Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

Labour’s battle of ideas - much needed or dangerous? 02.06.2026 36min

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.comPatreon subscribers can join Steve for an exclusive live stream on Monday June 8th at 7pm. Book your spot here.You can subscribe to Patreon here for the June livestream and more, including bonus episodes and the regular podcast a day early and ad-free. Another date for the diary - an extra Rock & Roll Politics Special is live at Kings Place in London on Monday July 13th - added in light of dramas that will follow the Makering by- election. Get your tickets here.Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does Tony Blair mean by the ‘radical centre’? 29.05.2026 46min

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 seismic consequences of the Makerfield by-election, and what could happen next. Tickets are available on the Kings Place website here. • Patreon subscribers can sign up for an exclusive live event on Monday 8th of June. • Subscribe to Patreon here to get the main podcast a day early and ad free, plus bonus podcasts and exclusive live events. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do the fashionable assumptions about Andy Burnham make sense? 26.05.2026 38min

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.comPatreon subscribers can join Steve for an exclusive live stream on Monday June 8th at 7pm. Book your spot here.You can subscribe to Patreon here for the June livestream and more, including bonus episodes and the regular podcast a day early and ad-free. Another date for the diary: an extra Rock & Roll Politics Special is live at Kings Place in London on Monday July 13th - added in light of dramas that will follow the Makerfield by- election. Get your tickets here.Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is this the strangest leadership crisis in modern times? 22.05.2026 30min

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 delve deep…To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.comSubscribe 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is the phrase ‘Brexit Wars’ dangerous for Britain? 19.05.2026 29min

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 co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.comSubscribe 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Andy Burnham win the by-election? 15.05.2026 40min

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.comSubscribe 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who can lead the ‘people’s revolt’? 11.05.2026 19min

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, email steveric14@icloud.comSubscribe 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Election Special - Who can meet the voters’ hunger for ‘change’? 08.05.2026 23min

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.comYou can get the last few remaining tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special at Kings Place in London - this coming Monday May 11th here.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How will Reform and the Greens respond to electoral success? 05.05.2026 45min

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, email steveric14@icloud.comYou can get the last few remaining tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special next week at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can or should a King change Trump’s view of ’the special relationship'? 01.05.2026 43min

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 steveric14@icloud.comYou can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here. And hurry, there are just a few left.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Britain ungovernable? 28.04.2026 42min

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.comYou can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics – The Election Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How vulnerable is Keir Starmer? 24.04.2026 51min

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 acast.com/privacy for more information.

Starmer/Mandelson - Does the plot ever really change? 21.04.2026 31min

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@icloud.comThe next Rock & Roll Politics live show will be at the Cambridge Literary Festival this Saturday, April 25th.And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is there a danger the government will spend too much on defence? 17.04.2026 37min

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 priority is defence?To join in the never ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.comThe 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 Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The fall of Orban - How vulnerable is the populist right? 14.04.2026 30min

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 Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we seeing the return of Cabinet Government? 08.04.2026 33min

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 steveric14@icloud.comThe 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 Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What next for the BBC? 02.04.2026 39min

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 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 Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan Johnson on Wilson, Blair and Starmer 31.03.2026 1h 33min

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 Festival on Saturday April 25th.And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The never-ending debate special 27.03.2026 36min

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.comRock & Roll Politics is at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th.And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special, at Kings Place on Monday May 11th here.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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the ‘centre ground’? 24.03.2026 36min

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 Gove and Ed Milliband… and of course Iran.To join the never ending debate in the RocknRoll Politics podcast email steveric14@icloud.comGet tickets here for the York Book Festival with Steve Richards and Alan Johnson on Tuesday Mar 26th.Rock & Roll Politics is at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th.And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics: The Election Special, at Kings Place on Monday May 11th here.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 ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.