Lesley Riddoch

Time and tide wait for no-one - even Scotland

WHAT is Scotland's energy policy now? The SNP's decision to scrap new nuclear has formalised Scottish Labour's carefully scripted policy of nuclear reluctance. And though some Labour MSPs may want to overrule Alex Salmond's planning veto, the Scottish public (and many Labour MSPs in private) have given the unambiguous anti-nuclear stance a cautious thumbs-up.

In part that's because of worries over nuclear waste disposal, connections with nuclear weapons manufacture and the blank nature of the government cheque needed to subsidise nuclear production and decommissioning. But in part that's also because the public believes new technologies like clean coal and marine energy can take over when nuclear stations close and large onshore wind farms have finally been vetoed by Western Isles voters, thanks to the SNP's election commitment to heed local referendums on the three current proposals there. Unfortunately, it isn't going to be that simple.

The latest Riddoch Questions - May 25

My guest this Friday 1.15- 2pm will be Brian Wilson, former Energy Minister and a board member of nuclear and windfarm companies AMEC and Airtricity. Brian’s a particularly topical guest because Scotland and London are at loggerheads over nuclear power. But the SNP are also opposed to the project he launched as Energy Minister 6 years ago -- the Lewis Wind Farm proposal.

We’re asking whether Scotland will reach its energy potential without nuclear or large onshore wind.

Anyone can call from 1pm on Friday on 0500 92 95 00. The email during the programme is Lesley@bbc.co.uk. And the text while we are on air is 80295

All together now...

WHAT do the people of Scotland really want from the SNP at Holyrood and in local councils? That may seem a stupid question. We have just had an election stuffed to the gunwales with manifesto pledges including promises on hospitals and trams which local people will expect the SNP to deliver - or at least try to deliver. With a hung parliament...read more here.

Alex Salmond 'coronation' - an Aye witness report

Alex Salmond's "coronation" as First Minister this week had a carnival atmosphere - and in my experience, Holyrood hasn't felt like that in eight years of business. Spontaneous applause and whoops of delight erupted from a packed public gallery as the new Presiding Officer announced the hitherto unimaginable. Spontaneous wit erupted from party leaders. Delivering her party's congratulations, the "Lady in Fuschia," as the Tory leader's been dubbed -- told Alex Salmond; "I have a wee message for your wife Moira and your sister in the public gallery. If they're not around to keep you in check, there's another woman who will!" and having delivered her lines perfectly, Annabel Goldie sat down to hoots of laughter around the Chamber. Followed by spontaneous repartee from the new First Minister; "Annabel, the quality of your speech at a Burns Supper in Glasgow some weeks ago left me tempted to vote for you as First Minister today. Tempted ...but not seduced." More slightly astonished laughter. Jings! Not exactly Sex in the City but a flirty exchange in this normally grave and stodgy place. It all seemed to demonstrate Scotland's politicians can have fun in public ...passably well. And can move on to say important things ...rather deftly. Despite the presence of twenty camera crews, it also managed to be personal. Alex Salmond surprised everyone by revealing that his Dad had never seen him speaking in a parliamentary debating chamber. Apparently Salmond Sr so completely disapproves of Westminster he wouldn't set foot there. Nicola Sturgeon gave her boss a fairly stiff little hug - but that's her way. Linda Fabiani burst into tears, and later on the steps leading down from the Chamber to the Garden Lobby, the new Education Minister Fiona Hyslop stood clinging to one of the heavy concrete support columns as camera crews formed a human scrum waltzing reporters, MSPs, bystanders like myself and a man holding two kids backwards and forwards in their efforts to capture the First Minister's First Walkabout. As she was whisked past, Fife MSP Tricia Marwick was trying to shout, "watch my ribs." She was grabbed so heartily on election night she suffered cracked ribs. Away from the swirling knot of journalists and SNP members, former First Minister Jack McConnell led his flock into the unfamiliar territory of their opposition offices, hardly looking up as he walked swiftly through halls and lobbies he used to command. These will be interesting times. So if you've a spare half hour, go in to the Holyrood public gallery and see if our new government manages to live up to the hype and hope of its first exuberant hours.

Global Warming Swindle and free tickets

Did you see the Great Global Warming Swindle documentary on C4 in March? It suggested solar activity is responsible for changes in the earth’s climate - not carbon emissions. The green lobby were horrified – one man has formally approached Ofcom to prevent distribution of Great Global Warning Swindle DVDs on the grounds it could destroy the planet if it stops people finally taking global warming seriously.

Martin Durkin the film-maker is unrepentant and asks why an alternative view cannot even be aired

Download MartinDurkinshortclip.mp3

If you want to hear the full interview with Martin and hear the man who wants the DVDs banned tackle the film’s scientific advisor (that’s Bob Ward and Martin Livermore) they will be our guests on a special edition of my new programme Riddoch Questions, on Radio Scotlamd at the Gardening Scotland event at Ingliston on Friday 1st June. It’s on air at the usual time 1.15 – 2pm, but we need you in your seats at the Beechgrove Garden Theatre in Ingliston at 1pm.

If you want to get a free pair of tickets to come to the programme and see round the fabulous Gardening Scotland event, send me an email here with the question you’ve come to ask. Its not just me who asks questions here yknow! The first ten good Riddoch Questioners will get the tickets and we’ll let you know by Friday 25th May. Fire away!

Stop the press - Nicol Stephen is Riddoch Questions guest, Friday 18th May

So get emailing questions now! The Scottish Lib Dem leader is following hot on the heels of SNP leader Alex Salmond. Indeed by the time Nicol is on Riddoch Questions (RQ) this Friday (1.15-2pm BBC Radio Scotland), we should know if the two parties have finally managed to do a deal, or if Alex and the SNP are going it alone to govern Scotland. Jings -- we live in interesting times! Meantime, I'd like to apologise to listeners trying to call Alex last week. The BBC’s Edinburgh studio has four incoming lines but only one available handset to answer them. So although the switchboard was lit up like a Christmas tree throughout, our phone staff could only answer one call at a time. To be fair to the groovy little studio and its fab audio staff – no-one has tried to run a live phone-in there before. So we’ve learned – and the problem will be sorted out this week.

Indeed RQ1 was a technical baptism of fire! We weren’t sure our satellite phone would link the studio with Alex till the very last minute. The new MSP for Gordon was at the Kintore Arms, Inverurie on a constituency tour which couldn't be shifted -- so the broadcasting mountain went to Mohammed! The sat phone held up till minutes from the end when it sorta exploded with an audible pop and Alex’s tag team member Kenny MacAskill (sitting patiently amidst the mayhem of the cubicle ) stepped effortlessly into the breach. You’d wonder if these guys were practising! Anyway, I hope you’re all getting the hang of RQ's. I’m looking to put the main newsmaker of the week on air every Friday, with a nominated supporter and tickle with live robust questions from you on the phone -- and me in the studio. We’ll be on air every Friday, and I hope you’ll call on 0500 92 95 00 or email me beforehand at lesley@feisty.fm or lesley@bbc.co.uk when the prog is on air.

Class is the dividing line in debate over trams

At the risk of sounding like an advert for M&S, the Edinburgh tram is not just a local transport issue. The Edinburgh tram is a national governance issue. And the way this “little local difficulty” is handled by the SNP at Holyrood and the Lib Dem-SNP coalition at Edinburgh City Council, will speak volumes about this country’s real appetite for new politics.

The SNP have made no secret of their intention to ditch plans for the £592m Edinburgh trams project, along with EARL, the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link.

Last week, on Radio Scotland the SNP’s Kenny MacAskill summarised their reasons.

I am back with Riddoch Questions

It's a new regular Feisty Productions series for Radio Scotland.

• Every Friday
• 1.15-2pm
• With myself in the chair
• Grilling the top newsmaker of the week
• With your phone calls, texts and emails
• Starting May 11^th with special guest Alex Salmond –coalition talks permitting! If you’ve a question email here. If you want to make a call on the subject on Friday put CALL at the top of your email and give us a phone number. Your number won’t be passed on anywhere else – and it won’t cost you a penny to call!

Votepods No More

So the election is over, the horse-trading has begun and the Votepods team are piecing together the evidence we collected about public participation through our Ten Big Lottery and BT sponsored debates.

• Did music make a difference by attracting non-anoraks and relaxing the meeting so exchange was more “full and frank”?
• Did we attract people who’d never been to political hustings events before?
• Did postings audio on itunes and video highlights on YouTube extend proceedings to an online audience?
• Did we fill halls or attract a minimum of 200 people every time ?
• Were audiences generated by voluntary agencies and pressure groups representative of the general public? 
• How well did politicians perform?

We hope to have an analysis online next week. But if you attended a votepod debate and want to give some feedback – which doesn’t have to be complimentary but should try to be constructive! – please email us via the Votepods website. Click here

Celtic Demons tamed

Three days after the Holyrood result, the future shape of government in Scotland is no clearer and the story is dropping from UK headlines Read more - click here.