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PODCAST

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast

Lesley Riddoch and Fraser Thompson

Scottish politics dissected from a left, pro-independence stance. Each week, award-winning broadcaster and journalist, Lesley Riddoch chews over the week’s news with co-host Fraser Thompson. If you like intelligent, quirky chat about Scottish society and culture, and Scottish, UK and international politics analysed from a Scottish perspective; this podcast is for you.

news politics

All Episodes

70:59

The Last Waltz

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/06/17

As the hostilities go on between Israel and Iran we try and get beneath the "We support the right of Israel to defend itself" to why Israel decided to launch its attacks, why now , and the realities of nuclear proliferation in the region.Meanwhile a report by the Centre For Media Monitoring has forensically examined the BBC's coverage of Gaza. The results are damning in terms of revealing BBC bias.We take a look at the spending review not only the decisions made but especially what impact

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67:08

You Turn If You Want To

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/06/10

In this week's episode we discuss the U turn by the Westminster Government on the winter fuel allowance. Where is the money coming from and how is it going to be paid for? We ask what happend to the accusations levelled at the SNP when they rose to the challenge and reinstated the payment ahead of the Westminster Government. We look too at the impact on the SNP's policy, with Labour trying to make it look as if the Scottish payment will just be £100? It won't. We try to clear some of that

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39:38

Energy Special Podcast

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/05/27

In this podcast special we speak with two energy experts Rhys Stanwix and David Pearson. The cost of energy has dominated our own far-from-expert musings for the last few weeks. So we thought it might be an idea to pull in some expertise for a special about district heating, locational pricing, why we are stuck with such high prices, poor grid connections ,the march of the pylons across much of north eastern Scotland. Do we need the better connectivity or is this just horsing Scottish

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72:06

Deal Or No Deal

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/05/20

There's a distinct European flavour to this week's episode and we kick off with our reaction to the UK/EU deal struck on Monday.Has the Scottish fishing industry, once again, been a bargaining chip worth sacrificing to benefit other parts of the UK economy? Given that fishing and farming are devolved matters why wasn't the Scottish government either involved or at the very least consulted on the agreements reached in these areas? Despite the trumpeting of the deal will it always be a

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70:13

A Bag of Spanners

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/05/13

After the launch of Labour's new White Paper on immigration we ask, despite Starmer's protestations, if Farage and Reform are already dictating not just UK politics but UK government policy.We also delve into the detail of the changes outlined in the paper.The Labour leadership is also facing a backbench rebellion over its cuts to disability benefits and is also being urged by 69 MPs to recognise a Palestinian state. Will they listen to either of these calls?Lesley's latest column in The

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65:46

Elections and Selections

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/05/06

In this episode we give our initial reactions to the First Minister’s Statement: Programme for Government 2025-26.We also look back at the series of elections in England last week. What can we take from the Reform UK surge? Will Scotland be immune from Farageism at the 2026 Holyrood elections?And if Starmer didn't have enough on his plate with Reform to worry about up popped Ex PM Tony Blair with his thoughts on Net Zero and climate change.Lesley discusses this and asks if Sir Keir

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69:27

You're Being Had

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/04/29

Lesley appeared on Debate Night last week. We look back at this, the issues that were raised by the audience, and the replies of the panel.Here's the link to Lesley's justified rant over the energy rip off.https://www.facebook.com/reel/984639903833195Kneecap have clarified their position and apologised to the families of David Amess and Jo Cox after the accusations made over statements made during gigs. John Swinney has called for the group to be removed from the TRNSMT line-up, echoing

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69:17

Muzzled Passion

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/04/22

Lesley's latest article in the National asking if the SNP’s passion for independence has been so thoroughly and habitually muzzled of late that nothing will now let it off the leash has certainly set some hares coursing throughout both the SNP and the wider independence movement. We discuss.https://www.thenational.scot/politics/25096446.independence-front-centre-snps-campaign/The ripples of the Supreme Court judgement on the question of the definition of a woman continue to spread. Has the

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53:16

Take 2

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/04/15

Westminster was recalled last Saturday for and an emergency bill to save British Steel's Scunthorpe plant became law. It took around six and a half hours in total for Parliament to pass the legislation and the King to approve it. Sir Keir Starmer said "We are acting to protect the jobs of thousands of workers, and all options are on the table to secure the future of the industry".We ask where was this urgency and commitment over Grangemouth, and Port Talbot steel works.Lesley questions the

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60:39

One Game In Town

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/04/08

There's no escaping Donald Trump, unfortunately, in this week's episode as we begin by picking apart the tariffs he introduced last week.Has he condemned the US to recession? How did he come up with tariffs he placed on each country? Has he lost the support of the billionaires whose businesses are dependent on freedom of trade?Amidst this Trumpian economic doom and gloom Lesley highlights the work of We Don't Have Time. To listen to the views of its CEO Ingmar Rentzhog click this

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50:10

Our Friends In The North

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/04/01

Lesley's back on her old stomping ground in the north of Ireland showing her Denmark movie at the Imagine! Belfast Festival.She talks about the reaction to the film and the festival itself. This leads us into chat on the forgotten history of radical Presbyterianism, border polls, and the disputatious nature of the debates over both the Irish language and Ulster/Scots.We examine the ongoing controversy over the impact of Rachel Reeves Spring Statement on PIP claimants and ask if Trump's

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62:41

The World Has Changed

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/03/25

We speculate on what will be in Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement. Will the extra spending on building social/affordable housing be enough to stave off a revolt over social security cuts? Is she repeating the failures of a previous Labour government in thrall to iron clad ,self imposed fiscal rules? What impact has the Bank of England's monetary policy had on creating the "debt crisis"?Cowal Community Energy has had its bid to take over the lease for a large scale windfarm rejected by

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70:37

The Mutt's Nuts

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/03/18

Liz Kendall revealed Labour's much speculated welfare "reforms" in the House of Commons this lunchtime.We give our immediate reaction to the speech and try and pick our way through the dense details.The University of Dundee has announced over 600 job losses, with more to come, to address the £30 million financial blackhole it finds itself in.Where does the blame lie for this disastrous situation?Nicola Sturgeon is the most prominent SNP MSP to announce that they will not stand for Holyrood

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76:05

Tomorrow Is Another Day

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/03/11

In this bumper edition we begin with Labour's leaked plans to cut welfare spending by £6 billion. £5 billion to come from making it harder to claim Personal Independence Payments. Five Scottish Labour MPs have put their names to a letter supporting these "reforms" as " truly progressive". We look at the cuts, wonder if this could be the final nail in the coffin of Scottish Labour, and Lesley compares and contrasts the UK response to the Ukraine crisis with that of Germany.The USA's change

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67:27

Brave New World

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/03/04

As the Trump administration pauses military aid to Ukraine we look back at the events of the past week which led up to this.We begin with Starmer's "charm offensive" at the White House, his attempts to appease Trump, and his attempts to bridge the growing gap between the US and Europe.It all seemed to come crashing down with that appalling pool spray ambush of Zelenskyy by Trump and Vance, aided by a right wing "journalist" .We ask where this leaves Ukraine, the UK/US special relationship,

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22:16

Matthew Zajac-Podcast Extra

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/02/26

In this podcast extra we speak with actor and playwright Matthew Zajac about his stage adaptation of James Robertson's novel, "The Testament of Gideon Mack".We also venture into the trials and travails of running Dogstar, a European touring theatre company based around Inverness and how it's grown from its early Highland tours.To find out where you can see its production of "The Testament of Gideon Mack" click the link belowhttp://www.dogstartheatre.co.uk/★ Support this podcast ★

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62:17

Turning Points

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/02/25

This week's episode focuses mainly on the rapidly changing shape of international relations under the influence of the Trump administration.Keir Starmer made a major speech at Westminster signalling an increase in defence spending from 2.3 to 2.6% from 2027 onwards. This at the expense of aid and development. We analyse the speech and how he sought to secure not only support in the Commons but across the nation.Starmer flies out to meet Trump on Thursday in the wake of the USA siding with

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22:16

Matthew Zajac-Podcast Extra

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/02/24

In this podcast extra we speak with actor and playwright Matthew Zajac about his stage adaptation of James Robertson's novel, "The Testament of Gideon Mack".We also venture into the trials and travails of running Dogstar, a European touring theatre company based around Inverness and how it's grown from its early Highland tours.To find out where you can see its production of "The Testament of Gideon Mack" click the link belowhttp://www.dogstartheatre.co.uk/★ Support this podcast ★

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63:11

Culture and Wars

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/02/18

The new Trump administration has continued its assault on the norms of political activity by appeasing Putin and Russia over the war in Ukraine.Representatives of the USA and Russia are meeting in Saudi Arabia but there's no place for Zelensky. Meanwhile the USA has made a bid to "buy" Ukraine's rare earth minerals.What does this tell you about Trump's foreign policy? is there any more to it than an admiration for so called strong men and a desire to extend economic colonialism?Meanwhile

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64:54

Hot Water

The Lesley Riddoch Podcast ·

2025/02/11

I support Tory MSP Liz Smith is the bombshell from Lesley. Has Lesley lost it or has Liz finally come up with a proposal on outdoor education that all sensible Scots can rally behind? We discuss.Turning from the Tories it's been another helluva week for both UK and Scottish Labour.Is UK Labour running so scared after the latest polls that it's aping Reform in policies and media messaging?Meanwhile a gloves off doorstep interview with Anas Sarwar by STV's Colin Mackay over Sarwar's

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