Shows / Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards
Based on his live one-man show Rock & Roll Politics, the broadcaster and author Steve Richards takes a weekly behind-the-scenes tour of UK politics and the media that shapes the way we view the epic political dramas. The future is ridiculously unpredictable and the past is so easy to misread. Subscribe to your weekly guide through seismic times.
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Episodes
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWill John Healey rise to the titanic Budget challenges?
John Healey presents his first Budget – constrained by a fragile economy, international turmoil, the red lines of Labour’s timid 2024 election manifesto and…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsHow Wars End – Part Two
I knew my reflections on the Russia-Ukraine War and wider global tensions would trigger a brilliant reaction from the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative…and it…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsHow do wars end?
With the war in Ukraine continuing into another dark winter, how can it end? And - a different question - how should it end? The next live Rock & Roll Politics…
- Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards
Did Liz Truss have a point?
The Office for Budget Responsibility continues to play a big part in pre-budget calculations - but should it? Nobody elected the OBR, as Liz Truss pointed out…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWhy is it time to talk about Brexit again?
The consequences of Brexit have been rarely explored since Lord Frosty Frost negotiated a trade deal that was agreed chaotically on Christmas Eve 2020. Now…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWhat next for Zack Polanski?
Labour has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election… but what are the implications for the Greens? And was “Kemi”’s speech to the Conservative Conference…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsIs Kemi Badenoch the leader returning to the past?
The Tories and the media accuse Andy Burnham of taking Britain back to the 1970s. But is Kemi Badenoch the leader who is returning again - like all Tory…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsRock & Roll Politics Live: What has Andy Burnham unleashed?
An epic Rock & Roll Politics Live at Kings Place, the night after Burnham’s speech. Listen now to the recording of a show. The next is live on December 7th…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWill the media allow Andy Burnham to generate hope?
Burnham is a natural, confident communicator - and he has promised change. including a National Care Service. But the media noise is about the need to be…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsHow Can Burnham Deliver the Biggest Change in 40 Years?
On the eve of the Labour conference I speak to the brilliant Michael Jacobs - former adviser to Gordon Brown, founder of Compass and supporter of Mainstream…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWhat’s the most effective slogan in modern politics?
The Rock & Roll Politics co-operative continues our never-ending debate on the economy, defence and the Israeli government as I hail the most effective slogan…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsThe UK economic crisis - Does anyone know what they’re talking about?
The Greek chorus of experts condemn "another tax and spend socialist government”. What does that mean? They also call for "welfare reform" to produce instant…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsShould Reform be allowed to spend the crypto-billionaires’ money?
Reform have received donations from crypto billionaires that amount to more than all the cash spent by the parties at the last election. Will it make a…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsIs Ed Miliband a rare example of a foreign secretary changing foreign policy?
A cathartic moment: the British government announces sanctions against Nethanyahu’s government in Israel. Ed Miliband prepared the ground assiduously and…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsHow bold will John Healey be?
John Healey has made his first speech as chancellor, and therefore the biggest of his long career. Will he be part of the promised biggest change in forty…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWill the media ever allow an honest ‘tax and spend’ debate?
Westminster is staging another hysterical debate about tax and spend in which there is no coherence or honesty. They are all trying to woo the voters but it is…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsAre there worrying signs in Burnham’s honeymoon?
Andy Burnham has generated a sense of energy and purpose during the summer break - but is he in some key areas sowing the seeds of future trouble? To join in…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsCan Burnham revive Labour in Scotland and Wales?
The May elections triggered the ultimate drama – a change of prime minister. This meant reflections on the actual results were limited yet in Scotland and…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWill Andy Burnham call an early election?
It’s the question asked of all incoming mid term prime ministers - should they get their own mandate? Should they call an election during their early…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWhat to read on our summer holidays?
At the height of summer here are some political book recommendations from the distant past. Plus: how to hold local councils and mayors to account, and can the…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsThe right is split three ways. What are the consequences?
In the recent Greater Manchester mayoral contest the Conservatives finished behind Reform UK and Restore Britain. The right are split three ways for the first…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsCan Andy Burnham deliver a National Care Service?
A whole series of prime ministers have promised a National Care service, but none have delivered. Can Andy Burnham? Plus brilliant questions in our…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsAre we going back to the 1970s?
Less than a week since Andy Burnham has become Prime Minister, the Greek chorus of commentators have warned that Britain is ‘going back to the 1970s’. But what…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWill Andy Burnham’s new cabinet deliver the biggest change in 40 years?
Andy Burnham has promised the biggest change in 40 years. Is his new cabinet ready to deliver - and does he know how to bring about the change he seeks? To…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWas Keir Starmer more of a change-maker than he seemed?
Keir Starmer takes a bow amidst much talk that he lacked a mission and sense of governing purpose… but what happens if we follow the policy trail rather than…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWhat are the lessons in the fall and rise of Louise Haigh?
Louise Haigh is a key figure in Andy Burnham’s team and will be back in the cabinet next week when Burnham becomes Prime Minister - a remarkable comeback given…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWill a contest against Binface make Farage more prime-ministerial?
Farage faces Count Binface in his latest campaign. As a potential prime minister, isn’t there a better use of his time? Plus, Bridget Phillipson on how…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsHow much trouble is Nigel Farage in?
The Reform leader is facing more allegations about donations made before he was an MP. Can he lead a ‘people’s revolt’ when stories erupt around him that…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsEve of the Burnham era: Where does power really lie?
There’s a strong focus on Andy Burnham’s plans for devolution but he has identified a bigger challenge in what he has called ‘the outsourced state’, where…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWill Andy Burnham’s big idea work?
Andy Burnham has promised an historic transfer of power from the centre. Unlike some leaders who have made similar pledges he means it. But how will it work?…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWho should be Andy Burnham’s Chancellor?
The answer to this question is hugely significant. Look back and mid-term Prime Ministers fall out badly with their chosen Chancellor - too often Labour Prime…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWhat does Andy Burnham really think?
I revisit an interview I did with Andy Burnham before the general election, when there was no leadership speculation as Keir Starmer was so obviously heading…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsAndy Burnham wins - what follows?
Andy Burnham has won the Makerfield by-election by a triumphant margin. What does that mean for the government, and for Reform? To join in the never-ending…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWhat if Keir Starmer is right on defence?
Keir Starmer navigated around a reluctant Treasury and dissenting minsters to find a further significant increase in defence spending. It was not enough for…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWhat is the significance of John Healey’s resignation?
The instinctively loyal John Healey has resigned over the level of defence spending about to be announced - what will be the impact on Keir Starmer’s fragile…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsDoes it matter any more if a by-election candidate is out of their depth?
The Reform candidate in the historic Makerfield by- election has struggled to answer obvious questions about policy and his own social media comments. In…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsIs Farage as formidable as he appears to be?
This week Nigel Farage has chosen to fuel ‘hatred’ in relation to a horrific murder, seeking to politicise crudely and obviously. Has he been too crude and…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsLabour’s battle of ideas - much needed or dangerous?
Tony Blair’s essay has triggered detailed responses from Keir Starmer, potential successors and others within the government. Is this a healthy development for…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWhat does Tony Blair mean by the ‘radical centre’?
In Tony Blair’s latest long essay he claims to be on the ‘radical centre’. In which case, why are his largely vague arguments welcomed most by those on the…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsDo the fashionable assumptions about Andy Burnham make sense?
Leaders and potential leaders are often far more interesting than the stereotypes reported by political journalists. Is this the case with Andy Burnham? To…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsIs this the strangest leadership crisis in modern times?
Keir Starmer continues as Prime Minister. Andy Burnham fights a by-election as a potential future Prime Minister. Is Burnham a by- election candidate and…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWhy is the phrase ‘Brexit Wars’ dangerous for Britain?
Wes Streeting says he wants Britain to rejoin the EU at some point. Andy Burnham has noted often that Brexit has been a calamitous seismic shock, and the…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsCan Andy Burnham win the by-election?
After a week of high political drama, some raging questions are answered. Starmer wants to stay, Streeting has resigned, and Burnham has a route to the…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWho can lead the ‘people’s revolt’?
All leaders and potential leaders agree the urgent need to move on from what Keir Starmer calls vaguely ‘the status quo’. Nigel Farage claims to lead ‘the…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsElection Special - Who can meet the voters’ hunger for ‘change’?
Labour is slaughtered in spite of promising ‘change’ in a country desperate to move on from the failures of the past. But does Starmer - or potential…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsHow will Reform and the Greens respond to electoral success?
Reform and the Greens are expected to make stunning gains in this week's elections. But will either party be ready to develop coherent and credible policies -…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsCan or should a King change Trump’s view of ’the special relationship'?
King Charles delivered a perfectly pitched speech in Congress, with many barely coded messages. But will Trump, charmed by royalty, change his attitude to the…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsIs Britain ungovernable?
With another prime minister fighting for his political life, some commentators argue that the job has become impossible. Since 2016 there have been six prime…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsHow vulnerable is Keir Starmer?
Are we in the final days of Starmer’s leadership, or is no potential successor ready to make a move? Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary…
- Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards
Starmer/Mandelson - Does the plot ever really change?
Did Starmer deliberately mislead parliament? No. Did Starmer make a terrible misjudgement in appointing Mandelson with a casual detachment? Yes. This was the…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsIs there a danger the government will spend too much on defence?
There is no money, the economy is barely growing, the war in Iran will cost billions in Britain and there are demands on spending across public services. Yet…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsThe fall of Orban - How vulnerable is the populist right?
In Hungary’s general election the seemingly invincible Viktor Orban has suffered a heavy defeat. But are there any significant lessons for exposing the…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsAre we seeing the return of Cabinet Government?
This month marks the fiftieth anniversary since James Callaghan became prime minister. There were many dramas punctuating his short rule in Number 10, but…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWhat next for the BBC?
The BBC has a new director general, but is he or his army of senior managers - conveniently detached from direct responsibility for the output - capable of…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsAlan Johnson on Wilson, Blair and Starmer
Recorded live at the York Literary Festival, host Steve Richards is joined by the former cabinet minister Alan Johnson to discuss three Labour Prime Ministers…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsThe never-ending debate special
The emails from the co-operative have been flying - so this podcast concentrates solely on the brilliant, illuminating never-ending debate. Today, a focus on…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWhat is the ‘centre ground’?
The Observer columnist Philip Collins argues that the future lies on the “centre ground” which he defines as spanning the Cameron government to Blairite…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWhy are the right obsessed with Ed Miliband?
With the departure of Morgan McSweeney, the right in the media and well beyond detect that Ed Miliband has become the unofficial prime minister. The Spectator…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWhy is the ‘cost of living’ almost impossible for the government to control?
Energy prices soar and the British government watches on helplessly. If it were not energy costs, it might have been some other sector causing mayhem outside a…
Rock & Roll Politics with Steve RichardsWhy did Starmer ignore the evidence against Mandelson?
The release of the Mandelson documents shows the degree to which his appointment was a huge risk. Why did the lawyerly, cautious Starmer overrule the warnings…