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Artwork for Rock & Roll Politics

Rock & Roll Politics with Steve Richards

Steve Richards
Labour Party
Keir Starmer
UK Politics
Brexit
Conservative Party
Rachel Reeves
Andy Burnham
Rishi Sunak
Tony Blair
Nigel Farage
Reform Party
NHS
Donald Trump
Public Services
British Politics
Peter Mandelson
European Union
Immigration
Ed Miliband
Economic Growth

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes519Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Rock & Roll Politics

Latest Episodes

An epic Rock & Roll Politics Live at Kings Place, the night after Burnham’s speech. Listen now to the recording of a show.

The next is live on December 7th, stay tuned for more details to follow.

Subscribe to Patreon here for exclusive extra conten... more

Burnham is a natural, confident communicator - and he has promised change. including a National Care Service. But the media noise is about the need to be ‘realistic’, which usually means right wing. The noise is loud and will be difficult to overcome... more

On the eve of the Labour conference I speak to the brilliant Michael Jacobs - former adviser to Gordon Brown, founder of Compass and supporter of Mainstream, an important platform for Andy Burnham as he moved towards Number 10.

Michael has publishe... more

The Rock & Roll Politics co-operative continues our never-ending debate on the economy, defence and the Israeli government as I hail the most effective slogan in British politics for decades.

To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Pol... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Michael Jacobs
Historian and political analyst; former General Secretary of the Fabian Society; adviser to Gordon Brown
University of London (LSE); Compass; IPPR
Episode: How Can Burnham Deliver the Biggest Change in 40 Years?
Jeff Strange
Correspondent in Cork
Rock & Roll Politics cooperative
Episode: The UK economic crisis - Does anyone know what they’re talking about?
Joe Ruffles
Berlin correspondent
Rock & Roll Politics cooperative
Episode: The UK economic crisis - Does anyone know what they’re talking about?
Venetia Cain
Listener contributor commenting on reform and funding
Listener community
Episode: The UK economic crisis - Does anyone know what they’re talking about?
Andrew Kitchen
Reader of political biographies
Listener community
Episode: The UK economic crisis - Does anyone know what they’re talking about?
Dr. Colin Smith
Labour correspondent
Listener network
Episode: The UK economic crisis - Does anyone know what they’re talking about?
Dominica Joule
French correspondent for Rock & Roll Politics Cooperative
Rock & Roll Politics Cooperative
Episode: Can Andy Burnham deliver a National Care Service?
Mike Burgess
Panelist participating in discussions about Farage, media scrutiny, and politics
Rock and Roll Politics Cooperative
Episode: Will a contest against Binface make Farage more prime-ministerial?
Paul Kelly
Panelist contributing to debates on devolution, local governance, and party dynamics
Rock & Roll Politics Cooperative
Episode: Will a contest against Binface make Farage more prime-ministerial?

Host

Steve Richards
Host of Rock & Roll Politics, experienced political broadcaster and author with a history of UK parliamentary coverage and media analysis.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Interesting and engaging

    I enjoy this podcast partly because it is well put together and well presented, but also because of the quality of the content. Steve Richards obviously finds the subject fascinating which comes across. He seems to have a cavernous breadth of political experience and knowledge which, is another point of quality.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    martcol
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Cogitation Connoisseur

    The master of the on going debate.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ❤️Radio4Comedy
    Netherlandsa month ago
  • He only does one…

    …he only does one podcast.

    Stevey Richards, not another one!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    George Agdgdgdwango
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Cogitation Connoisseur

    Great on domestic matters, clueless on international affairs and defence.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ❤️Radio4Comedy
    Netherlands4 months ago
  • Great listen despite the obvious political bias

    He’s such an easy listening style one of my favourites even if you can pin down easily exactly where steve is on the political spectrum . Think he needs to be a bit less overtly anti Tory/Reform as recently his argument have been very one sided but still a good podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Luke knavesmire
    United Kingdom4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Open, educational, and well-argued with audience participation.
Some reviews note coverage can feel biased or partisan, but many find the depth and delivery compelling.
Strong historical context but some perceived bias in coverage.
Thoughtful, nuanced political analysis with a warm, engaging host.
Listeners appreciate the cooperative community and host's depth of knowledge.
Highly praised for depth and breadth; occasional criticism for perceived one-sidedness.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#25
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#56
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#133
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#224
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#134
Ireland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#160
New Zealand/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How bold will John Healey be?
Q: From Andy, Western Super Mare, why isn't there more holding reform to account, given the Channel 4 funding saga?
The host suggests that scrutiny has increased and that reform's impact depends on ongoing media coverage and political will, while noting the difficulty of holding reform to account given political dynamics and the love-hate relationship with media narratives.
Will Andy Burnham’s big idea work?
Q: What are the risks and benefits of transferring more power to local authorities and mayors?
Transfers can unlock better local accountability and tailored services if paired with strong oversight, but they require robust mechanisms to ensure money is spent wisely and that residents understand how funds are used.
Eve of the Burnham era: Where does power really lie?
Q: Should there be an early election given Burnham's reforms, and how should that be framed for the public?
The host argues that delaying an early election preserves stability and demonstrates control over timing, noting historical examples like Gordon Brown; he emphasizes clarity and consistency in messaging over time rather than reactive electoral signaling.
Eve of the Burnham era: Where does power really lie?
Q: Sam Bates wonders, is there any significance in the fact that Andy Burnham is due to become the first co-operative party prime minister?
The host notes that the cooperative movement's influence aligns with Burnham's broader devolution and local empowerment themes, suggesting the idea could reflect a broader shift toward more locally grounded governance; the question is acknowledged as part of a larger pattern of decentralization.
What does Andy Burnham really think?
Q: How do you compare national Labour leadership on devolution with your experience at the local level?
Burnham notes a shift toward a more enthusiastic and pragmatic approach to devolution at the national level, implying that local experience informs and accelerates broader reform of the UK's constitutional arrangements.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Rock & Roll Politics

What is Rock & Roll Politics about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, opinionated UK politics podcast hosted by a seasoned broadcaster who provides a weekly, in-depth, historical context to current events, media coverage, and electoral dynamics. Episodes commonly thread together by-elections, party strategy, Devolution, leadership contests, and the balance between state power and public policy, often incorporating listener questions and live-show notes. Noteworthy traits include a strong emphasis on historical parallels, clear stance on major issues, and a collaborative listener community branded as a cooperative. This makes it particularly appealing to listeners who want thoughtful analysis with a narrative through-line and occasional humor, plus a robust sponsorship channel for politically engaged ... more

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How many listeners does Rock & Roll Politics get?

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How many subscribers and views does Rock & Roll Politics have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Rock & Roll Politics has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Rock & Roll Politics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Rock & Roll Politics:

1. Not Another One
2. Oh God, What Now?
3. The Bunker – News without the nonsense
4. The Politics Show
5. The Two Matts

How many episodes of Rock & Roll Politics are there?

Rock & Roll Politics launched 8 years ago and published 519 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Rock & Roll Politics?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Rock & Roll Politics?

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What guests have appeared on Rock & Roll Politics?

Recent guests on Rock & Roll Politics include:

1. Michael Jacobs
2. Jeff Strange
3. Joe Ruffles
4. Venetia Cain
5. Andrew Kitchen
6. Dr. Colin Smith
7. Dominica Joule
8. Mike Burgess

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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