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.
226
Is Boris Johnson Moving The Conservatives To Th...
A look ahead to the Rock N Roll Politics Special streaming live from Kings Place on Sept 13th at 7pm...There's a lot going on! Streaming tickets :...
4 min
227
Social Care and the Lack of Political Will
Most voters agree that a government must raise taxes to pay for social care.In effect an insurance for care in old age does not come for nothing. Yet the government-like previous administrations- have failed to implement an effective plan even though...
44 min
228
Prime Ministers We Never Had-Part 2
After a short summer break we all need to get together to prepare for an epic autumn...I reflect on Afghanistan and reveal some of the figures that have the dubious honour of being included in 'The Prime Ministers We Never Had'..in bookshops and...
57 min
229
Prime Ministers We Never Had-Part One
Who qualifies for the dubious honour of being a Prime Minister We Never Had? In my new book I argue that there are two qualifications. They must have been seen as a possible Prime Minister AND had a feasible chance of seizing the crown. In this...
72 min
230
Is Rishi Sunak the Next Prime Minister?
Rishi Sunak is spoken of as Boris Johnson's likely successor...Chancellors are often seen as the next Prime Minister..and yet quite a few of them fail to seize the crown and become instead Prime Ministers We Never Had. Is Sunak the next Prime Minister...
54 min
231
What should the state be doing and how?
For the first time since 1979 some Conservatives, including Boris Johnson, seem to be looking towards a more active state...while others, including Rishi Sunak, continue to put the case for 'fiscal conservatism'. How significant is this divide in the...
64 min
232
'Freedom'
Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day' has become a dangerous farce, with Johnson, Sunak and Javid self isolating..raising big questions about what the complex term 'freedom' means...plus brilliant question on politics and sport, Jeremy Corbyn, what happens to...
42 min
233
Boris Johnson's ' Freedom to Be Irresponsible ...
B Johnson 'advises' mask wearing should continue in crowded indoor spaces...so the freedom not to do so is granted to the irresponsible who will ignore the advice...limiting the freedom of others..plus brilliant questions on MPs in the wrong parties...
51 min
234
K Starmer Needs To Change Labour Without 'Takin...
Labour won the Batley and Spen by-election against expectations..immediately K Starmer was urged to use his new space to 'take on his party'. But what does that mean? And what evidence is there that an opposition leader that triggers a 'row' goes on...
48 min
235
Matt Hancock-A Saga With Many Lessons And Conse...
The Kings Place show on Monday-live in the hall and streamed-will focus on the Hancock saga, delving deep into the many themes, and move on to Cummings and segue into Lord Frosty...We'll reflect on the by-election in Batley and Spen and what it tells...
27 min
236
The significance of a dramatic by-election result
What will be the consequences of the Conservatives' surprise loss of a by-election? Perhaps there will be none...but I argue that the Lib Dems' victory challenges Boris Johnson's main source of political strength-the perception that he's a...
50 min
237
Boris Johnson seeks to disown his chosen Brexit...
With breathtaking but unsurprising chutzpah B Johnson and Lord 'Frosty' Frost blame the EU for their own chosen Brexit route. The EU had agreed to T May's Brexit that avoided a border between GB and N.Ireland. Johnson proposed the border to get a deal...
50 min
238
Lockdown 'Freedom' Day-A Familiar Pattern
Like a dark thriller the lockdown exits have a familiar pattern-the frenzied focus on a date-Xmas Day, June 21st. Meanwhile the same newspapers and Tory MPs demand 'freedom' irrespective of the data, and B Johnson is inclined to agree with them...
49 min
239
Ed Miliband-Ideas and Leadership ..And Is D Cum...
Ed Miliband discusses some of the ideas in his new book 'Go Big' and why he feels freer to express his thoughts now compared with when he was Labour leader...Plus reflections on Dominic Cummings...and your latest questions on Labour's future, G7 and T...
70 min
240
The BBC In Crisis- A Familiar Pattern
The Diana/Bashir crisis is more nuanced than the media frenzy suggests but the layers of BBC 'senior managers', where lines of responsibility are blurred and the output is often a distant consideration, are the constant factors in the various...
53 min
241
Keir Starmer Gets Advice..From Virtually Everyone
It is a sign that Labour is in crisis when its leader is inundated with advice...much of it contradictory and more vague than the assertive tone of the many contributors to the debate about Labour's future..Listen or read carefully to the likes of...
32 min
242
Streaming live tonight...the historic finale
Rock N Roll Politics is streaming live from my boudoir for the last time tonight...the theatres are reopening soon! Get you tickets here and see you at 7pm: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics/
1 min
243
Labour turmoil
The current political situation is like the best political thrillers where nothing is quite what it seems...a contrast to Brexit which was a rollercoaster thriller but all of it on the surface. There were no mysteries. There are lots of mysteries now....
52 min
244
Does the 'centre ground' exist?
The 'centre ground' is the most overused and imprecise term in British politics. Cameron, Osborne and Blair claim to be on 'the centre ground'. So do most political columnists. The BBC tends to approve of those that call themselves 'centrists'. These...
51 min
245
Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings
Even if most voters are paying no attention the allegations around B Johnson's integrity and judgement will destabilise Number 10, the wider government...and, indeed, B Johnson, a figure unused to facing consequences of earlier decisions and conduct....
42 min
246
David Cameron and A Long Serving Government
Imagine if Ed Balls or John McDonnell had been Chancellor. Cameron would've been in no position to text them. This is partly a saga of one party rule at Westminster..plus your questions and who will win the Hartlepool by-election? The...
32 min
247
Tonight's live show
Just a quick reminder about tonight's live show and what we'll be doing...including the lessons from the contrasting careers of David Cameron and Shirley Williams, live questions and unreliable predictions.. Tickets here: ...
2 min
248
A Prince Dies
Such a lot to cram in..BBC's response to Prince Phillip's death, Northern Ireland, Sturgeon v Salmond latest...and I reveal what I'll be covering on this Thursday's Rock N Roll Politics streaming live at 7pm and then available for another week. ...
31 min
249
Alastair Campbell On K Starmer, T Blair and th...
I'm joined by Alastair Campbell to reflect on Ed Miliband's leadership, Keir Starmer and Tony Blair as he publishes his revelatory diaries that span 2010-2015..plus brilliant questions on A Salmond, K Starmer and the Covid Inquiry...and the latest...
54 min
250
Salmond V Sturgeon-The Most Significant Twist S...
Alex Salmond sets up a new party and some senior SNP figures defect. Whatever the other consequences defections will be destabilising for N Sturgeon and her team..No parallel is precise but Tory defections to UKIP freaked out the normally too calm D...
47 min