Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

With the SNP in turmoil, former Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander reflects on the rise of nationalism, the collapse of Labour in Scotland, his hopes for a Labour revival, and his memories of victories and defeats in UK elections.Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Old Market Theatre in Hove on Monday. Tickets here: https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Not known for their militancy, nurses have rejected the government’s latest pay offer. There's a risk strikes could continue all year, telling us much about the state the UK is currently in…Plus, questions on the wider implications of Labour’s attack ads, and an exciting announcement or two!Rock & Roll Politics is live:Old Market Theatre in Hove on Monday April 24th:https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023Kings Place, London on May 15th:https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/rock-n-roll-politics-8/Subscribe on Patreon for bonus podcasts, sneak previews and other exclusive extras: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’m in conversation with Rory Carroll, The Guardian's Ireland correspondent and the author of Killing Thatcher — a brilliant new book on the IRA’s 1984 attempt to assassinate Margaret Thatcher, during the Conservative conference in Brighton.Rock & Roll Politics is live in Brighton on April 24th. You can get tickets here:https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Labour's latest round of attack ads accuse Rishi Sunak of being soft on criminals.It's caused a briefing war in his shadow cabinet and no end of criticism. If the leader of the opposition's attacks aren't credible, they could end up causing more trouble for Starmer himself...Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Old Market Theatre, Brighton on Monday April 24th. Tickets here: https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023Don't forget to send in your questions to steveric14@icloud.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's an Easter Question Time Special! Lessons on Nigel Lawson's career, Brexit, Jeremy Corbyn, the "real" Rishi Sunak... and much more.Remember to send in your questions at steveric14@icloud.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In which I alienate everyone.I don't believe local parties should have the exclusive right to select candidates; the leadership must have a big say. But I also believe it was an overreaction and strategic misjudgement to suspend Jeremy Corbyn from Labour, and then bar him from being a candidate. What will the consequences be for Keir Starmer?Plus, your brilliant questions.Rock & Roll Politics is live at The Old Market Theatre, Brighton, on Monday April 24th: https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023Subscribe to Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon for bonus podcasts and much more. The latest bonus series is The Troublemakers, including Tony Benn, Enoch Powell, Nigel Farage and David Owen: https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Danny Blanchflower is a Professor of Economics and was a member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee. In our conversation for this week's podcast, he’s both gloomy about the economic future — and optimistic if there’s a bold government that recognises the value of investment.Thanks for listening. Don't forget to send in your questions for Tuesday's podcast at steveric14@icloud.com!Rock & Roll Politics is live:Witham, Barnard Castle, April 1st:https://thewitham.org.uk/event/steve-richards-rock-and-roll-politics-2/Old Market Theatre, Brighton. April 24th:  https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new narrative is taking shape in the media. Rishi Sunak as a grown up, a marked contrast to Johnson and Truss. His 'good weeks' sorting out the Windsor Framework and publishing his tax returns during the busiest news day of the year are encouraging friendly papers to tell its readers not to write the Tories off at the next election. But can this narrative be sustained, in this last full year before a new general election is held?Rock & Roll Politics is live: Ropetackle, Shoreham Mar 29https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/Witham, Barnard Castle, Apr 1https://thewitham.org.uk/event/steve-richards-rock-and-roll-politics-2/Old Market Theatre, Brighton, Apr 24th https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, the legendary chronicler of Prime Ministers, Michael Cockerell, joins me to discuss the rise and fall of Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak… and a fleeting speculation that he had an affair with Margaret Thatcher.Rock & Roll Politics is live: Black Box, Belfast Mar 26https://imaginebelfast.com/events/steve-richards-the-rocknroll-politics-show/Ropetackle, Shoreham Mar 29https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics/Witham, Barnard Castle, Apr 1https://thewitham.org.uk/event/steve-richards-rock-and-roll-politics-2/Old Market Theatre, Brighton, Apr 24th https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/steve-richards-rock-n-roll-politics-2023 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