Both Boris Johnson and Theresa May half-wanted to move their party on from Thatcherism… and yet they both appointed Thatcherite Chancellors. Why did they do so? What were the consequences? Plus brilliant questions ranging from how Labour can oppose Brexit, to why Prime Ministers make terrible mistakes, and on to a new favourite theme of listeners: tuition fees. Good or bad?

Support Rock’n’Roll Politics on Patreon for bonus podcasts, exclusive Rock’n’Roll Politics mugs and much more:

https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak

Based on his live one-man show Rock & Roll Politics, the broadcaster and author Steve Richards takes a twice-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.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

News

Politics

Nigel Lawson once noted that the party that wins the battle of ideas wins elections. He was right. Ideas matter and yet play little part in the contest between Sunak and Starmer. But the Right remain ideologically confident. Will a Labour government be able to counter the anti-state onslaught that is bound to happen? Plus exciting notices and brilliant questions from the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative.

Rock & Roll Politics is live at King’s Place, London, on Wed 10 July for a pre-election special. Get tickets here. 

Back Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon and get FREE access to Steve’s 2024 Local Elections Post-Mortem live on Zoom, 5pm on Friday 3 May. Analysis, projections and your questions – all free to Patreon people. 

Written and presented by Steve Richards
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who is Winning The Battle of Ideas?

In his last term as Prime Minister, Harold Wilson was seen as old, paranoid and ineffective… yet now we discover he was lively enough to be having an affair. This suggests the caricature might be wrong. What if Wilson was livelier politically too? And what if we choose to see other leaders as stereotypes which do not present anything like the full picture? 
Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon for early episodes, exclusive merchandise and more. 
PLUS get free admission to Steve’s Local Elections 2024 Post-Mortem, live on Zoom at 5pm on Friday 3 May.
https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics
See Rock & Roll Politics live at King's Place on the 10th of July. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harold Wilson’s affair and how we misread leaders

The journalist and author Will Hutton has written an important new book on the eve of what’s likely to be a Labour government. The title is stark: This Time No Mistakes. But what mistakes were made? What are the lessons of the past? What are his hopes and fears for a Keir Starmer government?
This Time No Mistakes is published on April 11th. Buy it through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund Rock & Roll Politics by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too.
Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon for early episodes, exclusive merchandise and free admission to Steve’s Local Elections 2024 Post-Mortem, live on Zoom at 5pm on Friday 3 May.
https://www.patreon.com/RockNRollPolitics
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This Time No Mistakes – In Conversation with Will Hutton

A rare chance to hear a live show… this one recorded in the main concert hall at Kings Place, London. On the agenda: How do the dramas around the current government compare with other ‘fin de siecle’ administrations? How does Keir Starmer compare with Harold Wilson and Tony Blair when they were on the edge of power? Plus unreliable predictions… Question Time… and much more.
Support the podcast Patreon for bonus editions, special merchandise and exclusive live events for subscribers. Our next one will be the day after the May local elections so sign up to find out first. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rock & Roll Politics Live – The Easter Special

Nigel Lawson once said a party that wins the battle of ideas wins the election... Rachel Reeves has started to engage in this battle of ideas during her Mais Lecture. Labour are way ahead in the polls, so is this a battle they can win?
Support Rock & Roll Politics on Patreon for bonus podcasts, special events and much more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak

Download our free app to listen on your phone