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
A Shift In The Opinon Polls
The opinion polls- accurate or not- determine the political mood, how leaders are perceived by their parties and the media. What is the significance when some polls show Labour in a rare lead? Plus brilliant questions from across the UK and the...
61 min
227
Boris Johnson and 'Sleaze"
The episode explores why long serving Conservative governments become vulnerable when stories about 'sleaze' become a dominant theme...and why B Johnson has distinct cause to be worried...plus brilliant questions from around the UK and the world. Rock...
58 min
228
The BBC and 'Impartiality'
Rishi Sunak's budget has become mythologised as a 'tax and spend' programme..'a Labour budget'...but is it...? The question highlights issues around 'impartiality' and the BBC. Rock N Roll Politics- The Barnard Castle Special is live at Witham Arts...
51 min
229
Rishi Sunak and Rachel Reeves
An analysis of the political duel between the Chancellor and the Shadow Chancellor ..with more to come...plus brilliant questions from around the UK and the rest of the world. Tkts here for Rock N Roll Politics-The Barnard Castle Special on Sat Nov...
57 min
230
A Review: Blair and Brown-The New Labour Revolu...
After the unbearable murder of David Amess-a. defence of politics and elected representatives...and a review of the BBC series on New Labour...that is getting rave plaudits, partly undeserved... Plus brilliant questions... Rock N Roll Politics is live...
55 min
231
Brexit and Consequences
Looking ahead to the live show at Kings Place.... Tickets here for live in the hall: . And here for the live stream:
3 min
232
B Johnson and his Cabinet espouse the policies ...
Boris Johnson has become a fan of import controls as a way of increasing wages- a key part of Tony Benn's Alternative Economic Strategy in the the late 70s and early 80s. But in another bizarre twist they are both Bennite and Thatcherite. Rock N Roll...
68 min
233
Keir Starmer Makes His Moves
Keir Starmer aches to engage with the wider electorate...but with the government facing several deep crises is he right to focus on internal issues at the start of the conference? Does it clear the decks or convey to voters an impression of a divided...
60 min
234
Boris Johnson-The most powerful PM in modern times
Boris Johnson's reshuffle shows that he is in total command of his government and party....more so than any other recent Prime Minister...at least for now...Plus Andrew Neil and GB News...and an amazing array of questions. Rock N Roll Politics is live...
61 min
235
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
236
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
237
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
238
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
239
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
240
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
241
'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
242
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
243
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
244
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
245
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
246
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
247
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
248
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
249
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
250
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