The

The Hello and welcome to rock and roll politics, the weekly podcast with me, Steve Richards.

Thanks so much for tuning in, wherever you are in the UK, UK and indeed from around the rest of the world.

And as ever, we've got a lot to cram in in our time together.

If it's okay with you, the main part of the podcast will be an interview with Jonathan Powell,

who of course was Chief of Staff for Tony Blair in number 10 and indeed in opposition.

He met Vladimir Putin many times

in very interesting and contrasting situations, deeply experienced about negotiations in seemingly

impossible situations, not least the Northern Ireland peace process. And of course, he worked in Washington as well. So he has a

kind of global perspective and many other perspectives. And I thought it was be really fascinating to get

his take on the current situation. I interviewed Jonathan when the withdrawal from Afghanistan was

beginning in late August, around that August bank holiday

period at a festival and found that so illuminating. So I thought we might all find that interesting.

So we'll hear what he has got to say in a moment. We've got some questions. And before all of that,

a couple of notices. First of all,

King's Place live rock and roll politics is going to be on Thursday, March the 17th, a special.

It's usually on a Monday. We've put one here on March the 17th, the Thursday to look at the

consequences of what is happening, unfolding in front of our eyes it's moving so fast

not just the horrors of ukraine but the consequences there are many and if it's okay with all

of you we will explore them on that Thursday night, live at King's Place,

and it's streaming live, perhaps for the last time. So do join me for that. And it's also going to

be the last live show for a bit. So do come along and let's reflect on our, I think it's all our

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