One person last week offered comfort, leadership and moral guidance to tens of thousands of Scots. Was it a member of the clergy? Was it an expert? Was it even a Scot? In fact, it was a 37-year-old Hollywood actress called Angelina Jolie.
The world’s most beautiful woman and Hollywood’s highest paid actress revealed she’s had a double mastectomy rather than wait to (probably) contract breast cancer thanks to a faulty gene.
| |
|
Clunking fist smashes independence – every tabloid headline and weary cliché about the former prime minister is ready to roll as Gordon Brown prepares to stride the boards in support of the Union and a Labour campaign distinct (best not say separate) from Better Together.
Journalists may already have written the story, but there’s no guarantee the Scottish public will smile upon the former Labour leader after three years of self-imposed near-silence. At long last the notoriously hesitant politician is taking a calculated risk. Will that count in his favour?
| |
|
UKIP’s recent election results stirred things up down in England. Lesley was keen to point out the differences between UKIP and the SNP after parallels had been drawn in her Scotsman column.
After an event “Who Runs Culture in Scotland?” in the Tron with a packed panel, including Alasdair Gray, the answer is a bit clearer.
The ‘Poverty in South Lanarkshire’ conference and some biological explanations from the Chief Medical Officer prompt some out loud thinking.
The long overdue recognition of the Arctic Convoy heroes is something we also touch upon respectfully in this week’s @lesleyriddoch podcast.
| |
|
It's amazing what a broad smile can do for an apparently unelectable politician. A belly-laugh turned terrifying Ian Paisley into a Chuckle Brother. A cheeky lad grin did the same for Martin “Commander” McGuinness. Now Nigel Farage has guffawed his way to 147 seats and a quarter of votes cast in last week’s council elections south of the Border.
Of course Ukip’s success was not just down to “cheeky chappie” appeal but an explicitly anti-Europe, anti-Establishment, anti-minorities, anti-claimants and anti-gay political platform. Does this “sea change” mean anything for Scotland?
On the face of it – not a lot. Ukip polled 5 per cent at European elections in Scotland in 2009, 1 per cent at Holyrood elections in 2011 and 0.28 per cent at Scottish local government elections in 2012, losing their only councillor in Fife and coming fifth behind the Greens with a tenth of their Scotland-wide vote.
| |
|
There’s a lot on the menu this week. A recent YouGov Poll suggests the Scottish public is unconvinced by Alex Salmond’s arguments for independence – are the wheels coming off ? Is it just the effect of lots of negative or indifferent campaigning? Is it to be expected , and part of a master plan?
Lesley was at the ‘Future is Local’ event at the Scottish Parliament and comes back with a few insights , including Angus Macmillan of Storas Uibhist, MSPs in the chamber and the role of AV.
And finally, Barack Obama was a top performer at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner (check out the YouTube footage ) . Leadership and comedy – is this possible ?
| |
|
