Lesley Riddoch

There's a new Aftermath available

The Philanthropy Debate posed some interesting questions. The Riddoch Questions crew had a go and you can listen here.

Riddoch Questions Friday 28th November - BBC Radio Scotland 1.15-2pm

This special edition of Riddoch Questions was recorded at Scotland’s Philanthropy Debate – a live event in Edinburgh, organised by the Scottish Community Foundation. In the week Chancellor Alastair Darling decides to give tax cuts – lower VAT and higher tax thresholds - the debate brings together several of the country’s wealthiest charitable donors to talk about giving, tax breaks, the credit crunch and how to spend money to maximum social benefit.

• Should charitable givers be able to attach strings to their cash?

• Is paying more tax a better way of redistributing the money of wealthy people?

• Are some donors funding projects the state ought to be paying for?

• Are there too many charities and how can smaller organisations compete with the big ones?

The panel includes Lord Robert Smith of Kelvin, chairman of the Weir Group and the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games Organising Committee; Dame Stephanie Shirley, entrepreneur turned philanthropist, who’s given away £50 million in the past seven years; Sir Ian Wood, the founder of Britain’s biggest oil and gas services company, the Wood Group; Nick Ferguson, chairman of SVG Capital and the Institute for Philanthropy; and Anne Boyd, chair of the Scottish Community Foundation.

You can listen to the debate from 1.15-2pm – there will be no calls, emails or texts read out – but send your reactions to riddoch@bbc.co.uk as usual.

Time for government to redirect history, not pander to the voters

Alistair Darling will get to his feet in the Commons today to deliver the annual Pre-Budget Report. It’s a bland title for an event that should redirect the course of British history.

Everyone but the Tories backs tax cuts and all seem agreed that desperate times require a short-term, temporary boost. But short term action must give long term benefit. Otherwise Andrew Haldenby, the Reform think tank director may be right; offering tax cuts now is like giving whisky to an alcoholic.

The Iceland and its banks Aftermath

Riddoch Questions this week had a large segment about Iceland and its banks. The discussion that followed was tough. This Aftermath attempts to unpick it. However, as usual, the crew manage to find some humour in Iceland. Who'd have thought it ? Listen here.;

Interested in Iceland

Interested in Iceland? Ironically there’s never been a better time to visit with the weak Kroner making food, hotels and trips affordable-ish for non-scandics.

Here are some top tips.

Best blog – Alda Sigmundsdottir icelandweatherreport.com

Best whats on and cultural info – icelandreview.com

Best hotel – SAS 1919 is new and right at the centre of town in a converted bank.

Best tour – Reykjavik Excursions Golden Circle – see frozen waterfall Gulfoss beside boiling Geyser called Geysir in snow-decked landscape you can still drive in because all transport has the right tyres!

Only airline – Icelandair from Glasgow till they pull the flights at start December till April. Thereafter icelandexpress from Stansted

Best book – Dreamland – A Self Help Manual for a Frightened Nation ; and amazing book for thoughtful people everywhere by Andri Snaer Magnason Citizen Press

Proud nation laid low by greed still full of independent spirit

Gordon Brown better not plan a trip to Iceland anytime soon.

This weekend his name joined those of Prime Minister Geir Haarde and Central Bank chief David Oddsson in a protest by 6000 Icelanders outside their parliament building in Reykjavik. At mention of the “guilty men” a volley of rotten eggs was released – freezing immediately to the windows of the world’s oldest parliament in the crisp, freezing darkness of late afternoon.

A demo about Iceland's Banks

The protest demonstration outside the Icelandic Parliament on Saturday has to be the oddest I've seen for years. Prams, kids and fur coated ladies outnumbered goths and anarchists -- all demanding the resingation of their Prime Minister and Central Bank chief in the wake of the currency crisis. Most want Iceland to join the Euro. They're angry at Gordon Brown for using terrorist laws to freeze Icesave accounts - but all believe Iceland will bounce back. Hear more on Riddoch Questions 21st Nov at 1.15.

Iceland

Its Children in Need today (Friday 14th) and Riddoch Questions s off air while the nation frolics for Children in Need. So I’m in Iceland at the moment recording some interviews for the next edition of Riddoch Questions on Friday 21st about the collapse of the Icelandic economy – and what it means for other little would-be independent nations like Scotland. And surprise, surprise, the Icelanders I’ve spoken to are determined to bounce back and are appalled at the way their country’s name is now mud across the world. I spent the evening talking with two great women – Eyglo Svala Amarsdottir a 20 something (I'm guessing!) who writes for Iceland Review www.icelandreview.com and a fabulous woman who’s almost single-handedly unraveling the complex web of banking failure and deceit here in her blog -- Alda Sigmundsdottir.

Nation's bold artistic heritage hides timidly in dark gallery gloom

Public figures across the world have been setting dangerous precedents. Obama and Lindsay Roy proved anything is possible. George Dubya and Gordon Brown did the unthinkable and nationalised banks. Peter Burt and George Matthewson threw their banking reputations on the line to stop the merger of Lloyds TSB and HBOS.

After a period of inertia in some high places, there’s been rethink and radical action aplenty. All of which leaves the classic excuses for inactivity -- “ae been” and “o’er hard” -- looking gey thin.

There is a new Aftermath available

The Riddoch Questions crew sat down after a long week of elections; American and Scottish.  There was a lot to reflect on and you can listen in.
Don't forget you can subcribe through iTunes and just click here to do it for FREE !