Lesley Riddoch

Glenrothes and an Aftermath

There is a new Aftermath available and we do follow up on the theme of our new home in Glenrothes.

Friday's programme from Glenrothes ...our new home.

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

What do YOU want to ask the Scottish Secretary?

 

Lesley will be joined by the Scottish Secretary, Jim Murphy, for Riddoch Questions on Friday 6th February. The minister, who's also the MP for East Refrewshire, will be taking calls on issues such as -

• Unemployment and the Scottish economy

• Funding of the new Forth crossing

• Scottish culture and broadcasting

• Scottish Labour – does London pull the strings?

 ...and whatever else YOU want to ask him - so get emailing now!

Send us your questions or comments in advance to riddoch@bbc.co.uk. Add your phone number if you want to put the question in person. On Friday 6th text your views to 80295 and call 0500 92 95 00.

For life's biggest dangers, look very close to home

“These paths are icy and dangerous.”

As I was reading this baffling National Trust sign by the tame, flat, well-compacted paths of Culloden Moor, three climbers had fallen foul of the truly dangerous avalanche conditions in Glencoe.

Later, still ignorant of Saturday’s tragedy, I was embroiled in animated conversation at a Burns Supper for the Highland Hospice in Inverness about the present parlous state of adventure-seeking amongst most Scots.

The Environment Debate Aftermath

After the Environment Debate broadcast on Riddoch Questions on Friday 23 January; here's the Aftermath that followed the live debate. Recorded with the same live audience and panel, this was the part that wasn't broadcast. Have a listen.

Photos from the Environment Debate

Bruce Crawford on Riddoch Questions - Friday 30th Jan

Bruce Crawford, Minister for Parliamentary Business and SNP MSP for Stirling will be one of Lesley’s guests on Riddoch Questions, Friday 30th January. All being well, he’ll join the RQ team for our first programme broadcasting from our new studio at The Adam Smith College in Glenrothes.

As usual, Bruce will be taking questions and comments from the public, and you can send these in advance to riddoch@bbc.co.uk. On the day, you can call 0500 92 95 00 or text 80295.

Riddoch Questions - Friday 23rd January: Environment Debate

 

This week’s Riddoch Questions was recorded before an audience at Pitlochry Festival Theatre with Environment Minister Mike Russell and his opposite number, Labour’s Sarah Boyack together with representatives of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Community Woodlands Association and Confederation of Forest Industries. Community woodland activists challenged the Minister’s controversial scheme to make £200 million by leasing a quarter of Scotland’s forests to the private sector. Green activists challenged Ms Boyack to support Labour’s plans for a third runway at Heathrow, but there was almost unanimous support for the return of the beaver to Scotland in spring of this year.

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.

A new series of New Hands is coming your way...

The last President of the United States famously remarked "the trouble with the French is they don't have a word for entrepreneur". New Hands presenter Lesley Campbell and producer Gill Davies do have a word for Scottish entrepreneurs; respect. Undettered by the 'credit crunch', they have recorded some amazing stories for the programme which starts 22 February. Over the coming weeks, they will be posting some of the material over at the the New Hands website; www.newhands.co.uk

They are even threatening to Twitter !

We need to wake up to the fanatics on both sides in Gaza

Hamas resistance crushed. Campaign aims achieved. No withdrawal but a temporary unilateral ceasefire. Job mostly done.

Who do the Israelis think they’re kidding? The politicians attending peace talks in Egypt today can’t say it for fear of fanning the flames – and won’t say it because of Israel’s role as a non-Muslim stronghold in a sea of Middle Eastern hostility. But Israel’s rationale for ending its three week bombardment of Gaza is as flimsy as its rationale for starting.