Lesley Riddoch

Northern Horizons Podcast

 Northern Horizons is an informal campaign group which aims to rejuvenate Scotland by examining the more rational, balanced and equal thinking and practice that’s contributed to the success of our Nordic neighbours. Our first “sell-out” event at the Scottish parliament on March 16th was a great success. Here NH co-founder, journalist and broadcaster, Lesley Riddoch discusses kindergarten, human capital, active citizens and truly local councils with two of the meetings feistiest contributors Dr Ingela Naumann and Eberhard (Paddy) Bort.

 Listen to Northern Horizons Podcast 1 here

Learning to put our differences aside is the only way ahead

Clocks went forward this weekend in an annual ritual opposed by most British voters, scientists, environmentalists and safety campaigners. Their collective belief is that more accidents occur and more energy is consumed during dark afternoons than dark mornings. So whilst it feels bad to get up in the winter darkness (most urban Scots already do thanks to the length of their daily commute) it makes sense for Scots to think again. Particularly Northern Scots who may experience the biggest safety and energy gains. And yet, Northern MPs and the Scottish NFU have once again risen to the bait not the occasion, insisting that change is simply not acceptable and helping to maintain a centuries-old stereotype of Northerners, Highlanders, Gaels and (by extension the whole of Scotland) as a bunch of nay-saying flat-Earthers. Luddites who would oppose change even when science suggests it might benefit them most.

The Scotsman Podcast...the Budget

George Kerevan and Lesley sat  down, minutes after the Budget had been delivered, to discuss its contents and implications. With an election looming, it was always going to be an interesting topic for dissection, as this podcast proves. 

There are a variety of ways you can listen to this podcast, you can listen and subscribe here or iTunes or even listen by clicking the player below. Feedback, as ever, is appreciated.

Scotsman podcast ...the Budget

Tory pact would be a hard sell for SNP

Is it possible that Scottish independence may best be served by Alex Salmond not doing a deal with David Cameron in the event of a balanced parliament (as lovers of consensus prefer to describe the scenario more alarmingly called a "hung" parliament)?

To read more of Lesley's 'Comment is Free' article - click here.

Alcohol price opponents must smell the coffee

Poor old Scotch whisky industry. Last week their alarmist projection of expected job losses in Scotland as a result of alcohol minimum pricing shrank miraculously from 300 to nil. This week the Chancellor looks set to raise whisky duty substantially. It appears the whisky industry has been paying attention to the wrong fiscal threat – hopefully Wednesday’s budget will focus over-malted minds wonderfully.

New voices in this week's Scotsman Podcast

 This week, Kenny Farquharson and Lee Randall join Lesley in the pod for a diverting half hour. The subjects of the Pope, trams, marine energy and mephedrone all feature in the conversation.

There are a variety of ways you can listen to this podcast, you can listen and subscribe here or iTunes or even listen by clicking the player below. Feedback, as ever, is appreciated.

Scotsman podcast 17032010tx

Lesley Riddoch as Avatar

Well, not quite. Following the successful event; " Is Scotland Nordic ?" at  Holyrood with about 100 participants, Feisty Productions put some of the digital material into a virtual world. The early indications are that there have been over 220 visitors within the first 24 hours.

This is very encouraging and there will be developments. Watch this space.

Welcome to my Virtual World

In the Scottish Parliament on 16 March 2010, Feisty Productions hosted an event "Is Scotland Nordic?'. Our partners and neighbours over at TPLD in Dundee suggested they create a Virtual World to reflect some of the images and all of the videos used at the real world event. If you would like to visit this vWorld...just click here.  It's a work in progress and some of it is beta code. No login or id is required but you may be asked to download a small piece of software that lets  you move about this world. It's just a glimpse into some of the technologies and partners we are working with. We would be interested to hear your comments.Enjoy.

Some background to the "Is Scotland Nordic ?" event - the video

When Lesley visited Norway last year, she made a short film about Norwegian youngsters and their education system which encourages playing outside amongst other things. Could this be a mode Scotland might want to adopt ? This video frames some elements of the likely discussion for tonight's event. A short excerpt will be shown from this video at the sold out event at Holyrood tonight.

The policy express is running a bit late to pick up steam now

Labour has evidently decided to freshen the jowly gravitas of Gordon Brown -- its unexpected best selling product line of 2010 – with a “new” set of policy clothes for the General Election.

There will be a new hyper fast modern railway, a referendum on PR at Westminster and (according to a weekend paper) abolition of the House of Lords and its replacement with a wholly elected "senate."