Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

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...

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 Ministers seek to reassure the media and the markets with their choice, only for both to turn on the Chancellor that is supposed to bring ‘stability’. To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email ste...

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 for victory.  We explore where power lies, where power should lie, where he feels he has always stood on the political spectrum, why this is a different landscape to 1997 and much more. It gives a sense of what his priorities are likely...

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 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 content and bonus episodes, plus th...

Keir Starmer navigated around a reluctant Treasury and dissenting minsters to find a further significant increase in defence spending. It was not enough for John Healey and the mighty defence establishment, but where precisely would they find even more money? And would it be spent well? Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on the 13th of July to make sense of the fallout arising from th...

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 leadership? And how will resources be found to pay for defence and other creaking public services? Plus, we are in an era of multi-party politics, and the new battles between parties are already having a big impact on elections and by-electio...

The Reform candidate in the historic Makerfield by- election has struggled to answer obvious questions about policy and his own social media comments. In today’s dangerous anti-politics mood could this be an advantage for him? 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...

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 obvious? Is the fracturing on the right an opportunity for the government, or is it triggering a dangerous debate framed by the far right? To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud....

Tony Blair’s essay has triggered detailed responses from Keir Starmer, potential successors and others within the government. Is this a healthy development for a party that seemed fearful of internal debate. or the start of a fatal divide? To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.com Patreon subscribers can join Steve for an exclusive...

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 right? His elegant writing and capacity to frame big arguments convey a sense of clarity. Time to delve deep to see if he’s as clear as he appears to be. • Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on the 13th of July to explore the...

Leaders and potential leaders are often far more interesting than the stereotypes reported by political journalists. Is this the case with Andy Burnham? To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.com Patreon subscribers can join Steve for an exclusive live stream on Monday June 8th at 7pm. Book your spot here . You can subscribe to Patr...

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 leadership candidate simultaneously? Or can he pull off being the by- election candidate first, before the scrutiny of a leadership challenge? Meanwhile Wes Streeting refers to a leadership contest - even though he is not yet a candidate. Time to...

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 cabinet and most voters agree. Yet this is a return to the ‘Brexit Wars’ - and not only because of the Makerfield by-election. Can there ever be a grown up debate on Brexit? To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics...

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 Commons. But now another question arises - can he win? To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.com Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast...

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 people’s revolt’ against the status quo. But why should he have the monopoly in leading the people when he was a key figure in creating the current ‘status quo’? To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, em...

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 successors - know what they mean by change? And does Farage? To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.com You can get the last few remaining tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Ele...

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 - in line with their very different values - by the time of the general election? It is the phase in the electoral cycle that is the toughest challenge of the lot. To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative...

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 elected government in the UK or to those in the rest of Europe?  Plus Morgan McSweeney, Peter Mandelson, and the build up to the 2024 election. To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steve...

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 ministers. But is the context suddenly impossibly challenging, or is that an excuse for weak or poor leadership? To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.com You can get your tic...

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 Festival this Saturday at 8pm. Tickets on the festival website. Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special is live at Kings Place on Monday May 11th. Tickets here. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acas...

Did Starmer deliberately mislead parliament? No. Did Starmer make a terrible misjudgement in appointing Mandelson with a casual detachment? Yes. This was the plot of the first episode of this dark saga. It is also the plot of the latest eruption in the long running series, with many episodes to come. To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@...

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 there is a noisy clamour for huge increases in defence spending. Are the calls for defence to be a priority at the expense of all other demands justified? And what will be the legacies of a landslide Labour government if the investment priori...