Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards – Details, episodes & analysis

In Keir Starmer’s first major speech as Prime Minister he argues things will get worse before they will get better… Is this the right message and approach? Why are incoming Labour governments so much more cautious than their Conservative equivalents?  Rock & Roll Politics is live at King’s Place London on Mon October 7. Tickets here Support the podcast on Patreon here for live events, bonus podcasts, the main podcast ad-free and a day early, and more… Written and presented by Steve Richards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The macho briefings against Sue Gray have echoes with those against Marcia Williams in the Harold Wilson era, and could have disruptive consequences. Plus latest from the Edinburgh Festival. Rock & Roll Politics is at the Edinburgh Festival every day until August 24, with a different show every time for the whole festival. Tickets here Support the podcast on Patreon here for live events, bonus podcasts, the main podcast ad-free and a day early, and more… Written and presented by Steve Richards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most Labour leaders have argued that economic growth is the key to improving public services but will the distinct policies of Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves deliver?  Support Rock & Roll politics on Patreon. Rock n Roll Politics – the post election special is live at Kings Place on July 10th. If the polls are right it will be the first live show at Kings Place under a Labour government. Tickets here. Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Edinburgh Festival in a new political landscape from Aug 11th. Tickets here Written and presented by Steve Richards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Twenty years later the question is still posed. Why did Tony Blair decide to go to war in Iraq? I argue that his decision was not an aberration, but part of his flawed 'third way' approach to leadership — one that appears to be a mighty influence on Keir Starmer now. 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 Mar 29 https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/ Witham Barnard Castle Apr 1 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

This week I'm in conversation with Michael Jacobs, Professor of Political Economy at Sheffield University, and former adviser to Gordon Brown on climate change. He was also chief executive of the Fabian Society in the buildup to 1997 election, and author of an IPPR report on economic policy that was hailed by both former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and his successor, Rachel Reeves. I speak to him about Labour's opposition to the latest budget, and how Keir Starmer's approach may change in the months leading up to the next election... Rock & Roll Politics is live: York, Mar 17th https://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/the-prime-ministers-reflections-on-leadership-from-harold-wilson-to-rishi-sunak/ Birmingham Mar 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 Mar 29 https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/ Witham Barnard Castle Apr 1 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

The latest self inflicted BBC crisis, over Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker as his views on the government's immigration policy, has followed the same pattern as previous ones. Can the BBC change this time, or will there be more self harm to come? Rock & Roll Politics is live: York, Mar 17th https://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/the-prime-ministers-reflections-on-leadership-from-harold-wilson-to-rishi-sunak/ Birmingham Mar 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 Mar 29 https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/ Witham Barnard Castle Apr 1 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

Lord Finkelstein has had a unique career. A Times columnist, Tory peer and former advisor to Prime Ministers and leaders, he got his start as a member of centre-left SDP. Now, he’s on the board of Chelsea FC — a dream job, but one that brings with it some dilemmas on match day. I speak to him about disagreements with his friends in the country's highest offices, expressing his own views as a Tory Lord and his upcoming book Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad... Rock & Roll Politics is live: York, Mar 17th https://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/the-prime-ministers-reflections-on-leadership-from-harold-wilson-to-rishi-sunak/ 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 Mar 29 https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/ Witham Barnard Castle Apr 1 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 Follow me on Patreon for early access to episodes and bonus podcast series: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Three candidates seek to replace Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister of Scotland. Why do none of them seem ready for the epic challenges of the role, while Sturgeon was so dominant? Plus, questions on Sue Gray, the DUP and the Northern Ireland Protocol and the state of Labour under Keir Starmer. Rock & Roll Politics is live: Birmingham Mar 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 Mar 29 https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/ Witham Barnard Castle Apr 1 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 Don't forget to send in your questions to steveric14@icloud.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, I’m in conversation with the chair of Compass, Neal Lawson, who argues the current challenges facing the UK are incomparably different to 1997 — and demand more daring solutions from Keir Starmer. 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 Mar 29 https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/ Witham Barnard Castle Apr 1 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

In last week’s podcast, the Shadow Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, outlined her plans for childcare. But how will they be paid for? Do Labour dare to give details in advance of an election? Will such details help Labour win — or will they become a vote losing ‘tax bombshell’? 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 Mar 29 https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/ Witham Barnard Castle Apr 1 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