Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

In Hungary’s general election the seemingly invincible Viktor Orban has suffered a heavy defeat. But are there any significant lessons for exposing the weaknesses of Reform and other right wing parties in Europe? The next Rock & Roll Politics live show will be at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th . And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Spe...

This month marks the fiftieth anniversary since James Callaghan became prime minister. There were many dramas punctuating his short rule in Number 10, but throughout the storms Callaghan showed skilfully how to manage his cabinets. Arguably his leadership marked the final phase of ‘Cabinet Government’, but is it now returning under Keir Starmer? To join the never ending debate, send your emails to...

The BBC has a new director general, but is he or his army of senior managers - conveniently detached from direct responsibility for the output - capable of answering a key question: What is the role of a publicly-funded broadcaster in the modern era? Plus, brilliant questions on GB News, the energy crisis and the government’s economic policy - is there a hidden agenda? The next Rock & Roll Pol...

Recorded live at the York Literary Festival, host Steve Richards is joined by the former cabinet minister Alan Johnson to discuss three Labour Prime Ministers that have all won landslide election victories. But do they have much else in common? Listen now for a deep dive on Harold Wilson, Tony Blair and Keir Starmer. The next Rock & Roll Politics live show will be at the Cambridge Literary Fes...

The emails from the co-operative have been flying - so this podcast concentrates solely on the brilliant, illuminating never-ending debate. Today, a focus on the energy crisis, the media, Iran, and the continuing mysteries of Harold Wilson. Join the never-ending debate - send your emails to steveric14@icloud.com Rock & Roll Politics is at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th...

The Observer columnist Philip Collins argues that the future lies on the “centre ground” which he defines as spanning the Cameron government to Blairite Labour. But at a time when voters are impatient for sweeping change, is that outdated, misleading definition a guide for any party or leader/potential leader? And why does a more precise topical definition matter? Plus your thoughts on Michael Gov...

With the departure of Morgan McSweeney, the right in the media and well beyond detect that Ed Miliband has become the unofficial prime minister.  The Spectator editor Michael Gove has written an article on this theme, and is by no means alone. Apparently some of those making the same point used to work for Keir Starmer. But do Gove’s arguments make much sense? Time again to forensically examine a...

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 outside a single government’s control. Which is why prime ministers and chancellors are being too clunky when promising to address the cost of living, even if - understandably - it tops the list of voters’ concerns. Get tickets here for the York Book...

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 warnings and press ahead despite all the consequences? • Please join the co-operative’s never ending debate: steveric14@icloud.com • Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on May 11th in the aftermath of the dramatic  elections.  • Rock &amp...

Leaks from a national security council meeting suggest cabinet ministers challenged the assumption that Trump should have the automatic right to access British military bases. The grown up discussion was portrayed by some newspapers as a sign of weakness, which says more about those newspapers than Starmer and his ministers. Isn’t the Iran crisis showing that the ‘special relationship’ is largely...

Keir Starmer has dared to question the Trump/Netanyahu attack on Iran, implying it is unlawful and without clear objective. An elected UK prime minister has chosen to think for himself rather than follow the US subserviently - and the right wing media and its parties cannot cope. Why? To join the never ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative email steveric14@icloud.com Rock &amp...

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 military bases in its attacks on Iran. But there were plenty of other “mistakes” in relation to Iraq – are they being repeated now? To join our never-ending debate email your latest thoughts to steveric14@icloud.com • Rock & Roll Politics is live at...

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 insurgent party of ‘change’. Given the restive mood of voters since the 2008 crash, should any of us be surprised by this - except for the Labour leadership following an outdated, shallow and confused strategy?  Rock & Roll Politics is live at the...

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 of a guide to what will happen in a general election? Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. You can get tickets here .  And live at Kings Place on May 11th, days after the May elections: tickets he...

Already there is talk of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest triggering the biggest crisis for the royal family since the abdication. But is there much desire amongst most people to no longer be spellbound by what has always been a deeply flawed institution? The next live show at Kings Place is on May 11th, days after the elections. You can get tickets here . Subscribe to Patreon for live events,...

Right wing commentators and newspapers suggest that with the fall of Morgan McSweeney and Keir Starmer fighting for survival, Labour will move to the left. Would that be the disaster they suggest it would be? Rock & Roll Politics is live on the 11th of May at Kings Place, just days after the May elections. It will be an epic night...Tickets are available here . Subscribe to Patreon here for th...

In the first live show of 2026 we delve deep with the audience in the hall and on the live stream. We go back decades for much needed context and dare to look ahead, and White Van Man Andy makes a guest appearance.  The next live show at Kings Place is on May 11th, days after the elections, and will be even more epic than this show.  You can get tickets here . Subscribe to Patreon for live events,...

Morgan McSweeney and - we now discover - Peter Mandelson shaped the Starmer leadership in the run up to the election and beyond. Now they are both gone. Inevitably this will lead to change and the first meaningful ‘reset’ in a government of resets. But will it be under Starmer or his successor? Rock & Roll Politics is live and streaming this Wednesday, February 11th at the main concert hall in...

Keir Starmer was not even an MP when Peter Mandelson was part of the New Labour project - a relatively small part. Yet he seems to have had considerable influence over the leadership of Starmer and Morgan McSweeney. Now it is Starmer who is in deep trouble over Mandelson, a figure who was last in government in 2010. How has this happened? Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place next Wednes...

In the Gorton and Denton by-election Reform dares to hope it will win. Which party should opponents of Reform back to prevent such an outcome, and what are the wider lessons of the dilemmas for tactical voters? Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on Wednesday February 11th. It’s the first show of 2026, and a lot has happened since the last one. Tickets here. Subscribe to Patreon for li...

A new group has been launched within the Conservative Party aimed at reviving the much diminished ‘One Nation’ wing. Kemi Badenoch has been dismissive. Has she made a fatal strategic miscalculation? The first Rock & Roll Politics  live show of the year is on February 11th at Kings Place…. there’s a lot to make sense of that night. Tickets here : https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/stev...

Predictably Keir Starmer has blocked Andy Burnham from standing in the forthcoming by-election. Has Labour had enough of this unique style of party management where those seen as to the left of Starmer and Morgan McSweeney, or a leadership ’threat’, are crushed, briefed against, expelled, suspended or blocked? Or was this Starmer’s only available route?  Rock & Roll Politics is live at the mai...

Trump has pulled back from the brink, but not before he publicly attacked European leaders, including Keir Starmer. The British prime minister also expressed publicly his opposition to Trump’s plans to ‘control’ Greenland and threaten tariffs. Outside the EU and with a US President launching threats and public onslaughts, where is Britain’s place in the world? Plus, brilliant questions on the spli...

Robert Jenrick’s defection highlighted the schism on the right, two parties battling it out as Labour and the SDP did in the 1980s.  But there are significant contrasts between the schism on the left then and the divide on the right now. One of them is surreal - both Reform and the Tories are parties of the populist radical right, so what are they fighting over? Rock & Roll Politics is live at...

I was not planning another podcast on the theme of U-turn, not least when the schism on the right has been highlighted by the sacking of Robert Jenrick. But I sense there are huge lessons from the sequence that led to the U-turn, and they must be learnt urgently. Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on February 11th. Tickets here. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and...