What will we learn from the Gorton and Denton by-election?

With the departure of Morgan McSweeney, the right in the media and well beyond detect that Ed Miliband has become the unofficial prime minister.  The Spectator editor Michael Gove has written an article on this theme, and is by no means alone. Apparently some of those making the same point used to work for Keir Starmer. But do Gove’s arguments make much sense? Time again to forensically examine a single article. Get tickets here for the York Book Festival with Steve Richards and Alan Johnson on Tuesday March 24th. Rock & Roll Politics is at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special, at Kings Place on Monday May 11th here. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Energy prices soar and the British government watches on helplessly. If it were not energy costs, it might have been some other sector causing mayhem outside a single government’s control. Which is why prime ministers and chancellors are being too clunky when promising to address the cost of living, even if - understandably - it tops the list of voters’ concerns. Get tickets here for the York Book Festival with Steve Richards and Alan Johnson on Tuesday Mar 26th. Rock & Roll Politics is at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special, at Kings Place on Monday May 11th here. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The release of the Mandelson documents shows the degree to which his appointment was a huge risk. Why did the lawyerly, cautious Starmer overrule the warnings and press ahead despite all the consequences? • Please join the co-operative’s never ending debate: [email protected] • Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on May 11th in the aftermath of the dramatic  elections.  • Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th.   • Subscribe to Patreon here for the main podcast a day early and ad free, plus bonus podcasts and exclusive live events. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leaks from a national security council meeting suggest cabinet ministers challenged the assumption that Trump should have the automatic right to access British military bases. The grown up discussion was portrayed by some newspapers as a sign of weakness, which says more about those newspapers than Starmer and his ministers. Isn’t the Iran crisis showing that the ‘special relationship’ is largely a humiliating one for Britain and needs to be challenged more fundamentally once the current crisis is in some way resolved? If resolution is possible… To join the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative email [email protected]. Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on May 11 for post election special. Subscribe to Patreon to support the podcast and join the co-operative’s elite wing. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keir Starmer has dared to question the Trump/Netanyahu attack on Iran, implying it is unlawful and without clear objective. An elected UK prime minister has chosen to think for himself rather than follow the US subserviently - and the right wing media and its parties cannot cope. Why? To join the never ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative email [email protected] Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. You can get tickets here.  And live at Kings Place on May 11th, days after the May elections: tickets here. Subscribe to Patreon for an elite co-operative and bonuses galore. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keir Starmer has said the “mistakes” of Iraq have been learnt and he has published the legal advice that justifies allowing the US to use British military bases in its attacks on Iran. But there were plenty of other “mistakes” in relation to Iraq – are they being repeated now? To join our never-ending debate email your latest thoughts to [email protected] • Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. You can get tickets here.  • And live at Kings Place on May 11th, days after the May elections: tickets here. Support the podcast on Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the end the Greens won the Gorton and Denton by-election with ease. Labour were third in one of their safest seats. Reform is no longer the only insurgent party of ‘change’. Given the restive mood of voters since the 2008 crash, should any of us be surprised by this - except for the Labour leadership following an outdated, shallow and confused strategy?  Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. You can get tickets here.  And live at Kings Place on May 11th, days after the May elections: tickets here. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's by-election has become a big test for Labour, Reform and the Greens. The result is likely to have many consequences, but will it be much of a guide to what will happen in a general election? Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. You can get tickets here.  And live at Kings Place on May 11th, days after the May elections: tickets here. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Already there is talk of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest triggering the biggest crisis for the royal family since the abdication. But is there much desire amongst most people to no longer be spellbound by what has always been a deeply flawed institution? The next live show at Kings Place is on May 11th, days after the elections. You can get tickets here. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad-free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Right wing commentators and newspapers suggest that with the fall of Morgan McSweeney and Keir Starmer fighting for survival, Labour will move to the left. Would that be the disaster they suggest it would be? Rock & Roll Politics is live on the 11th of May at Kings Place, just days after the May elections. It will be an epic night...Tickets are available here. Subscribe to Patreon here for the main podcast a day early and ad free, plus bonus podcasts and exclusive live events. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices