Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

Author: Steve Richards Language: English Episodes: 100
Each week, broadcaster and author Steve Richards draws from his acclaimed live performance to create Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards. This isn't a dry recitation of headlines, but a guided tour into the often-overlooked mechanics of British political life. Steve focuses on the interplay between power and perception, examining how the media narrative is constructed and how it, in turn, shapes our understanding of the unfolding drama at Westminster and beyond. The conversation in this podcast acknowledges a central paradox of our times: while historical events can seem deceptively simple in hindsight, the present moment feels wildly uncertain. Steve acts as a seasoned guide through that uncertainty, offering clarity without oversimplification. You'll hear analysis that connects cultural currents to political decisions, exploring the personalities, strategies, and occasional chaos that define the UK's political landscape. Tune in for a thoughtful, weekly perspective that makes sense of the seismic shifts in society and government, all delivered with the insight of someone who has spent a career observing the stage from both the wings and the front row.
Episodes
What do U-turns tell us about a government? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:42
Since our last podcast on the risks of an unsubtle focus on the cost of living, the Government has carried out another U-turn to protect pubs from increases in business rates. Number 10 says this is a sign of an increasi…
Is Starmer’s focus on the cost of living more risky than it seems? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:38
Keir Starmer has proclaimed the government’s entire focus is on the cost of living. But to what degree can he control price rises, and will voters feel better off in the coming months? Should governments intervene to con…
How long can Starmer claim he has no view on Trump and Venezuela? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:12
Trump has carried out a coup in Venezuela - how long will he seek to rule over it, and then what? He is not the first US President who has acted unilaterally without telling the UK, and he is not the first who has remove…
What have we learnt at the end of 2025? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:48
We know more than we think we know … Sometimes what is in front of our eyes is more interesting than speculating about a hazy future. Here is what we know now about Keir Starmer’s fragility and the even more precarious i…
Why does a 'narrative' matter so much? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:22
Keir Starmer has endured a rough opening 18 months, but so did Tony Blair in quite similar ways. So why was Blair miles ahead in the polls in his early phase in power? And why is Starmer breaking all records for low rati…
Rock & Roll Politics Live - How fragile is Keir Starmer? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:26
Here’s the last live show of the year, recorded in the main concert hall at Kings Place. There’s a dramatic answer to the question, will Keir Starmer be prime minister this time next year? Plus, making sense of Nigel Far…
What next as Trump turns away from Europe? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:46
Trump’s National Security Strategy is scathing about Europe, and in interviews he intensified his attack on the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. Where does this leave Britain’s place in the world? Out of the EU and no longer…