Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

NHS waiting lists spiralling out of control. A crisis in social care. Station boards full of cancelled trains. Creaking schools. But somehow, Rishi Sunak's future depends on flying a single plane full of migrants to Rwanda. How do we get a more grown-up politics in the UK? Plus your brilliant questions, notices from the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, and much more. Support Rock & Roll...

After the resignation of Robert Jenrick, plus Suella Braverman's opposition to his new Rwanda legislation, can Rishi Sunak govern any more? If not, will he call an early election next year? Steve Richards assesses another Westminster drama with a special bonus podcast. Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and exclusive merchandise only ava...

It’s a new week and Boris Johnson will finally be held to account for his leadership during the pandemic at the Covid-19 Inquiry this week. Steve Richards imagines how different and more effective the response would have been if Gordon Brown and Alastair Darling were in charge. Would they have handled it as well as they did the financial crash? All this plus reflections on Glenys Kinnock, Keir Sta...

Now even Holland is under the rule of a right wing populist, it might be time to admit that they are winning again. Argentina has elected another. Trump might win next year. And Farage is in the jungle watched by millions. Steve Richards asks what's happening and why? Plus Steve answers brilliant listener questions and important notices for the Rock N Roll Politics co-operative. Support Rock &...

The UK government is presiding over a crumbling, broken country and investment is required urgently. Steve Richards asks why are Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt focussing instead on tax cuts? Plus Steve answers brilliant listener questions and important notices for the Rock N Roll Politics co-operative. Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and...

Rishi Sunak's desperate attempt to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda will be the dominant political theme for months, sucking up all energy as Brexit did. Steve Richards considers how this is political madness at the best of times, but what is prompting this lunacy now when so much in the UK doesn't work? Plus Steve answers brilliant listener questions and important notices for the Rock N Roll Politics...

Rishi Sunak has sacked Suella Braverman and brought back David Cameron . But in terms of party management and the direction of policy, do these seemingly dramatic changes make much difference? Steve Richards considers all this plus news of an upcoming special Patreon-only Zoom event coming soon. Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and an...

Steve Richards considers how Rishi Sunak pays homage to Elon Musk, and discusses the confirmation from the Covid inquiry that no one and no agency was in control during a national emergency. A King's Speech is unveiled, most of which will not be implemented plus Sunak and Starmer follow the United States in their attitude to the Israel/Hamas conflict. All this begs the question who actually wields...

Covid struck the UK at the worst possible time. Johnson was governing amidst casual chaos and yet he was popular and this popularity made him dangerously powerful. Neither his subservient cabinet nor a parliament with a big Tory Majority dared to challenge him. Now we are discovering quite how bad things were. Plus brilliant questions on Keir Starmer and the Israel Gaza conflict, Brexit, the leade...

In this Question Time Special, Rock & Roll Politics explores the Israel/Gaza nightmare, the origins of Brexit and the crises facing the Conservative party. Plus, will Labour win an overall majority? Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Ropetackle, Shoreham this Wednesday 1 November. Tickets here: https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/ Back us on Patreon f...

The Conservative Party has a reputation for adapting ruthlessly to changing times, but is it deserved? After the two historic by-election defeats last week, the United Kingdom's governing party of choice faces the possibility of a calamitous defeat at the next general election.  Steve Richards asks; did the Tories ever learn the full lessons from the election slaughter in 1997 and what have they d...

Tensions are high in the UK and yet virtually everyone condemns the brutal atrocities in Israel while warning about the horrors in Gaza. Steve Richards asks; amidst a consensus over the horror, why is there such angry disagreement? Support Rock N Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and much more: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics Rock N Roll Politic...

Keir Starmer framed a powerful and coherent argument in his conference speech, but what about the gaps? Steve Richards asks; What have we learnt from the conference season so far? The SNP is coming up next. All this plus brilliant listener questions and notices for the Rock n Roll Politics Co-operative.  Support Rock N Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes an...

Steve Richards is at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool. The mood is disciplined and yet ebullient and businesses have flocked to the conference assuming Keir Starmer will be prime minister next year. Are Labour ready for the challenges of power? Support Rock N Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and much more: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitic...

In his party conference speech, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claimed to be the “change-maker” who was moving Britain on from “the last thirty years”. Steve Richards asks, did he pull his speech off? Support Rock N Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and much more: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics Rock N Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on October...

The pre-election Conservative Party conference manages to be both noisy and subdued. The autumnal gloom has set in, there's a pervasive sense that defeat looms and that sense makes defeat more likely. It is true that Sunak inherited a nightmare, but why has he failed to rise to the challenge? All this from Steve Richards , plus more brilliant questions and notices for the Rock N Roll Politics co-o...

Steve Richards speaks to the Labour shadow cabinet member and historian Nick Thomas Symonds. Nick has revised his biography of the former Prime Minister Clement Attlee and included an introduction from Keir Starmer, but can Starmer emulate Attlee?  Nick also has responsibility for negotiating a 'better Brexit', Steve asks him how can this be achieved? Support Rock N Roll Politics on Patreon and ge...

The tidal waves move away from Thatcherite orthodoxies as the next election moves into view and the consequences of austerity economics and privatised monopolies are playing out.  Steve Richards asks; will the UK turn if Labour wins?  Support Rock N Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and much more: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics Rock N Roll Poli...

As the UK is excluded from the latest US/EU initiative, Steve Richards asks what is its role in the world? The same question was asked during the Suez crisis in 1956 and during the rows over Brexit. When the UK reaches crucial turning points does it turn, or do the key questions remain unresolved?  Support Rock N Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and much...

Today; the closure of schools because of unsafe buildings is emblematic of a country where nothing seems to work. Nothing happens by chance and Rishi Sunak's fiscal conservatism – echoing the early austerity years – has consequences.  Plus Steve Richards considers Keir Starmer's reshuffle. Believe it or not the policies will matter more than the personalities. Support Rock N Roll Politics on Patre...

We are close to the start of a new political year and the Conservatives appear to be as disturbed as ever. Nadine Dorries is stirring, so who is Rishi Sunak turning to for support in this troubled time? Support Rock N Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and much more: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics At the start of a new political year Rock N Roll...

In this latest episode Steve Richards reflects on the lessons so far from a vibrant Edinburgh Festival and introduces an episode previously released for Patreon backers on the significance of Prime Ministers appointing allies who they have known and admired for many years. Their chosen confidants tell us much about the character of a PM. In this case we look at the instincts of David Cameron as he...

The 1992 election haunts Keir Starmer and his team. It was an election when Labour was at some points well ahead in the polls and still lost. In this summer special Steve Richards looks at what really happened.  Support Rock N Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and much more: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics Rock N Roll Politics is live at the Edi...

In the first of a series of Summer Specials Steve Richards reflects on the role of troublemakers in British politics. This is the chance for the whole Rock N Roll Politics co-operative to hear an episode from the Patreon series on troublemakers.  Today Steve focuses on Enoch Powell who made one speech that rightly led to him being sacked from the front bench, never to return. He still managed to t...

It's the height of summer and a chance to explore the many mysteries of British politics via brilliant questions from the Rock N Roll Politics Cooperative.  Support Rock N Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and much more: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics Rock N Roll Politics is live at the Edinburgh Festival from Sunday August 13th with a differen...