Fridays programme should be a stoater with three outspoken folk I've known for some time – Bruce Crawford is the local SNP MSP and Minister for Parliament – he asked me to chair the National Conversation on a Future without Trident last year and with the credit crunch that future may be closer than many imagine. Margaret Curran is Labour MSP for Glasgow Baillieston and stood unsuccessfully for the Westminster seat of Glasgow East last summer. Right woman, right place, wrong time in the view of many.
And finally the outspoken Telegraph columnist Alan Cochrane – never knowingly in agreement with any prominent politician in the same studio. All three have been sitting through the SNP's budget debate and have their views about what went wrong this week and who should shoulder blame. Did John Swinney bungle talks with Patrick Harvie? Should an almost solitary Green have more sway over the budget of Scotland than the massed ranks of Labour? Or have the parties who made up the last Scottish government failed to learn the new game of give and take in opposition?
We'll also discuss the controversial payments for victims families in Northern Ireland – and the allegations about cash for amendments in the Lords. As well as the latest gloomy IMF forecast that predicts Britain's recession will be the worst in Europe. After 1pm on Friday do call 0500 92 95 00. Text 80295 or email anytime riddoch@bbc.co.uk.
PS If you want to understand some of the background to the programme...visit Lesley's blog
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