Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

Starmer and Reeves have got in a mess over their pledge to borrow £28 billion for a green recovery programme. The proposal has been marked by defensive ‘retreats’ when it would enable UK to compete with the US and EU and bring good news to every voter. Why has this happened, and what can be done about it?Plus, points from the Rock N Roll Co-operative on the return of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Lord Frosty Frost and moreBack the podcast on Patreon for bonus editions and much more too.Rock N Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on March 26th with a brand new show. Get your tickets here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-march-2024/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Attempted coups against PMs and leaders are becoming increasingly familiar. Will the current plot against Sunak succeed? Support Rock N Roll Politics on Patreon to get bonus editions, merchandise and more.  Rock N Roll Politics is live with a brand new show at Kings Place on March 26th. Get in-person or streaming tickets here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s become a cliché that Keir Starmer's pitch lacks the clarity and sense of purpose that marked New Labour's victory in 1997. But Blair’s over-mythologised win was a lot lighter on specifics than we tend to remember, says Steve Richards. 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.Tickets for the next Rock n Roll Politics Live: Kings Place on  26th March 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week Steve Richards asked what the deeper lessons were from the Post Office scandal. The responses from the Rock N Roll Politics Co-operative suggests it merely reflects a much wider problem. How do we even begin to fix Britain? Or to be more precise; how does a future Labour government fix it? Plus important notices on exclusive new content for Patreons, live events and brilliant questions.Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get exclusive benefits including a bonus series on Labour in 1997, exclusive merchandise and live events 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.Tickets for live event including a Q+A to celebrate 'Turning Points': Hornsey Library on January 28thTickets for the next Rock n Roll Politics Live: Kings Place on  26th March 2024  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The indifference of ministers in the coalition government to the Post Office scandal is becoming a big story. But the indifference was not accidental, it was a deliberate act and part of a wider culture that is still pervasive: The state should step back and give 'operational independence' to non-elected figures. Steve Richards assesses how when things go wrong, as they often do in this culture, ministers become responsible, and whether these vague lines of accountability are part of the reason why nothing works in the UK.Plus we hear brilliant questions on Labour's election slogan 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/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.Tickets for the next Rock n Roll Politics Live: Kings Place on  26th March 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A bonus New Year episode for all in the Rock N Roll Politics Co-operative: With Keir Starmer following a Blairite pre-election strategy, Steve Richards thinks Rishi Sunak has only one route to reduce Labour's lead. But will he fail to take it? 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.Tickets for the next Rock n Roll Politics Live: Kings Place on  26th March 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was a packed house at Kings Place this December for a live Rock N Roll Politics: The Festive Special. As a special Christmas gift from Steve Richards we have the live recording for those in the Rock N Roll Politics Co-operative who couldn't be there, and for those who could.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.Tickets for the next Rock n Roll Politics Live: Kings Place on 26th March 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

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

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