Lesley Riddoch

This week's podcast is tempting fate...it's about Libya

This week, we are recording late Sunday afternoon and the Middle East seems to be quiet-ish. But events are never far away from our thoughts...as indeed are second homes, Lord Jack, Norway, Facebook and the World Service...but you will need to listen to it all to get the connections !

This week's Podcast

It's all about patterns of land usage, Bonnie Rideout and football scandals. Strong opinions are expressed.

Another year ...another podcast

It's a new year and we are going to try out a new podcast. It's 'the Lesley Riddoch Podcast'. We are gong to try for a weekly view of the news viewed from a Scottish perspective. We are starting gradually and will be introducing new voices, venues and views over the coming weeks. Have a listen and see what you think. This first podcast is concerned with the floods, food ( and fish ) and the remarkable Obama speech.

How will social housing survive Tory cuts?

The social housing sector grimly pondered its future last week in the elegant, flower-bedecked surroundings of Harrogate at the annual three-day Chartered Institute of Housing conference. Next year, many observed, the council-run flower beds would doubtless be empty. So too many posts in housing – but which jobs will go and how and when?

To read the rest of this 'Comment is free' article - click here.

The industrial origins of Scottish excess

I'm a normal Scot. According to a Glasgow University health study I am one of the 97.5% of Scots whose behaviour damages my health. OK – it could be a lot worse. As a teetotal non-smoker and regular cyclist with a reasonable diet, my only crime against myself is carrying a few too many pounds.

To read the rest of this 'Comment is free' article - click here.

'No cuts', no Scottish independence

Simon Jenkins thinks the SNP and Plaid Cymru should have been included in the leaders' debates partly for reasons of fairness and partly to expose their irresponsible, buck-passing tendencies.

He's right about the way network exposure has forced participating leaders to "grow up" and "get real", but wide of the mark with the suggestion that nationalist parties or Celtic devolved governments are more innately irresponsible than their London-based rivals.

To read the rest of the article - click here.

Scottish leaders' debate adds to Lib Dem bounce

The first Scottish leader’s debate last night showed exactly why Alex Salmond wanted to stand beside Brown, Cameron and Clegg instead. It was fairly boring, badly-managed, low-key, ideas-free, slouching-on chairs not standing-to-attention – in short business as usual.

Perhaps if the SNP leader had taken part, sparks would have flown. But since devolution the sparkiest speakers are Holyrood leaders – not the men (uniformly) sent down to Westminster. Thus Angus Robertson for the SNP joined the Lib Dems equally competent but quite unknown Alasdair Carmichael, Labour’s Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy and the man with the loneliest job in politics – the Tories sole Scottish MP, David Mundell.

To read this rest of this 'Comment is Free' article - click here.

Where is Scotland's General Election ?

Can Scotland be treated as if we were in this election as well, please?

Of course we realise the SNP has offended the powers that be by presenting British democracy with an awkward problem – a party elected to govern Scotland isn't standing in England so can't join the leaders cohort for UK televised election debates.

To read more - click here.

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.

A date for your diary