Mahmood and Burnham bring governing questions to Leading
Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell's six uploads span Channel crossings, faith in public life and Britain's relationship with the EU.
The Rest Is Politics: Leading
Story of Why this story? The channel's weekly summary: what went up this week, what is drawing views now, and where the channel stands among similar channels.
The Small Boats Crisis, Palestine Action, & Labour's Leadership | Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood MP
Which conversation drew the biggest audience on Leading? Shabana Mahmood's interview, though the late arrival of Andy Burnham brought a fresh burst of attention to Brexit.
Mahmood's full episode reached roughly 134,000 views, the largest total among the week's new uploads. Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell ask the Home Secretary about small boats, the ban on Palestine Action and running the Home Office. The conversation also makes room for her Muslim faith and Birmingham upbringing, before ending with a rather different question: how much can she deadlift?
Viewers discuss the relationship between law and the government's decisions, with some questioning the justification for the Palestine Action ban. Others pick up on her answers about faith and public duty. Those are distinct conversations, not simply a verdict on the guest.
Burnham's arrival shifts the emphasis toward Britain's relationship with Europe. The clip titled "Andy Burnham confirms Russian interference in Brexit referendum" presents his account of interference and has the strongest daily momentum among the channel's videos. A separate excerpt addresses Brexit's effect on growth, while the full interview broadens out to EU relations and transparency over meetings.
Across the library, Leading added about 277,000 views over the week and gained subscribers, bringing it close to the 200,000 mark. Its current daily viewing is below its usual pace. Among nearby interview channels, Pretty Basic had a similar weekly viewing total, while What's Your Story? With Steph McMahon drew a larger audience. For Leading, the week's distinctive offering is the space given to two government figures to answer beyond a short political sound bite.
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The videos drawing views on The Rest Is Politics: Leading right now
Andy Burnham confirms Russian interference in Brexit referendum97,473 views · 2026-10-11
Rory & Alastair Interview Prime Minister Andy Burnham41,890 views · 2026-10-11
"Brexit has done more harm than good to UK growth."22,963 views · 2026-10-11
Small boats crisis, Palestine Action, and how Andy Burnham has given …6,050 views · 2026-10-05
Why are police arresting elderly protestors?4,508 views · 2026-10-08
- Subscribers
- 198,000 ▲ 1,000 this week
- Channel views, last 7 days
- 276,579
- Videos published this week
- 6
- Video published
- October 5, 2026
- Video views so far
- 134,136
- Views on its first day
- 67,364
The numbers
Here is Leading's week in views and subscribers.
💡 Test your knowledge
Which British prime minister did Alastair Campbell serve as director of communications?
Campbell served as director of communications in Tony Blair's government.