Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards
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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. Subscr...
Episodis Recents
706 episodis
What 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 enou...
What 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...
Does 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....
Is 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 crud...
Labour’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 develo...
What 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 o...
Do 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 Burnha...
Is 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...
Why 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...
Can 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 th...
Who 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...
Election 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...
How 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 po...
Can 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 attitud...
Is 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 si...
How 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 Cambri...
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...
Is 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 servic...
The 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 th...
Are 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,...
What 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 - capab...
Alan 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 M...
The 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 f...
What 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 Blairi...
What 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 Blairi...
Why 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.
Why 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.
Why 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...
Why 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...
Why 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...
Why 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...
Is Britain trapped by the "special relationship"?
Leaks from a national security council meeting suggest cabinet ministers challenged the assumption that Trump should have the automatic right to acces...
Is Britain trapped by the "special relationship"?
Leaks from a national security council meeting suggest cabinet ministers challenged the assumption that Trump should have the automatic right to acces...
Why we should welcome Stamer’s caution on Iran
Keir Starmer has dared to question the Trump/Netanyahu attack on Iran, implying it is unlawful and without clear objective. An elected UK prime minist...
Why we should welcome Stamer’s caution on Iran
Keir Starmer has dared to question the Trump/Netanyahu attack on Iran, implying it is unlawful and without clear objective. An elected UK prime minist...
Trump and Iran – Has Britain learned the lessons of Iraq?
Keir Starmer has said the “mistakes” of Iraq have been learnt and he has published the legal advice that justifies allowing the US to use British mili...
Trump and Iran – Has Britain learned the lessons of Iraq?
Keir Starmer has said the “mistakes” of Iraq have been learnt and he has published the legal advice that justifies allowing the US to use British mili...
The Greens win - What will be the consequences?
In the end the Greens won the Gorton and Denton by-election with ease. Labour were third in one of their safest seats. Reform is no longer the only in...
The Greens win - What will be the consequences?
In the end the Greens won the Gorton and Denton by-election with ease. Labour were third in one of their safest seats. Reform is no longer the only in...
What will we learn from the Gorton and Denton by-election?
This week's by-election has become a big test for Labour, Reform and the Greens. The result is likely to have many consequences, but will it be much o...