Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

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 really the centrist triumph that the media reported? The next Rock & Roll Politics live show takes place on Monday Dec 7th at Kings Place, London. Get your tickets from the King’s Place box office . Subscribe to Patreon here for exclusive e...

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 leaders - to Thatcherism, at a time when voters are turning against the consequences of the 1980s? The next live Rock & Roll Politics show is on Monday December 7th - tickets available from the King’s Place box office . Subscribe to Patreon he...

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, stay tuned for more details to follow. Subscribe to Patreon here for exclusive extra content and bonus episodes, plus the regular podcast a day early and ad-free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...

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 ‘realistic’, which usually means right wing. The noise is loud and will be difficult to overcome. Can he? The Rock & Roll Politics co-operative will be making sense of Burnham’s key speech to the Labour conference and much more - this coming...

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, an important platform for Andy Burnham as he moved towards Number 10. Michael has published an inspiring paper with more than sixty policy proposals that he argues are feasible, and that would deliver the radical change that Burnham claims to...

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 in British politics for decades. To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.com Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on Wednesday September 30th - at the end of And...

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 big cuts. How? The lack of clarity fuels the hysteria about an economic crisis. Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on Wednesday September 30th - at the end of Andy Burnham’s first Labour conference as Prime Minister. Get your tic...

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 difference to the next election? Will it undermine Reform’s claim to lead ‘the people’s army’? Above all should the government stop it, even retrospectively?  To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, ema...

A cathartic moment: the British government announces sanctions against Nethanyahu’s government in Israel. Ed Miliband prepared the ground assiduously and acted. While most foreign secretaries are not significant change makers, Miliband can claim to be one already. Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on Wednesday September 30th - at the end of Andy Burnham’s first Labour conference as P...

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 years, or be closer to an echo of Rachel Reeves? To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.com Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on Wednesday September 30th - at the en...

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 the voters who lose out. RocknRoll Politics is live at Kings Place on September 30th. It's the first London show of the Burnham era and the end of Labour conference: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/book-tickets/53601/ Hosted on Acast. See acas...

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 the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.com Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on Wednesday September 30th - at the end of Andy Burnham’s first Labour conference as Prime Mini...

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 Wales they were of historic significance. The SNP rules again and now Plaid Cymru is in charge too. What does that mean for the Burnham ‘bounce’ and the impact of devolution on Labour? • Find out if you’re owed on car finance at refundclub.co.uk...

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 honeymoon? But the risks- always - are huge. To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.com Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Edinburgh Fringe right now - every day, includ...

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 co-operative sort out FIFA? To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.com Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Edinburgh Fringe from this Sunday August 16th, with 14 shows, a...

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 time in British political history, where usually the left vote fractures fatally. What are the implications as Andy Burnham makes his early moves? Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Edinburgh Festival from Sunday 16th of August with a d...

A whole series of prime ministers have promised a National Care service, but none have delivered. Can Andy Burnham? Plus brilliant questions in our never-ending debate on the opening of the Burnham era and the political drama in France. Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Edinburgh Festival from Sunday 16th of August with a different show each day. Tickets are available here. Subscribe to Patr...

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 do they mean, and does it make any sense? To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.com Subscribe to Patreon here for exclusive extra content and bonus episodes, plus the regula...

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 join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.com Subscribe to Patreon here for exclusive extra content and bonus episodes, plus the regular podcast a day early and ad-free.  Rock N R...

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 all the noise around his leadership? In some respects he was more boldly radical than Tony Blair in his first two years as prime minister. To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@iclou...

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 she was sacked as Transport Secretary only months after taking up the post. Haigh was widely admired during her brief period in the job but was targeted by Number 10. Now those who targeted her are gone, and she is at the centre of the new...

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 education can be an instrument of freedom, and the challenges of devolution. Subscribe to Patreon here for exclusive extra content and bonus episodes, plus the regular podcast a day early and ad-free.  Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings...

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 suggest he is far removed from ‘the people’? To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.com • Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/steve20 Subscribe...

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 unelected agencies and companies run much of Britain. Plus, was Burnham right not to take questions from political editors at the end of his speech earlier this week? To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-ope...

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? To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.com • Special offer! Get 20% off any vehicle history check at carVertical.com/steve20 Subscribe to Patreon here for exclusive extra conte...