don't like any Tory, they're selfish

RS was Labour as a young man spabbygirl but watching Tony Blair and knowing as much as he did about Iraq and the surrounding area and countries made him change. I don't know if you've watched the interview but he was hortified at just how true the cannon-fodder description of MPs was.

You could see how upset he still was dog MayBee I wonder if real humanity ever survives politics.

The podcasts in which Rory and Alastair discuss Iraq are very enlightening, aren’t they. Although enlightening isn’t the right word. As with most political things nothing is ever simple is it?

MayBee70

DaisyAnneReturns

spabbygirl

He is very charismatic but as a Tory has also voted in favour of private healthcare replacing the NHS even in a limited way. Last week I had problems with my ears, my GP said I needed the wax removing. The NHS no longer offer that service so I paid £55 at specsavers. That's ok for me, I can afford it, but what about people who can't? For that reason I don't like any Tory, they're selfish

RS was Labour as a young man spabbygirl but watching Tony Blair and knowing as much as he did about Iraq and the surrounding area and countries made him change. I don't know if you've watched the interview but he was hortified at just how true the cannon-fodder description of MPs was.

You could see how upset he still was dog MayBee I wonder if real humanity ever survives politics.

The podcasts in which Rory and Alastair discuss Iraq are very enlightening, aren’t they. Although enlightening isn’t the right word. As with most political things nothing is ever simple is it?

I think he has become very interested in devolving down so decisions are made closer to the people that they affect because of this MayBee. He just doesn't see where he can be of service in such a plan - yet.

The corollary here is - people with ear wax just don’t want to listen to or hear anything about Tories! 😆
USA Gundy

Come on folk with ear wax problems - form your own thread in the health section! Let those of us who wish to share Roryrambles have space!
Anyone interested in Palestine/Israeli history would do well to listen to Rory’s brief, informative explanation on last Tuesday ‘The Rest is Politics’ podcast. First class as all his historic explanations are! Lovely to find a person who can explain complex issues clearly and engagingly!

Ladyleftfieldlover

I’ve just finished his book Politics on the Edge! Highly recommended.

I’ve just bought his book LLFL £10.99 on Kindle.
😁

I must be a glutton for political disillusionment!

CvD66

Come on folk with ear wax problems - form your own thread in the health section! Let those of us who wish to share Roryrambles have space!
Anyone interested in Palestine/Israeli history would do well to listen to Rory’s brief, informative explanation on last Tuesday ‘The Rest is Politics’ podcast. First class as all his historic explanations are! Lovely to find a person who can explain complex issues clearly and engagingly!

Do you have a link, please, re his take on Palestine/Israel?

I go through LBC...
Open LBC
Open Podcasts which has a search.
Type The Rest Is Politics

Loads will come up in a very easy to see-at-a-glance list.
I think the one that explains the history in an easier to understand way was number 178.
I see there's one I haven't listened to yet that also is on this topic. Episode 181.

I can't seem to do a link.

Thank you so much, I really enjoyed the hedgehog speech, but then was reduced to tears hearing about his dog. So moving.

For Applegran - sure, recent years have seen some wildly incompetent Tories. And previously Major, Heseltine and chums tried to bankrupt the country on 'Black Wednesday', made gazillions for Soros. The wretched Thatcher stuffed up our housing stock by selling off council houses, and putting nowt in their place! Go back a bit, and you'll find a plentiful supply of wildly incompetent Labour folk too. [over many voting decades I developed a healthy cynicism about politicos of all badges].

How many times was Bliar's best pal Mandelson suspended for assorted corruptions, 3, 4, I lost count. And he's now a Lord. With Israel in the news, maybe people have forgotten Comrade Corbyn and his inability to solve Labour's internal anti-Semitism problems, over 4+ years, apologised for by the entire Lab hierarchy, also Mccluskey the union leader and Lansman, Momentum leader.

Putting any undue faith in politicos is putting wild optimism over years of evidence!

Here's the link for 181 via Twitter:

twitter.com/RestIsPolitics/status/1712884122694062251?t=ilEv76Rm8Wn0Jl1z7OJhbQ&s=19

Ive no idea who he is,but im not a fan of the conservatives who are just getting rid of everything.

Then you need to look him up- he is no longer a Conservative as he was just as upset with their behaviour as you are.

Fleurpepper

Then you need to look him up- he is no longer a Conservative as he was just as upset with their behaviour as you are.

There are a number of Conservative voters who are unhappy with the performance and behaviour of this government.

However, they remain faithful to the Conservative doctrine in essence. I don't know how many believe in the principle of the NHS, but Conservative economic ideology is essentially - small State.

From a purely selfish POV, I would never support a party that wanted to abolish the institution of the NHS - however much I might like the politician, and RS is a likeable and decent politician, as are others.

In a deeply divided nation, divided both culturally and economically, as ours is, it's quite obvious that those millions who could not afford comprehensive healthcare cover would suffer, particularly the elderly and those with complex, pre-existing conditions. Of course, there would be a safety-net - a USA-styled Medicaid / Medicare safety net (to which you still have to contribute). But a safety-net only prevents you from hitting the ground, that is all. So we would end up with a two-tier system, and an even more divided nation.

I personally would be somewhere in the middle financially - OK-ish - so this is not just a selfish viewpoint, but any individual politician (however nice) or party that does not acknowledge the fact that, in very simplistic terms, the poor have got poorer and the rich, richer, and that this is not the best basis for a stable, functioning, and productive economy, will never get my "thumbs up".

Inequality leads to division, more inequality leads to more division. The Liz Trusses and 'Truss' economists and others obsessed with growth fail to understand that people can't wait years to see an improvement in their lives after 13-odd years of austerity, and certainly not when there are more "tough decisions" being contemplated - which we know translate to further cuts to public spending. Brutal Capitalism results in brutality, tribalism, and trouble... as we see in the States. We are headed in that direction. So as wholesome as I find RS, if he remains a Conservative, he's in it with the rest of them.

... not that I have too much faith in Starmer (who also appears decent and wholesome), but that's another discussion.

Dickens, oh I get you totally and have not and would never vote Conservative.

But they have lost the best among them, the decent and intelligent ones, One Nation Conservatives. Like Rory, and so many others, like the Dominic Grieves.

The NHS has always been so so close to our heart and our lives, in so many ways. State Education too. But we just would never return to the UK for that one and major reason- just NOT safe at our age with our medical conditions. So tragic. We are so lucky to have the choice.

www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+rest+is+politics
Rory Stewart Attempts to Explain the History of Israel-Palestine in 10 Minutes (388)

This is through You Tube.