What do U-turns tell us about a government?

What do U-turns tell us about a government?

Author: Steve Richards January 13, 2026 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 increasingly nimble government responding quickly to potential problems – but why do the problems arise in the first place? And will there be more U-turns now that Keir Starmer has pledged to put more money in people’s pockets?

• It’s time for the first live show of 2026 at Kings Place, and there's a lot to make sense of! Tickets here.

Back the podcast on 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.


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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards
Podcast Episodes
What would you do if you were Rachel Reeves? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:03
In a recording of a recent Rock & Roll Politics live show, the audience became Rachel Reeves… and I became Emma Barnett interviewing some of them. There were many ideas for the real Chancellor in advance of next month’s…
Are the Conservatives doomed? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:10
The Conservative Party conference gathers with the party way behind in third place and being hit by defections to Reform, a threat from the right they have never faced before. Can they survive? Written and presented by S…
Can Starmer beat Farage? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:23
The Labour Party conference is in a febrile mood – there's much talk of leadership, and also of Farage. Can Starmer bring together those horrified by a Reform government? Or is he too unpopular, not least with those on t…
Are the Liberal Democrats a centre-left party? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:14
Who are the Liberal Democrats? The coalition years exposed a deep split between social democrats and free market liberals. Are those divisions healed? Is Ed Davey right to party play for laughs? Is he making the correct…
What are the lessons of the Mandelson saga? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:00
Predictably, Peter Mandelson's return to the centre of the political stage has ended in crisis. Mandelson's influence on Keir Starmer grew after Labour lost the Hartlepool by-election in the early days of Starmer's leade…
Will Keir Starmer's changes revive Labour? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:56
Keir Starmer has kept more or less the same Cabinet but given most of them new jobs. Will it work as Reform UK soars in the polls? Rock & Roll Politics is live in the main concert hall at Kings Place on Thursday Septembe…
Will Starmer's reset make a difference? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:20
With Labour languishing in the polls, Keir Starmer has reshuffled his top team… yet again. His leadership has been punctuated by changes in senior personnel, so does that tell us more about him or them? My book on Tony B…