Episodes

  • Can Keir Starmer stop the boats?

    Can Keir Starmer stop the boats?
    May 14 2024
    What a silly question. We all know the answer to that one. And yet that was what was asked of Starmer at a point of unusual distinctiveness. He reiterated his unqualified opposition to the Rwanda populism, but did so at that moment of ambiguity. Plus, the defection of Natalie Elphicke: there are many lessons, not least for the media asking the silly question. Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on July 10th. Tickets here. I’m live at the Edinburgh Festival with a different show each day. Tickets here. Back Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get early, ad-free episodes, live Zooms, merchandise and much more. Image: Keir Starmer takes a boat trip on the River Tees during a visit to PD Ports on April 18, 2024 in Teesside, England. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • Do the Tory Right know what they want?

    Do the Tory Right know what they want?
    May 7 2024
    After the elections, Sunak’s right wing dissenters called off their planned coup even though the results were disastrous for the Tories, while outlining their agenda for the future… which is similar to the one Sunak is pursuing. Do they know what they are doing? Plus, the dangers of Keir Starmer walking into traps in his attempt to avoid others, and brilliant questions from the Rock & Roll Politics Co-operative. Rock & Roll Politics – The Pre-Election Special is live at Kings Place on July 10th. Tickets here. Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Edinburgh Festival from Sat Aug 11th. A different show every day. Tickets here. Support the podcast on Patreon for early, ad-free episodes, merchandise, special events and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    55 mins
  • Has the SNP become impossible to lead?

    Has the SNP become impossible to lead?
    Apr 30 2024
    A First Minister and SNP leader falls after a short tenure. Like the Tory party’s problems in Westminster, does the SNP leadership crisis raise thorny questions well beyond the flaws of one leader? And with what implications? Rock & Roll Politics: The Pre-Election Special is live at Kings Place on July 10th. Tickets here Back Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon here to get exclusive live events, bonus podcasts, free entry to Steve’s local elections post-mortem, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    45 mins
  • Who is Winning The Battle of Ideas?

    Who is Winning The Battle of Ideas?
    Apr 23 2024
    Nigel Lawson once noted that the party that wins the battle of ideas wins elections. He was right. Ideas matter and yet play little part in the contest between Sunak and Starmer. But the Right remain ideologically confident. Will a Labour government be able to counter the anti-state onslaught that is bound to happen? Plus exciting notices and brilliant questions from the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative. Rock & Roll Politics is live at King’s Place, London, on Wed 10 July for a pre-election special. Get tickets here. Back Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get FREE access to Steve’s 2024 Local Elections Post-Mortem live on Zoom, 5pm on Friday 3 May. Analysis, projections and your questions – all free to Patreon people. Written and presented by Steve Richards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • Harold Wilson’s affair and how we misread leaders

    Harold Wilson’s affair and how we misread leaders
    Apr 16 2024
    In his last term as Prime Minister, Harold Wilson was seen as old, paranoid and ineffective… yet now we discover he was lively enough to be having an affair. This suggests the caricature might be wrong. What if Wilson was livelier politically too? And what if we choose to see other leaders as stereotypes which do not present anything like the full picture? Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon for early episodes, exclusive merchandise and more. PLUS get free admission to Steve’s Local Elections 2024 Post-Mortem, live on Zoom at 5pm on Friday 3 May. https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics See Rock & Roll Politics live at King's Place on the 10th of July. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    54 mins
  • This Time No Mistakes – In Conversation with Will Hutton

    This Time No Mistakes – In Conversation with Will Hutton
    Apr 9 2024
    The journalist and author Will Hutton has written an important new book on the eve of what’s likely to be a Labour government. The title is stark: This Time No Mistakes. But what mistakes were made? What are the lessons of the past? What are his hopes and fears for a Keir Starmer government? This Time No Mistakes is published on April 11th. Buy it through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund Rock & Roll Politics by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon for early episodes, exclusive merchandise and free admission to Steve’s Local Elections 2024 Post-Mortem, live on Zoom at 5pm on Friday 3 May. https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • Rock & Roll Politics Live – The Easter Special

    Rock & Roll Politics Live – The Easter Special
    Mar 31 2024
    A rare chance to hear a live show… this one recorded in the main concert hall at Kings Place, London. On the agenda: How do the dramas around the current government compare with other ‘fin de siecle’ administrations? How does Keir Starmer compare with Harold Wilson and Tony Blair when they were on the edge of power? Plus unreliable predictions… Question Time… and much more. Support the podcast Patreon for bonus editions, special merchandise and exclusive live events for subscribers. Our next one will be the day after the May local elections so sign up to find out first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 37 mins
  • Can Rachel Reeves win the battle of ideas?

    Can Rachel Reeves win the battle of ideas?
    Mar 26 2024
    Nigel Lawson once said a party that wins the battle of ideas wins the election... Rachel Reeves has started to engage in this battle of ideas during her Mais Lecture. Labour are way ahead in the polls, so is this a battle they can win? Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon for bonus podcasts, special events and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    47 mins