Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

Who qualifies for the dubious honour of being a Prime Minister We Never Had? In my new book I argue that there are two qualifications. They must have been seen as a possible PM AND had a feasible chance of seizing the crown. I discuss some of those that are often cited as 'PMs We Never Had' but who do not qualify. Plus your brilliant questions..and you can pre order a signed copy of the book here:...

Rishi Sunak is spoken of as Boris Johnson's likely successor...Chancellors are often seen as the next Prime Minister..and yet quite a few of them fail to seize the crown and become instead Prime Ministers We Never Had. Is Sunak the next Prime Minister or one of those who won't get to the very top? My latest book 'The Prime Ministers We Never Had' can be pre-orderered here:https://www.waterstones.c...

For the first time since 1979 some Conservatives, including Boris Johnson, seem to be looking towards a more active state...while others, including Rishi Sunak, continue to put the case for 'fiscal conservatism'. How significant is this divide in the modern Conservative party and where does it leave Labour? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See a...

Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day' has become a dangerous farce, with Johnson, Sunak and Javid self isolating..raising big questions about what the complex term 'freedom' means...plus brilliant question on politics and sport, Jeremy Corbyn, what happens to those that defect to other parties... and much more. Rock N Roll Politics is live at the Greenwich Theatre on Sunday evening, July 18 Learn more abo...

B Johnson 'advises' mask wearing should continue in crowded indoor spaces...so the freedom not to do so is granted to the irresponsible who will ignore the advice...limiting the freedom of others..plus brilliant questions on MPs in the wrong parties to England's defeat against Italy. Rock N Roll Politics is live at the Greenwich Theatre next Sunday..a few tickets left for sale: https://greenwichth...

Labour won the Batley and Spen by-election against expectations..immediately K Starmer was urged to use his new space to 'take on his party'. But what does that mean? And what evidence is there that an opposition leader that triggers a 'row' goes on to win an election? Plus brilliant questions...Rock N Roll Politics is live at the Greenwich Theatre on Sun July 18-https://greenwichtheatre.org.uk/ev...

The Kings Place show on Monday-live in the hall and streamed-will focus on the Hancock saga, delving deep into the many themes, and move on to Cummings and segue into Lord Frosty...We'll reflect on the by-election in Batley and Spen and what it tells us, the Blue Wall, plus live questions and unreliable predictions...Tickets here for the streamed and live event. https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-...

What will be the consequences of the Conservatives' surprise loss of a by-election? Perhaps there will be none...but I argue that the Lib Dems' victory challenges Boris Johnson's main source of political strength-the perception that he's a winner....plus brilliant questions and bread recipes. Rock N Roll Politics is live in the main hall of Kings Place on Monday June 28th...and streamed live. Tkts...

With breathtaking but unsurprising chutzpah B Johnson and Lord 'Frosty' blame the EU for their own chosen Brexit route. The EU had agreed to T May's Brexit that avoided a border between GB and N.Ireland. Johnson proposed the border to get a deal that was different to May's...hoping to escape later from the consequences, or not realising what they were. Rock N Roll Politics is live in the main hall...

Like a dark thriller the lockdown exits have a familiar pattern-the frenzied focus on a date-Xmas Day, June 21st. Meanwhile the same newspapers and Tory MPs demand 'freedom' irrespective of the data, and B Johnson is inclined to agree with them as a new variant appears to be taking hold...Plus your brilliant questions on D Cummings, E Miliband, and much more.  Rock N Roll Politics is live at Kings...

Ed Miliband discusses some of the ideas in his new book 'Go Big' and why he feels freer to express his thoughts now compared with when he was Labour leader...Plus reflections on Dominic Cummings...and your latest questions on Labour's future, G7 and T Blair's foreign policyRock N Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on Monday June 28th:https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/?kw=2021-06-28 Learn mor...

The Diana/Bashir crisis is more nuanced than the media frenzy suggests but the layers of BBC 'senior managers', where lines of responsibility are blurred and the output is often a distant consideration, are the constant factors in the various avoidable crises-Diana, Cliff, Gilligan/Kelly etc. Plus brilliant questions on Labour, Brexit and much more. Rock N Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on J...

It is a sign that Labour is in crisis when its leader is inundated with advice...much of it contradictory and more vague than the assertive tone of the many contributors to the debate about Labour's future..Listen or read carefully to the likes of Tony Blair, Peter Mandelson, Angela Rayner and John McDonnell ...and their proposed paths towards recovery are more foggy than they appear to be. Learn...

Rock N Roll Politics is streaming live from my boudoir for the last time tonight...the theatres are reopening soon! Get you tickets here and see you at 7pm:https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The current political situation is like the best political thrillers where nothing is quite what it seems...a contrast to Brexit which was a rollercoaster thriller but all of it on the surface. There were no mysteries. There are now. We will crack them live on Wed night....Rock N Roll Politics is streaming from a room in my house for the last time before the theatres re-open. Tickets here...get th...

The 'centre ground' is the most overused and imprecise term in British politics. Cameron, Osborne and Blair claim to be on 'the centre ground'. So do most political columnists. But what if these economic liberals are nowhere near the centre ground... if it exists at all? Tickets for the final historic show being streamed live from my boudoir on Wed May 12 are here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/wha...

Even if most voters are paying no attention the allegations around B Johnson's integrity and judgement will destabilise Number 10, the wider government...and, indeed, B Johnson, a figure unused to facing consequences of earlier decisions and conduct. The historic final live show from a room in my house takes place on Wednesday May 12. Tickets here:https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-...

Imagine if Ed Balls or John McDonnell had been Chancellor.  Cameron would've been in no position to text them. This is partly a saga of one party rule at Westminster..plus your questions and who will win the Hartlepool by-election? The historic final live streamed show from my boudoir is on May 12th. Tkts:https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics/stev...

Just a quick reminder about tonight's live show and what we'll be doing...including the lessons from the contrasting careers of David Cameron and Shirley Williams, live questions and unreliable predictions..Tickets here:https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-1504/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast....

Such a lot to cram in..BBC's response to Prince Phillip's death, Northern Ireland, Sturgeon v Salmond latest...and I reveal what I'll be covering on this Thursday's Rock N Roll Politics streaming live at 7pm and then available for another week.https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-1504/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...

I'm joined by Alastair Campbell to reflect on Ed Miliband's leadership, Keir Starmer and Tony Blair as he publishes his revelatory diaries that span 2010-2015..plus brilliant questions on A Salmond, K Starmer and the Covid Inquiry...and the latest from listeners in rural Australia and idyllic Portugal. Rock N Roll Politics is streaming live on April 15th. https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/word...

A Salmond sets up a new party and some SNP figures defect. Defections will be destabilising for N Sturgeon.. Tory defections to UKIP freaked out D Cameron and in the early 80s defections to the SDP doomed Labour ...PLUS a recipe from one of our listeners in Italy..Rock N Roll Politics is streaming live at Kings Place on April 15th. You need to get a ticket in advance. https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/...

The greater the doubt about the UK's place in the world the more it seeks to fly the flag....since the Suez Crisis the UK's sense of itself has been a contradictory mix of jingoism and extreme insecurity.....It's more straightforward for believers in 'British exceptionalism' to get worked up about the Union Jack rather than assess the role of a middle ranking power ....plus brilliant questions on...

Rock n Roll Politics is streaming live tonight at 7pm...My themes:Covid, Voters and The State; Rishi Sunak-Who is He?; Met Police-Who's in Charge? Plus Predictions, live questions and much more. Tickets here for live show and valid for a week-https://shop.kingsplace.co.uk/26461/26462 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...

A preview of Wednesday evening's livestream plus questions on whether the fashion for localism is misplaced, Keir Starmer, the vaccine 'war' and why we should be alarmed that most people in the UK have little or no interest in politics. Tickets for Wednesday evening's Rock N Roll Politics are available here. The show is then available for another week. https://shop.kingsplace.co.uk/26461/26462  Le...