Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

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-2023Follow 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-2023Don'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

The Shadow Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, joins me this week to discuss her plans for childcare, the ending of tuition fees, new roles for schools and the mood of Sunderland voters that supported the Conservatives in 2019.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

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

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

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