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Steve Richards

Steve Richards

Established as one of the most influential political commentators in the country, Steve Richards became The Independent’s chief political commentator in 2000 having been political editor of the New Statesman. He presents GMTV's flagship current affairs show The Sunday Programme and Radio 4’s Week in Westminster.

Steve Richards: The last thing Gordon Brown needs now is a referendum on Scottish independence

Few referendums are held in the United Kingdom and yet the hope or fear of one being called leads to mayhem. They are the cause of some of the biggest storms in recent years, hovering around highly charged debates, policy areas that have the potential to transform everything.

Recently by Steve Richards

Steve Richards: There is still time for Gordon Brown to save the day – if he can learn to trust his instincts

Tuesday, 6 May 2008

Is there anything Gordon Brown can do to escape from his political nightmare, especially as the crisis is even deeper than it seems?

Steve Richards: A tidal wave is sweeping over Labour

Saturday, 3 May 2008

There are no qualifications. The election results are dire for Labour and a triumph for the Conservatives. When David Cameron claims that his party is on course for a general election victory, no one will smirk any more.

Steve Richards: The spectre of national politics looms large, but this is not a vote for Cameron or Brown

Thursday, 1 May 2008

On days such as these it is tempting to state the obvious. Elections are big, nail-bitingly nerve -wracking tests for political leaders. Of course they are. There is no bigger test for politicians than when voters have the chance to give their verdicts.

Steve Richards: Gordon Brown cannot stand alone in the storm – he needs his cabinet stars to shine

Tuesday, 29 April 2008

For the first time since Labour came to power cabinet ministers have a chance to breathe, to become fully developed political personalities. From 1997 Tony Blair and Gordon Brown dominated the Government. The stifling dynamics of the duopoly were all that mattered. Cabinet ministers sought to please one or both of them. That was the limit of their political purpose. Policy was determined from within Number Ten or the Treasury and the rest of them knew it.

Steve Richards: The clash between Gordon Brown and his MPs was never quite what it seemed

Thursday, 24 April 2008

I have to pinch myself. Gordon Brown is forced to make concessions so that some of the poorest do not lose out from his own plans. This is the same Gordon Brown who spent much of his time as Chancellor agonising over how to do more for the poor while despairing of his neighbour next door on the grounds that he was indifferent to the issue.

Steve Richards: Boris or Ken? There is no doubt who would be better for London and the rest of Britain

Thursday, 10 April 2008

In my late youth I have become indecisive, suddenly incapable of making up my mind on big things or small. Until recently, decisions came and went and I was always confident like our former Prime Minister about what was "the right thing to do". Now I dither, as our present Prime Minister is accused of doing.

Steve Richards: If you want to understand politics, just examine the explosive education debate

Tuesday, 8 April 2008

Follow closely the current explosive debate on education.

Steve Richards: Whatever his financial arrangements, Ahern's real legacy is the peace process

Thursday, 3 April 2008

Another leader resigns with a whiff of scandal in the air. This time, the resignation comes from Ireland, with Bertie Ahern stepping aside as a tribunal investigates his financial affairs.

Steve Richards: Another journey along the third way threatens to end in a terrible crash

Tuesday, 1 April 2008

Here we go again: another insecure Labour prime minister throws away political capital in a failed attempt to please nearly everyone. When he moved into No 10, Gordon Brown looked to the right and to the left of him, listened to the authoritarians and those of a liberal tendency, and decided to revive almost immediately the thorny issue of securing suspects without charge.

Steve Richards: Overwhelming and still underestimated factors propelled Blair into war in Iraq

Thursday, 27 March 2008

A pattern is forming. This week's debate about whether or not there should be a government inquiry into the war in Iraq was fuelled by a range of domestic political calculations. The Conservatives instigated the Commons debate in order to distance themselves from their robust, and highly influential, support for the war. The Government refused to hold an inquiry now because the nightmare of Iraq would be revisited as the next election approaches. The Liberal Democrats called for an apology from those who supported the war in order to emphasise that they did not do so.

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