

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards
Steve Richards
Based on his live one-man show Rock & Roll Politics, the broadcaster and author Steve Richards takes a weekly behind-the-scenes tour of UK politics and the media that shapes the way we view the epic political dramas. The future is ridiculously unpredictable and the past is so easy to misread. Subscribe to your weekly guide through seismic times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 21, 2023 • 52min
Can Brexit Ever Be 'Done?'
Rishi Sunak seeks a deal on the Northern Ireland protocol, but faces familiar obstacles in the form of rebels in his own party and the DUP.Plus, Keir Starmer's barring of Jeremy Corbyn from standing for Labour in next year's general election — and the future of Scottish independence after Nicola Sturgeon.Rock & Roll Politics is live:Birmingham March 21 https://1000trades.org.uk/events/King's Place London Mar 23 https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-2/Belfast Black Box, Hill Street Mar 26 https://imaginebelfast.com/events/steve-richards-the-rocknroll-politics-show/Ropetackle Shoreham March 29 https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/Witham Barnard Castle April https://thewitham.org.uk/event/steve-richards-rock-and-roll-politics-2/Old Market Theatre Brighton April 24 https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 17, 2023 • 55min
What the Butler Saw – Lord Butler on life in No.10
The current Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case, is in the news most days of the week. Lord Robin Butler, who served under Thatcher, Major and Blair, joins me this week to reflect on his time in the Cabinet Office, comparing parliamentary dramas then and now... Plus, reflections on NIcola Sturgeon's shock resignation, and the consequences likely to stem from it...Rock & Roll Politics is live:Birmingham March 21 https://1000trades.org.uk/events/King's Place London Mar 23 https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-2/Belfast Black Box, Hill Street Mar 26 https://imaginebelfast.com/events/steve-richards-the-rocknroll-politics-show/Ropetackle Shoreham March 29 https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/Witham Barnard Castle April https://thewitham.org.uk/event/steve-richards-rock-and-roll-politics-2/Old Market Theatre Brighton April 24 https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 14, 2023 • 60min
The BBC, Richard Sharp and ‘Impartiality’
The BBC chair Richard Sharp has lost authority whether he stays or goes. Where does that leave his search for ‘impartiality’? Plus brilliant questions on Brexit, Andy Burnham and much more..Back the podcast on Patreon for bonus content, early editions and more. Current series of Patreon exclusives is The Troublemakers. Episode 2: Enoch Powell: https://www.patreon.com/posts/subscriber-ep-2-78365294Rock & Roll Politics is live atBirmingham March 21 https://1000trades.org.uk/events/King's Place London Mar 23 https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-2/Belfast Black Box, Hill Street Mar 26 https://imaginebelfast.com/events/steve-richards-the-rocknroll-politics-show/Ropetackle Shoreham March 29 https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/Witham Barnard Castle April https://thewitham.org.uk/event/steve-richards-rock-and-roll-politics-2/Old Market Theatre Brighton April 24 https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 10, 2023 • 35min
Andy Burnham in conversation
In my conversation with Andy Burnham, we discuss whether he had more power as a cabinet minister, or now as Mayor of Greater Manchester, his policies since becoming mayor, whether he has become more radical... and the similarities - or lack of them - with the build up to Labour's victory in 1997.Rock & Roll Politics is live:Birmingham, March 21st: https://1000trades.org.uk/events/London, March 23rd: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-2/Belfast, March 26th: https://imaginebelfast.com/events/steve-richards-the-rocknroll-politics-show/Shoreham, March 29th: https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/Barnard Castle, April 1st: https://thewitham.org.uk/event/steve-richards-rock-and-roll-politics-2/Brighton, April 24th: https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023Subscribe to Patreon for this month's bonus show, Episode 2 of "The Troublemakers" on Enoch Powell, and much more here: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 7, 2023 • 41min
Liz Truss and Her Tiny Target Audience
Liz Truss's comeback was delusional in its lofty grandeur, yet also very narrow. Why did she choose outlets with limited audiences? The answer tells us much about the modern Conservative Party.Rock & Roll Politics is live: Birmingham, March 21st: https://1000trades.org.uk/events/ London, March 23rd: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-2/ Belfast, March 26th: https://imaginebelfast.com/events/steve-richards-the-rocknroll-politics-show/ Shoreham, March 29th: https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/ Barnard Castle, April 1st: https://thewitham.org.uk/event/steve-richards-rock-and-roll-politics-2/ Brighton, April 24th: https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023 Subscribe to Patreon for this month's bonus show, Episode 2 of "The Changemakers" on Enoch Powell, and much more here: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 3, 2023 • 41min
Christian Wolmar and The UK's Chaotic Railways
I speak to the the transport expert and host of the Calling All Stations podcast, Christian Wolmar, about the state of the railways, the all-important context going back to British Rail, and his hopes and fears for the future.https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPoliticsRock & Roll Politics is live: Birmingham March 21st: https://1000trades.org.uk/events/ London, March 23th Kings Place https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-2/ Belfast, March 26th, Black Box https://imaginebelfast.com/events/steve-richards-the-rocknroll-politics-show/ Shoreham, March 29th, Ropetackle https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/ Barnard Castle, April 1st, Witham https://thewitham.org.uk/event/steve-richards-rock-and-roll-politics-2/ Brighton, April 24th, The Old Market Theatre https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023Send your questions to steveric14@icloud.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 31, 2023 • 40min
The Fatal Legacy of Boris Johnson
There are deep reasons for the crises erupting around Rishi Sunak, but there is also an immediate one — Boris Johnson.https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPoliticsRock N Roll Politics is live: Birmingham March 21st: https://1000trades.org.uk/events/ London, March 23th Kings Place https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-2/ Belfast, March 26th, Black Box https://imaginebelfast.com/events/steve-richards-the-rocknroll-politics-show/ Shoreham, March 29th, Ropetackle https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/ Barnard Castle, April 1st, Witham https://thewitham.org.uk/event/steve-richards-rock-and-roll-politics-2/ Brighton, April 24th, The Old Market Theatre https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023Send your questions to steveric14@icloud.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 27, 2023 • 41min
Nick Timothy on the modern Conservative Party
Nick Timothy, Theresa May's joint chief of staff during her first phase in Number 10, remains a strong believer in the "good that government can do.”He still sees support for a more active state as the most fruitful route for his party, despite the state-shrinking campaigns of Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. Does his view have much support amongst Tory MPs, and was Theresa May ever fully committed to his approach?Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on March 23rd: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-2/The Ropetackle, Shoreham on March 29th: https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/ The Witham, Barnard Castle April 1st: https://thewitham.org.uk/event/steve-richards-rock-and-roll-politics-2/ The Old Market Theatre, Brighton April 24th: https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 24, 2023 • 42min
The Real Reason For the Return of 'Tory Sleaze'
In the run up to the 1997 election, the Conservative government was falling apart over 'sleaze' and rows over Europe. Nearly three decades later, we're back there again. How did it come to this?Plus brilliant questions on my interview with Lisa Nandy, levelling up and much more...Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on March 23rd: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-2/The Ropetackle, Shoreham on March 29th: https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/ The Witham, Barnard Castle April 1st: https://thewitham.org.uk/event/steve-richards-rock-and-roll-politics-2/ The Old Market Theatre, Brighton April 24th: https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 20, 2023 • 37min
Lisa Nandy on ‘Taking Back Control’
For the first time the podcast is twice-weekly. We’re joined by shadow Levelling Up Secretary Lisa Nandy to explore how a Labour government would give back control to local communities.Back us on Patreon to get all our podcasts early, bonus editions and much more: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPoliticsTickets for Rock & Roll Politics Live are available now. Come and see Steve at…Kings Place, London – live and streaming online on Thur 21 MarchThe Ropetackle, Shoreham – Wed 29 MarchThe Witham, Barnard Castle – Sat 1 AprilThe Old Market Theatre, Brighton – Monday 24 Apr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


