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
How deep a hole is Keir Starmer in? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:12
Normally media frenzies exaggerate the scale of a government crisis - a distorting frenzy that feeds on itself. But this time, has it played down the significance of recent days?Rock & Roll Politics - The End of the Poli…
Can Keir Starmer learn the lessons from the welfare shambles? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:50
Labour MPs flex their muscles, the government concedes, welfare reform is still in chaos and taxes will have to rise to pay for concessions. How has a landslide government landed on such rocky terrain just a year after i…
Trump strikes Iran – What will be the consequences? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:41
Not for the first time, a US military intervention triggers greater instability and many questions about what follows. It’s time for the co-operative to delve deep into the context and consequences!To join our exclusive…
How does a government communicate to disillusioned voters? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:08
Rachel Reeves’ spending review was a mixed bag, with some impossibly tight spending settlements combined with significant investment. But will voters make the connections between decisions at Westminster and their own li…
What is the key ingredient that makes a leader stronger? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:25
Keir Starmer is an evasive leader but on one point he is clear: he is a pragmatist, has no time for ideology and there will be no ‘Starmerism’. But without strong ideological convictions can a leader flourish? Plus, bril…
Are there dark echoes from a distant Labour government? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:07
While researching the 1929 Labour government for a new book I found myself thinking repeatedly “this reminds me of now”. The yearning to follow economic orthodoxies of the past, the desire to be agents of ‘change’ while…
In conversation with Michael Heseltine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:28
I spoke to Michael Heseltine at the Cambridge Literary Festival about his remarkable career, how he would have changed the Tory party’s approach to Europe had he won the leadership contest in 1990, his reflections on Tha…
Can The Tories survive? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:47
The Labour government has signed a deal with the EU that brings significant improvements to the agreement negotiated by Johnson and Lord Frosty Frost… their deal being a reminder of the many calamitous developments in th…
Who will win the battle of the UK’s borders? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:05
Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper have played their migration cards, but will they be enough to counter Farage’s populist policies? Will they work in practical terms? And if they do, what will be the impact on growth and an…