Lesley Riddoch

UKIP and the SNP, Alasdair Gray on Culture, Harry Burns on Poverty and Arctic Convoy Heroes

UKIP’s recent election results stirred things up down in England. Lesley was keen to point out the differences between UKIP and the SNP after parallels had been drawn in her Scotsman column.

After an event “Who Runs Culture in Scotland?” in the Tron with a packed panel, including Alasdair Gray, the answer is a bit clearer.

The ‘Poverty in South Lanarkshire’ conference and some biological explanations from the Chief Medical Officer prompt some out loud thinking.

The long overdue recognition of the Arctic Convoy  heroes  is something we also touch upon respectfully  in this week’s @lesleyriddoch podcast.

This week's Podcast on Wheels, Communities and Obama

There’s a lot on the menu this week. A recent YouGov Poll suggests the Scottish public is unconvinced by Alex Salmond’s arguments for independence – are the wheels coming off ? Is it just the effect of lots of negative or indifferent campaigning? Is it to be expected , and part of a master plan?

Lesley was at the ‘Future is Local’ event at the Scottish Parliament and comes back with a few insights ,  including  Angus Macmillan of Storas Uibhist, MSPs in the chamber and the role of AV.

And finally, Barack Obama was a top performer at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner  (check out the YouTube footage ) . Leadership and comedy – is this possible ?

Mostly Belfast

This week’s @lesleyriddoch podcast was recorded after Lesley’s return from a stay in Belfast and today's Scotsman column. It’s been a couple of weeks since the last pod and there was a lot to catch up with. Margaret Thatcher’s funeral, the Boston Marathon bombing and the perspectives from Belfast all feature in a lively digest.

April Fool, Eggs, Paolo and Bedroom Blockers

This week’s podcast was recorded after noon on Monday 1^st April, the day after Easter. Naturally enough, the papers were full of funny fictional stories. One caught Chris’ eye and Lesley wonders aloud about eggs and Easter before commenting about the reaction of Sunderland fans to their new manager. Finally, Lesley gets stuck into the latest set of revelations around the Bedroom Tax and takes the debate a little bit further on and asks “What is the vision for welfare?” in the independence debate.

Finally, unlike Amazon deliveries , you don't have to be in to sign for this podcast. You can subscribe to the Lesley Riddoch podcast directly, at no cost, at iTunes via this link or search for the podcast under ‘Feisty Productions’ on the iTunes Store.

Shovel Ready Early Years, Wind Turbines and We Are Northern Lights

This week’s @lesleyriddoch podcast tries to cover a lot of ground. Lesley watched the First Minister’s speech at the SNP Conference and was fairly unconvinced about the new emphasis on ‘child care’. There seems to be a lot of muddled thinking going on around this topic. And the same could be said about the UK’s policy on renewable energy, if Ed Davey is anything to go by. Lesley reports back from the Scottish Renewables Conference with her thoughts.

Finally, ranked “most Scottish film I've ever seen” , Lesley is a big fan of “We Are Northern Lights” and there are no ‘spoiler alerts’ in this section of the podcast – just a clear endorsement.

COSLA, Bedroom Tax, the Clash of Titans and Comrie Conversations

Lesley chaired sessions at the 2013 COSLA  Conference in St Andrews. She reports back from a conference where the architect of the ‘Bedroom Tax’, Lord Freud delivered a presentation. It was a tense session as Lesley recounts.  Lesley later chaired a session where Nicola Sturgeon ‘debated’ with Alistair Darling.  She also outlines some of the protocols which surrounded this ‘first’ clash of the ‘Leaders’ of ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. Shades of ‘Kennedy and Nixon’.  However, Lesley does gives a broader perspective to a number of the ‘community’ related initiatives that Local Authorities are facing up to.

Finally, Lesley and Andy Wightman were invited to take part in a ‘Comrie Conversation’; a community which came together to talk about ‘independence’ at the grassroots. You’ll be surprised at the links in topics between COSLA and Comrie.

Finally, in response to questions, you can subscribe to the Lesley Riddoch podcast directly, at no cost, at iTunes via this link or search for the podcast under ‘Feisty Productions’ on the iTunes Store. ( We would like some ratings too – hint hint. )

You can also download the podcast here and the player below will deliver the audio to your device.

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Behaviour, Questions and the Commonwealth

In this week's podcast,  Cardinal O'Brien's resignation, the trouble within the Lib Dems, the Vicky Pryce jury, the result of the Glasgow University 'referendum, the loss of the AAA status, the calls for 'more Europe' by the German President -   need we say more ? Of course, it is a podcast....

Gender, Poundland, Iceland

Between the constitutional debates being largely male,  graduates being ‘too posh to stack’ and councils being cheap; this week’s Lesley Riddoch podcast is on the look out for heroes. The villains seem easier to find.

During the course of the podcast, we think we may have found some top people. Step forward, Cait Reilly, Stephen Jardine and Mike Small. Cait for her spirited legal action. Stephen for his always insightful journalism about food  plus calling for a 'National Food Manifesto' and Mike for the Fife Diet.

 

EV, Devo and Falkland art

In this week’s @lesleyriddoch podcast, it ‘s all about things working or not. Electric cars are a case in point. The Scottish Government have  announced plans to encourage the take up of EV ( Electric Vehicles ) and these plans have raised a number of questions. You’d think Lesley would be in the target market; so what does she think? The Pope is packing it in and gets a mention.

In the politics section, there have been some revelations about what happens after the referendum. The words ‘Game Over’ have been used. We try and understand what that could possibly mean.

Finally, after an entertaining and enlightening time with the Falkland Centre for Stewardship, Lesley talks about the community ethos. WARNING: does contain favourable mention of Creative Scotland.

 

More Borgen, Bedroom Tax and Resignations

This week’s @lesleyriddoch podcast is the one where we mention Borgen for the last time, for a while or at least until series 3 starts.  We all went along to see Sidse Babett Knudsen at the Filmhouse on Sunday  after the Monday Scotsman column had been filed.  It was a fascinating Q&A session. But what does it mean?

Equally, after an interesting TV discussion about ‘Bedroom Tax’;  we ponder what the Scottish Government could do ; especially in the light of Mike Dailly’s petition. Just when you might think this is new ‘news’;  Lesley recalls a ‘Comment Is Free’ piece ; “How will social housing survive Tory cuts?”  from June 2010.

Finally, notwithstanding twists, turns and texts,  there’s been a resignation. Really. It’s all go this week.