x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

Based on his live one-man show Rock & Roll Politics, the broadcaster and author Steve Richards takes a weekly behind-the-scenes tour of UK politics and the media that shapes the way we view the epic political dramas. The future is ridiculously unpredictable and the past is so easy to misread. Subscribe to your weekly guide through seismic times.

news politics

All Episodes

40:31

Could The Conservatives Recover?

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/12/02

The fickle media and Conservative MPs are hailing Kemi Badenoch’s recent performances, making her more secure in her role as leader. The Tories are still dominant in the media, so could they - not Reform - emerge as the main alternative at the next election? Plus the furore over Rachel Reeves and the OBR, and why is it shocking for a Labour government to deliver a ‘Labour budget”? To find out more about the Common Ground Justice Project click the link here. Rock & Roll Politics -The Xmas

en

35:45

Has Rachel Reeves calmed the mood of restive Labour...

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/11/26

After a thousand leaks, speeches and u-turns, Rachel Reeves has delivered her budget. As predicted there were a range of tax rises and some significant spending increases, not least on welfare. For all the feverish coverage, how much does the budget really change?Rock & Roll Politics - The Christmas Special is live at Kings Place on the 8th of December for the last show of the year. Tickets are available now at the Kings Place website here. Subscribe to Patreon to take part in my exclusive live

en

50:05

Rachel Reeves - and consequences

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/11/25

In spite of the bleak financial inheritance, Rachel Reeves should have some space with a landslide Commons for radical reforms in her budget. Did she partly choose to be trapped, without thinking through the consequences?Plus brilliant questions on how Britain is governed in relation to Covid Inquiry and Shabana Mahmood’s plans for asylum seekers. Rock & Roll Politics -The Xmas Special is live at Kings Place on Dec 8th, days after the budget. Get your tickets here. Subscribe to Patreon for

en

40:36

Nick Thomas-Symonds on Labour prime ministers,...

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/11/21

The Cabinet Office Minister, Nick Thomas-Symonds, has written several political biographies. The most recent was on Harold Wilson. What are the differences between being in power now compared with previous Labour governments? How did Wilson deal with leadership threats of the type Keir Starmer faces now? He’s also responsible for the Brexit ’reset’, so does he want to move closer to the EU? And what about the single market?Rock & Roll Politics - The Christmas Special is live at Kings Place on the

en

50:40

Will Mahmood’s asylum policies stop the boats… and...

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/11/18

Within weeks of becoming Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood has announced a set of wide-ranging policies aimed at deterring illegal asylum seekers. Will they work practically and politically? Plus, has Rachel Reeves got a coherent vision for the economy? How to define the soft left? And are there too many political journalists? Rock & Roll Politics - The Christmas Special is live at Kings Place on the 8th of December, just days after the budget. Tickets are available now at the Kings Place website

en

56:39

Is Starmer the biggest victim of the 'toxic culture'?

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/11/13

There's universal consensus that the briefings from Number 10, warning of a leadership challenge from Wes Streeting and the conduct of "feral" Labour MPs, have rebounded badly on Starmer and those involved. Yet the briefings against key Labour figures are part of a pattern under Keir Starmer's leadership… even if he is the biggest victim of these operations and is now in greater danger. Plus brilliant questions on the BBC and much more.Rock & Roll Politics - The Christmas Special is live at Kings

en

48:44

Why is the BBC so scared of the right wing media?

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/11/11

Tim Davie, Deborah Turness and other senior BBC managers have gone out of their way to please the right, from the treatment of Gary Linker to the selection of political panels where there is often an imbalance that favours the right. Ironically and predictably the right wing newspapers have shown yet again their bullying muscularity by triggering the removal of Turness and Davie. Why has the BBC lost its way and is there any route that leads to the BBC's survival? Rock & Roll Politics -The Xmas

en

43:50

What do Labour's 'soft left' want?

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/11/07

Labour's so-called 'soft left' is becoming more muscular and vocal, but what binds this part of the party and how does it want this government to change? Plus, can Rachel Reeves make voters recognise the connection between higher taxes and better public services? A key rule for governments: "Make the connections". Rock & Roll Politics - The Christmas Special is live at Kings Place on the 8th of December. Tickets are available now at the Kings Place website here. Subscribe to Patreon to take part

en

44:55

Does Nigel Farage have a credible economic policy?

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/11/04

Nigel Farage has torn up Reform's 2024 manifesto, pledging big spending cuts and promising tax cuts. Whether on the right or left, has he framed a distinct and credible argument about the economy? Also, is the Royal Family doomed in modern Britain? Plus brilliant questions and a range of notices for the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative. Rock & Roll Politics - The Christmas Special is live at Kings Place on the 8th of December. Tickets are available now at the Kings Place website

en

50:12

What will happen if Rachel Reeves breaks a manifesto...

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/10/31

Keir Starmer refused to rule out breaking pre-election tax commitments at Prime Minister's Questions, suggesting that he and Rachel Reeves are contemplating doing so. Can they get away with it? Or will it be the cause of their fall? Rock & Roll Politics - The Christmas Special is live at Kings Place on the 8th of December. Tickets are available now at the Kings Place website here. Subscribe to Patreon to take part in my exclusive live event on the 20th November, plus ad-free podcasts arriving in

en

47:46

Is the strange silence over Farage and Johnson's...

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/10/28

Finally, Rachel Reeves cites the Brexit deal as one reason why the economy is failing and why she will have to raise taxes in the budget. But is it too little, too late? Rock & Roll Politics - The Christmas Special is live at Kings Place on the 8th of December. Tickets are available now at the Kings Place website here. Subscribe to Patreon to take part in my exclusive live event on the 20th November, plus ad-free podcasts arriving in your feed a day early and bonus podcasts and live events

en

44:13

Should transport be a top priority for Starmer? – in...

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/10/24

With the nationalisation of the railways, the need for economic growth, climate change and a focus on addressing regional inequalities, transport should be at the top of the government’s priorities. But is it? I’m joined by transport guru, author and podcaster, Christian Wolmar, to discuss why Transport is often overlooked by prime ministers and chancellors and how hopeful or gloomy he is now.Rock & Roll Politics - The Christmas Special is live at Kings Place on the 8th of December. Tickets are

en

47:36

What does the Maccabi Tel Aviv football ban tell us...

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/10/21

Most of the time the right-wing media scream that government should not interfere with the police. But when the police make a decision the media disapproves of, it screams the opposite. In doing so this tells us much about the blurred lines of responsibility and the confusion about the role of the state – that partly explains why 'nothing works' remains a powerful motif in British politics.Rock & Roll Politics - The Christmas Special is live at Kings Place on the 8th of December. Tickets are

en

56:18

What would you do if you were Rachel Reeves?

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/10/17

In a recording of a recent Rock & Roll Politics live show, the audience became Rachel Reeves… and I became Emma Barnett interviewing some of them. There were many ideas for the real Chancellor in advance of next month’s budget and some mighty dilemmas explored. Here it is!Rock &Roll Politics - The Christmas Special is live at Kings Place on the 8th of December. Tickets are available now at the Kings Place website here. Subscribe to Patreon for bonus podcasts, the main podcast a day early and

en

45:35

Why is Labour's deputy leadership contest more...

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/10/14

The post of deputy leader is ill-defined at best. Yet delving deep, and going back to contests in the 1970s, shows they change the course of Labour's history. The current one will also make waves when the result is declared. Plus Donald Trump.. the peacemaker. Subscribe to Patreon for bonus podcasts, the main podcast a day early and ad free… plus special exclusive live events. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

en

40:25

Are the Conservatives doomed?

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/10/07

The Conservative Party conference gathers with the party way behind in third place and being hit by defections to Reform, a threat from the right they have never faced before. Can they survive? Written and presented by Steve Richards. Subscribe to Patreon for bonus podcasts including the latest on Labour's Deputy leadership contest, and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

en

50:38

Can Starmer beat Farage?

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/09/30

The Labour Party conference is in a febrile mood – there's much talk of leadership, and also of Farage. Can Starmer bring together those horrified by a Reform government? Or is he too unpopular, not least with those on the left? Please subscribe to Patreon for bonus podcasts, the main podcast a day early and ad free… plus special exclusive live events. https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

en

53:29

Are the Liberal Democrats a centre-left party?

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/09/23

Who are the Liberal Democrats? The coalition years exposed a deep split between social democrats and free market liberals. Are those divisions healed? Is Ed Davey right to party play for laughs? Is he making the correct pitch in the current multi-party mayhem? Tickets for Thursday's epic live show in the main concert hall at Kings Place are available here. Please subscribe to Patreon for bonus podcasts, the main podcast a day early and ad free… plus special exclusive live events. Written and

en

45:15

What are the lessons of the Mandelson saga?

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/09/16

Predictably, Peter Mandelson's return to the centre of the political stage has ended in crisis. Mandelson's influence on Keir Starmer grew after Labour lost the Hartlepool by-election in the early days of Starmer's leadership. The fashionable narrative is that Starmer changed his strategy for the better after Hartlepool, but is that when the seeds were sown that have led to the current crisis around his leadership?• Rock & Roll Politics is live in the main concert hall at Kings Place on Thursday

en

51:11

Will Keir Starmer's changes revive Labour?

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards ·

2025/09/09

Keir Starmer has kept more or less the same Cabinet but given most of them new jobs. Will it work as Reform UK soars in the polls? Rock & Roll Politics is live in the main concert hall at Kings Place on Thursday September 25th at the end of the Labour Party Conference week! Tickets available here. https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/steve-richards-presents-rock-n-roll-politics-6/ My biography of Tony Blair is published this Thursday and is available here.

en

389 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

PBS News Hour - Full Show

PBS News

CD Voice

China Daily

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

Noa Levi

Jeffrey Epstein: The Coverup Chronicles

Bobby Capucci