Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

A small but emblematic announcement highlights why public services are so poor in the UK; the government has scrapped plans for an app to make booking train tickets easier. Steve Richards explores why public services are not structured for the benefit of the public.All this plus brilliant listener questions and notices for the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative and a Happy Christmas to you all! Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and exclusive merchandise only available to subscribers: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPoliticsBuy Steve’s book Turning Points: Crisis and Change in Modern Britain, from 1945 to Truss through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NHS waiting lists spiralling out of control. A crisis in social care. Station boards full of cancelled trains. Creaking schools. But somehow, Rishi Sunak's future depends on flying a single plane full of migrants to Rwanda. How do we get a more grown-up politics in the UK?Plus your brilliant questions, notices from the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, and much more.Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and exclusive merchandise only available to subscribers: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPoliticsTickets for Rock & Roll Politics Live: Kings Place London on Dec 18th.Buy Steve’s book Turning Points: Crisis and Change in Modern Britain, from 1945 to Truss through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the resignation of Robert Jenrick, plus Suella Braverman's opposition to his new Rwanda legislation, can Rishi Sunak govern any more? If not, will he call an early election next year? Steve Richards assesses another Westminster drama with a special bonus podcast.Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and exclusive merchandise only available to subscribers: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPoliticsTickets for Rock & Roll Politics Live: Kings Place London on Dec 18th.Get Steve Richards’ book Turning Points: Crisis and Change in Modern Britain from 1945 to Truss here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a new week and Boris Johnson will finally be held to account for his leadership during the pandemic at the Covid-19 Inquiry this week.Steve Richards imagines how different and more effective the response would have been if Gordon Brown and Alastair Darling were in charge. Would they have handled it as well as they did the financial crash?All this plus reflections on Glenys Kinnock, Keir Starmer and Margaret Thatcher, the demise of Newsnight and the BBC and brilliant questions from the Rock & Roll co-operative.Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and exclusive merchandise only available to subscribers: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPoliticsTickets for Rock & Roll Politics Live: Kings Place London on Dec 18th.Get Steve Richards’ book Turning Points: Crisis and Change in Modern Britain from 1945 to Truss here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now even Holland is under the rule of a right wing populist, it might be time to admit that they are winning again. Argentina has elected another. Trump might win next year. And Farage is in the jungle watched by millions. Steve Richards asks what's happening and why?Plus Steve answers brilliant listener questions and important notices for the Rock N Roll Politics co-operative.Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and exclusive merchandise only available to subscribers: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPoliticsTickets for Rock & Roll Politics Live: Kings Place London on Dec 18th.Get Steve Richards’ book Turning Points: Crisis and Change in Modern Britain from 1945 to Truss here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK government is presiding over a crumbling, broken country and investment is required urgently. Steve Richards asks why are Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt focussing instead on tax cuts?Plus Steve answers brilliant listener questions and important notices for the Rock N Roll Politics co-operative.Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and an exclusive Live Zoom Q+A only available to subscribers: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPoliticsTickets for Rock & Roll Politics Live:Kings Place London on Dec 18th.Get Steve Richards’ book Turning Points: Crisis and Change in Modern Britain from 1945 to Truss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rishi Sunak's desperate attempt to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda will be the dominant political theme for months, sucking up all energy as Brexit did.Steve Richards considers how this is political madness at the best of times, but what is prompting this lunacy now when so much in the UK doesn't work?Plus Steve answers brilliant listener questions and important notices for the Rock N Roll Politics co-operative.Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and an exclusive live Zoom Q+A only available to subscribers: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPoliticsTickets for Rock & Roll Politics Live:Ropetackle Arts Centre in Shoreham on Nov 20th.Kings Place London on Dec 18th.Get Steve Richards’ book Turning Points: Crisis and Change in Modern Britain from 1945 to Truss here.The New European sponsors Rock & Roll Politics. To get full access to the site for just £1 per week PLUS a £25 voucher to spend in their online store, visit www.theneweuropean.co.uk/roc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rishi Sunak has sacked Suella Braverman and brought back David Cameron. But in terms of party management and the direction of policy, do these seemingly dramatic changes make much difference? Steve Richards considers all this plus news of an upcoming special Patreon-only Zoom event coming soon.Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and an exclusive live Zoom Q+A only available to subscribers: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPoliticsTickets for Rock & Roll Politics Live:Ropetackle Arts Centre in Shoreham on Nov 20th.Kings Place London on Dec 18th. Get Steve Richards’ book Turning Points: Crisis and Change in Modern Britain from 1945 to Truss here. The New European sponsors Rock & Roll Politics. To get full access to the site for just £1 per week PLUS a £25 voucher to spend in their online store, visit www.theneweuropean.co.uk/roc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Richards considers how Rishi Sunak pays homage to Elon Musk, and discusses the confirmation from the Covid inquiry that no one and no agency was in control during a national emergency. A King's Speech is unveiled, most of which will not be implemented plus Sunak and Starmer follow the United States in their attitude to the Israel/Hamas conflict. All this begs the question who actually wields power in the UK? Tickets for Rock & Roll Politics Live:Ropetackle Arts Centre in Shoreham on Nov 20th.Kings Place London on Dec 18th. Get Steve Richards’ book Turning Points: Crisis and Change in Modern Britain from 1945 to Truss here. The New European sponsors Rock & Roll Politics. To get full access to the site for just £1 per week PLUS a £25 voucher to spend in their online store, visit www.theneweuropean.co.uk/rock/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Covid struck the UK at the worst possible time. Johnson was governing amidst casual chaos and yet he was popular and this popularity made him dangerously powerful. Neither his subservient cabinet nor a parliament with a big Tory Majority dared to challenge him. Now we are discovering quite how bad things were.Plus brilliant questions on Keir Starmer and the Israel Gaza conflict, Brexit, the leadership of Heath compared with Sunak and whether I want to be an MP.Rock & Roll Politics -the Xmas Special is live at Kings Place on Dec 18th when we look back at another wild year and look ahead to 2024, the likely election year. Tickets here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/rock-n-roll-politics-11/ Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including bonus episodes and much more The latest episode in the series on political rivals is Denis Healy vs. Tony Benn. Other series include epic general elections, prime ministers' chosen advisers and apparent government cock ups, all exclusively available to subscribers:https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPoliticsSteve Richards' book 'Turning Points' is available here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Turning-Points-Crisis-Change-Britain/dp/1035015358/ref=sr_1_3?qid=1695642519&refinements=p_27%3ASteve+Richards&s=books&sr=1-3The New European sponsors Rock & Roll Politics - to get full access to the site for just £1 per week PLUS a £25 voucher to spend in their online store, visit www.theneweuropean.co.uk/rock Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.