Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

Labour was elected to deliver ‘change’ but Starmer, Reeves and Morgan McSweeney have been cautious and vague about their ambition to move on from the recent past. Instead Labour communications use the term ‘reform’ as if it were a policy in itself. Now Labour faces the Reform Party, the Greens, the SNP and Lib Dems, all pitching bolder versions of change. Yet in government Labour is trapped by fis...

There is a big UK/EU summit in May which ministers are confident will be a significant event – and not just a talking shop. Meanwhile Rachel Reeves has dared to state the obvious – that a deal with the EU is the biggest prize for the British government, as Trump oscillates wildly. Are these signs that a government so fearful of raising Brexit is beginning to turn towards Europe? And what would be...

The right are obsessed with Miliband and his zeal for net zero policies, but is there any basis for the argument that his net zero policies threaten economic growth? And what is their alternative strategy? Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on May 8th… there’ll be a lot going on. Tickets available here . Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podca...

For decades nationalisation was the great taboo in British politics, while privatisation was deemed the great triumph of Thatcherism. Blair and Brown were opposed to any attempt to renationalise – but now there is cross party support for the nationalisation of British Steel, the railways are being renationalised and there is huge support for the government to take over water companies. What’s happ...

Is there a hint of British exceptionalism in the early days of the Trump-induced economic crisis? Apparently the UK got off lightly, while Keir Starmer can be a ‘bridgehead’ between Europe and the US. Let’s see…  Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on the 8th of May, just days after local elections and the Runcorn by-election. Tickets available here . Subscribe to Patreon here for live...

Trump has said ‘tariff’ is his favourite word, but will US consumers agree with him when prices rise? Plus - does the UK need a Department for Economic Growth? Subscribe to Patreon here to join Thursday’s live discussion and get a vault of timeless bonus podcasts. Rock & Roll Politics is live at the main concert hall in Kings Place on May 8th. Tickets here . Written and presented by Steve Rich...

This week Rachel Reeves announces more spending cuts in order to meet her fiscal rules, and the OBR’s verdict on her ‘fiscal headroom’. But what was the original purpose of ‘the fiscal rules’ and has Reeves learned the lessons from past Labour chancellors? Some context in a week that could doom a landslide government to being trapped rather than liberated by a chancellor’s ‘ironclad’ rules. Rock &...

The decision to scrap NHS England is a rare example of clear thinking in relation to delivery of public services. Can such clarity be applied more widely or will chaotic lines of management from the BBC to the railways continue to prevail? Some context from the 1980s, the New Labour era and David Cameron’s shallow and confused thinking when he set up NHS England. Rock & Roll Politics is live a...

Rachel Reeves is looking to save billions from the welfare budget. What are the lessons from New Labour’s attempts to cut welfare and what is the purpose of the latest focus on benefits? Will the government succeed in its hastily planned mission? Plus, brilliant questions on the international crisis and the internal turmoil in Reform. Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on May 8th. Tic...

Keir Starmer is enjoying his best media coverage since the election – but the UK commentariat always hails the appearance of ‘strong leadership’ during the early phase of an international crisis. Tough choices can still be avoided, but what happens when the consequences are played out and these vaguely defined choices must be made? The commentariat in the UK can turn speedily… and so can voters. S...

The moving parts in the international crisis continue to move. Macron and Starmer in Washington, a new government to form in Germany and Trump never far away from a TV screen. But to what end are all the diverse parts moving? Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your a...

Trump has instigated peace talks with Putin. The UK, France and Germany are alarmed, but what did they expect? And in their responses are they making a war with Russia more likely, and with what consequences? Plus more on ‘disrupters vs non-disrupters’ - the silliest and most shallow framing in the history of modern politics. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts including the curre...

The new fashionable term in politics is ‘disrupter’ or ‘insurgent’. Morgan McSweeney briefs that the government must be insurgents, but does he mean it? The cautious Number 10 operation seems wary of genuine change making ministers, so who are the insurgents? And can Starmer be one? Plus, brilliant questions from the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonu...

The chancellor hails her fiscal rules and iron resolution, but in her search for stability is she taking routes that are riskier than they appear to be? Plus five years of Brexit, the real Walden/ Thatcher interview and brilliant questions from the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts, and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free.  W...

Rachel Reeves is going for growth, but will she succeed? Plus, as Channel 4 screen James Graham’s new drama on Brian Walden’s last interview with Margaret Thatcher, what are the lessons for today’s media and top politicians? Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place next Monday 3rd of February for the first live show in what will be a wild political year. Tickets here. Subscribe to Patreon f...

Trump has won again as a disruptor, reflecting the mood of an impatient electorate aching for change. Starmer won the election last year arguing for ‘change’ – but can he become a confident changemaker? And why are hardline Brexiteers so content with Trump’s power to determine the fate of the British economy, while obsessing over Westminster sovereignty in relation to the EU? Rock & Roll Polit...

Nigel Farage commands the airwaves with only four MPs – and the two bigger parties obsess about the threat posed by Reform. Yet it’s the Lib Dems that made sweeping gains in Tory areas and have 72 MPs. As Keir Starmer’s cautious government gives them space on issues such as social care and Europe, and the media focuses on Reform, could they become a force again? Rock & Roll Politics is live at...

The announcement that a national care service will be the subject of another review shines light on a government with a landslide majority, but that is reluctant to use it in order to achieve challenging but historic change. Plus, the Reform UK latest, and Musk disowns Farage. Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on the 3rd of February for the first live show in what will be a wild poli...

Join Steve Richards for a special end of year political deep dive - straight from the Rock & Roll Politics Patreon vaults. In a bumper double episode Steve looks at the careers of Enoch Powell and Tony Benn - on the face of it, two very different figures. Yet the pair remain connected by their capacity to play the role of political troublemaker - a theme to be explored by Steve in a forthcomin...

• Give or get 20% off a year’s Patreon support for the pod in our Black Friday sale.  Here’s a recording of the final live show of 2024, recorded at Kings Place, where we tried to make sense of the epic politics of 2024. Including excellent questions from the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts, and to get the regular podcast a day early and...

• Give or get 20% off a year’s Patreon support for the pod in our Black Friday sale.  Farage is a formidable campaigner but the UK has a party based system, and running a party is a nightmare after the early euphoria of making waves has passed. Here’s why. Plus, the co-operative’s never ending debate on assisted dying, the future of Starmer and much more. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonu...

• Give or get 20% off a year’s Patreon support for the pod in our Black Friday sale.  What happens if thousands flee Syria? Where do they go? Can borders be ‘closed’ when asylum demands rise? The movement of people is the second crisis of the global economy after the financial crash, but there has been no global response.  Plus brilliant questions from the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative and...

• Give or get 20% off a year’s Patreon support for the pod in our Black Friday sale.  Keir Starmer will make a big speech on Thursday that is being perceived as a ‘relaunch’, though Number 10 are keen to insist it is nothing of the sort. But is this a government with a clear sense of purpose? And if so, do voters know what that purpose is? Plus brilliant questions from the Rock & Roll Politics...

• Give or get 20% off a year’s Patreon support for the pod in our Black Friday sale.  The government is advertising for a senior civil servant to work on a detailed ‘reset’ of the UK’s relations with the EU. Can the changes be of any significance? Will Trump be a factor in limiting the government’s ambitions? And how far will the government dare to go? Plus brilliant questions from the Rock &...

• Give or get 20% off a year’s Patreon support for the pod in our Black Friday sale. Wes Streeting has enjoyed a high profile under Keir Starmer so far. Recently he made a significant intervention in the debate over assisted dying, while announcing the first Alan Milburn inspired NHS reforms. What will the consequences be? Plus brilliant questions from the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative – a...