Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

One of the biggest differences between Conservative Prime Ministers and the few Labour leaders that have made it to Number 10 is their level of self confidence. B Johnson has pursued the hardest possible Brexit without agonising about its impact on the UK economy and his own position. D Cameron failed to win a majority in 2010 but pursued an agenda on the radical right as if he had won a landslide.Rock N Roll Politics is live/live streamed at Kings Place on Dec 16: www.kingsplace.co.uk/RNRP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

M Gove wrote a well argued essay in the Times explaining the new tier system. Within hours a panic stricken B Johnson implicitly undermined the arguments to appease Conservative MPs.....plus your brilliant questions. Tickets for the live show at Kings Place on Dec 16th and the live stream are here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/rocknrollpolitics/The email for signed messages re my book on Prime Ministers, and for questions /thoughts: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Rock N Roll Politics streaming live on Monday at 7 here's a great chance to have more time for your brilliant questions... Keep the questions and points coming..the email: [email protected] for the live streamed show on Monday are here..a chance to ask questions and raise points live...There'll be much to discuss:https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-online-streaming-23-nov/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the departure of Dominic Cummings there is much talk of a 'reset' in Downing Street... But how much will really change or can change? Plus more brilliant questions..keep them coming : [email protected]. Tickets for Rock N Roll Politics the live lockdown special on Monday Nov 23rd are here:https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-online-streaming-23-nov/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The victory of Joe Biden and the fall of Donald Trump raise many questions: What's the impact on the increasingly isolated B Johnson? Will 'Trumpism' flourish without Trump ( I doubt it)? Are there lessons for the BBC in CNN's grown up coverage (Yes)? Plus your brilliant questions at at time of historic upheaval. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're living through epic times...B Johnson calls a second national lockdown inevitably. Yet he acts weeks after he was advised to do so..the same dark sequence as in the spring. When leaders are out of their depth they repeat past misjudgements almost knowingly. Meanwhile K Starmer suspends J Corbyn to the predictable cheers of the fickle Greek Chorus of commentators-but was he right to do so? And the minor matter of the US presidential election..plus your brilliant questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A government with a big majority faces a dizzying array of critics less than a year since its election victory -some of its own MPs highlight forensically what's wrong with the 'world beating Test and Trace' system, Marcus Rashford is once again the voice of the poor with support across the country and Andy Burnham becomes a potent voice of protest but-in muddled Britain- without much power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A preview of the live stream of Rock N Roll Politics from the Kings Place Website at 7pm on Monday (and available for a few days after the live event). There'a lot to catch up on..Brexit, Covid latest, your questions and much more. Tickets here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-online-streaming/See you there! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson claims a balanced approach in response to the second wave of Covid...in doing so he repeats the same mistakes of earlier this year and will be tormented again with the words "too little ...too late"...I explore why Prime Ministers succumb to the dangerous allure of policies that have failed in the past...plus your questions and how to watch the live Rock N Roll Politics on Monday Oct 19th Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In another packed episode-latest on Covid testing, B Johnson's conference speech crammed with objectives without explaining how he'll meet any of them-and your brilliant questions inc Andrew Neil's new channel, Keir Starmer's knighthood..and pro-Europeans without a voice...and what you're up to while listening to this podcast..plus details of next live show at Kings Place on October 19th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The media is trained to spot tensions between PMs and Chancellors, but often gets the complex relationship wrong...plus Covid, the government's response and Monty Python's Flying Circus...and your brilliant questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the virus wreaks havoc again, why some MPs call for the army to intervene ...and why there'll be significant consequences as some Tory newspapers give B Johnson a hard time (though nowhere near as hard as they would have done to a Labour PM)...Plus your brilliant questions.... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government's 'oven ready' deal that would 'get Brexit done' is now being violated...by the government...and your brilliant questions on Boris Johnson, Brexit, Keir Starmer and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Number 10 that presided chaotically over Covid and its consequences does not go for introspective humility...Instead of learning lessons from its failures it moves on with naive self-confidence and counterproductive machismo as it threatens to renege on its own 'oven ready' Brexit deal....plus some of your brilliant questions answered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson is struggling. Does he realise yet that he is not equipped to meet the epic demands of leadership? Writing the paperback version of 'The Prime Ministers- Reflections on Leadership from Wilson to Johnson' I am struck by how miserable Prime Ministers are a lot of the time. They get to the top, feel euphoric...and then all hell breaks loose. Also given the performance of the government....should Labour be doing even better in the polls? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have the last twelve months been the most historic since the end of World War Two? Covid, Brexit, a big Tory election win....that takes a lot of beating..there's been the Suez Crisis, Sterling Crises, Three Day Weeks, Winter of Discontent, Iraq, Financial Crash...and what about the epic dramas of the early 1980s? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In UK politics B Johnson can escape scrutiny more easily than D Trump, Johnson's model of leadership in some respects. Johnson does not like being challenged and in one huge policy area he is getting his way. The UK economy faces another big hit because of the Johnson/Cummings approach to talks with the EU, but few are questioning what they are doing and what the likely consequences will be. On this Johnson has no need to fear scrutiny...and that is very dangerous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rishi Sunak walks on water but he does so by putting the case for borrowing and spending. How should Labour respond? There are big risks and opportunities for Starmer and his new team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Dominic Cummings the most powerful Number 10 special adviser of modern times? I reflect on the relationship between PMs and their favourite special advisers. From Harold Wilson and Marcia Williams to Johnson and Cummings...the most illuminating relationships in politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I reflect on the chasm between B Johnson's bold objectives and his capacity to deliver..plus Dominic Cummings, the shallow revolutionary with angry, contradictory plans...and K Starmer's sacking of RLB and the complex implications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I reflect on the contradictory leaks coming from Number 10, the Treasury and the wider government..and reveal the outcome of my exclusive poll on the fate of Boris Johnson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A lookahead to the next virtual live Rock N Roll Politics on Wednesday June 17th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In England voters only turn against Conservative governments when they are seen as incompetent. With one of the highest virus death tolls and a hard Brexit looming is B Johnson in danger of losing the battle of competence..with electoral consequences? Also some thoughts on the BBC's new DG. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are signs of tension between Johnson, ministers and some of the scientists over the lockdown exit and the Cummings' affair. At first they appeared to be dancing together as ministers proclaimed absurdly that they were 'following the science', but now the mood on the dance floor darkens...plus Emily Maitlis and the BBC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is B Johnson so dependent on D Cummings? Is his determination to keep him a sign of strength or weakness? The saga of Cummings dash to Durham shows at the very least that the Vote Leave campaign runs Number Ten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A preview of the live virtual show on the Kings Place website at 7pm on Monday May 18th. The last live virtual show was on the day B.Johnson returned to work..how is he doing? How is K Starmer doing? And will the UK and politics in the UK change permanently and if so in what way? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A look ahead to Monday's virtual show on the Kings Place website starting at 7 pm...The last live virtual show was on the day B Johnson returned to work...How's he doing? How's K Starmer doing? And will the virus emergency change the UK and politics permanently ..and in what way? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson outlined the Lockdown exit strategy in a grand televised address to the nation. Yet avoidable confusion followed. Why? I reflect on how Tony Blair and others in the New Labour era would 'bombproof' every statement before a public word was uttered and seek to answer why B Johnson and his team are more casual in their approach. Also my verdict on Keir Starmer's early days... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I reflect on Matt Hancock not meeting his testing target, claiming to do so..and the triumph he could have claimed for getting close to his goal. Targets work..and the scrapping of targets was one of the many calamitous decisions taken by the coalition government... Plus Brexit latest..and thoughts on my virtual live show from a room in my house. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rock n Roll Politics the Lockdown Special is on the Kings Place website at 7pm on Monday April 27th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am hooked on the Number 10 daily press conferences even though they are dull and reveal little..perhaps my addiction is explained by the gap between the eerie, subdued mood at the conferences with the epic crisis being played out..it's a darkly compelling disjunction..and on other matters the former Cabinet minister Peter Hain reflects on Labour's decline and the need for radical Keynesian economic policies under Keir Starmer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I look at how perceptions of B Johnson changed in terms of his role as a Prime Minister when he was moved to Intensive Care-he was viewed suddenly as more leadenly than he was; I interviewed T Blair for my Radio 4 programme on Labour's challenges 'Left out of Power'- here is the interview in full. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not for the first time ministers are hoist by their own petard as they try to exert control over the NHS only to discover they gave away their powers to do so..and Keir Starmer wins by a landslide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

B Johnson has been famous for so long it is easy to forget how inexperienced he is as a PM facing the big challenge since 1945...and now he gets the virus along with other key players. Keir Starmer faces a different challenge..making his mark at a time of national emergency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

n this episode: The coronavirus means all fashionable assumptions are turned on their head. We turn to the state to come to our rescue after decades in the UK when big government and public spending were seen as a threat...but even so B Johnson's confused libertarianism allows many fools to be 'free' to get the virus and pass it on...not so many laughs this time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

n the latest episode of Rock N Roll Politics I conclude I was wrong a week ago in suggesting that the virus would not become political...and a Tory Chancellor contradicts his predecessors and media orthodoxy by arguing that higher spending boosts economic growth-quite a moment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brexit not done, a virus spreading across the globe, a Labour leader soon to be elected-what is the most politically significant? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

B Johnson began his leadership acting as if was a Prime Minister with a landslide majority. Machismo and assertions of 'strong leadership' become problematic when he has no majority at all. Meanwhile I'm the only person in the UK who can see a case for J Corbyn's Brexit proposition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson is Prime Ministers and forms his Brexit cabinet ready to plan for a 'no deal' Brexit. The juxtaposition of.a government with a crusading mission and a hung parliament sets the scene for a period of epic political drama...and I'm getting ready for the Edinburgh Festival. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a new Prime Minister prepares to acquire the crown Steve Richards reflects on Boris, the fantasy of scrutiny in the Tory Leadership contest or any leadership contest, and the latest on internal Labour traumas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Richards reflects on the gaping gap between the Tory leadership battle and the parliamentary reality the winner will face- and why an early election may not solve the hell of leading in a hung parliament..plus Labour latest and the lessons of the BBC's leadership debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The importance of a leader's character is often overplayed but not at the moment. Theresa May presses on with her version of Brexit with a ruthless determination that defies her fragile position. So far she has continued to prevail because she is more wilful than the weakest House of Commons in modern times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I explain why T May still holds most of the Brexit cards even if MPs get an extension to Article 50..most likely outcome of this very early Brexit phase is that a version of her deal passes and UK is out by June..then the nightmarish trade talks begin.. BUT I'm more excited by citizens' juries leading to an informed referendum. An informed referendum in the UK is a contradiction in terms but these juries can work as a way of engaging voters before the mendacious political battle gets formally underway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At an epic point in the Brexit saga I reflect on the still pivotal role of T May, the less pivotal but vital stance of J Corbyn, J Bercow and all MPs: Parliament might want to take us back from the cliff's edge but will the weak but obstinate May be willing to be an instrument of parliament? Can you hear her utter the words " I will negotiate Norway Plus" or "I'll call a referendum". If not-what will happen? As a bonus I watched Fiona Bruce present Question Time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest podcast I try and struggle to make sense of crazy Brexit events- T May goes on to Today programme for a silly interview, the Attorney General spends explaining why he wont publish predictable legal advice before the government publishes the advice, and the government is first in history to propose a policy that makes the economy poorer. We haven't even had the vote on May's deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why the transformation of the Conservative parliamentary party over recent decades means T May will lose the vote on her deal...plus the reason why she could not have posed a simple question: What Brexit deal could have won a majority in this parliament? After the election the answer would have brought her down. By then she was trapped and on a course towards the vote on Dec 11th...and why a TV debate between her and J Corbyn is the reddest of red herrings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Brexit drama reaches a nerve shredding and unpredictable climactic I reflect on the roles of T May, J Corbyn and G Brown's recent Brexit speech....and pledge to update regularly while UK at cliff's edge...get ready for bonus podcasts, the only upside to a national emergency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this latest episode I reflect on wider implications of the Newsnight interview with George Osborne and the subsequent glorious response of Polly Toynbee- when it was suggested that she and the former Chancellor were now relatively 'close' politically...and related to this: Who's winning the battle of ideas? The winner of this battle also wins elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's podcast I explore the most destructive and potent theme in UK politics -'betrayal'. If T May insists on the false Brexit choice of 'her deal v no deal' those feeling 'betrayed' will be Hardline Brexiteers, Soft Brexiteers and Remainers. Even May wins the Commons' vote on her deal the story of 'betrayal' will trigger a thousand more political explosions...and also the Liberal Democrats struggling to become significant and more on my unscripted TV Talks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode I explore the Prime Ministers we never had. All the factors that blocked them apply to Boris Johnson making it much less likely that he will be the next PM. In connection with Boris' fate I also reflect on my next BBC series of unscripted TV talks on the theme of 'PMs We Never Had' and why ad libbing to camera in a single take is a good way-in my view- of conveying the drama and epic significance of politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.