The Lesley Riddoch Podcast

Lesley Riddoch and Pat Joyce
  • 4.9 (10)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The Lesley Riddoch Podcast

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 former media lecturer and Dundee United fan, Pat Joyce. 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.

  1. 7 HR. AGO

    Brave New World

    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, and Scotland.As Trump cuts aid to Ukraine it continues to pour into Israel as it looks as if Netanyahu may be engineering a return to the IDF's assault on Gaza while stopping all humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. John Swinney has called a summit to counter the rise of  Reform and has invited political parties, trade unions, civic and  faith leaders to attend. Lesley questions whether warm words are enough and that action on progressive economic policies are what is really required to combat the right.Labour's New Deal for Working People has suffered yet another watering down in its progress through Parliament. Is Labour totally in thrall to business interests in its drive for growth?It's the 30th anniversary of the groundbreaking publication of The Scotswoman edition of the Scotsman. Lesley looks back and how it why it happened .If you want to watch the videos she's made about this and other topics nip over to her YouTube channel where you can like and subscribe.https://www.youtube.com/@Lesley_Riddoch ★ Support this podcast ★

    1h 7m

  2. 6 DAYS AGO

    Matthew Zajac-Podcast Extra

    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 ★

    22 min

  3. FEB 25

    Turning Points

    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 Russia at the United Nations over the war in Ukraine. How will he handle this? What does the UK's abstention in the UN Security Council vote tell us about this?  In Germany the CDU/CSU became the largest party after the recent elections. However the far right AfD surged into second place. Will Merz, the leader of the CDU be able to form a coalition with the Social Democrats? Do his outspoken statements on Trump, NATO and Russia mean a complete change in pan European defence and security policy? Anas Sarwar claimed that the £200 million pound "investment" by the National Wealth Fund had secured the future of Grangemouth and showed the benefit of a Labour government. We subject both those statements to scrutiny.Along the way we look at the threat of AI legislation to the creative industries, Michael Shanks on Eigg, and biscuits. ★ Support this podcast ★

    1h 2m

  4. FEB 24

    Matthew Zajac-Podcast Extra

    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 ★

    22 min

  5. FEB 18

    Culture and Wars

    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 Vice President JD Vance in a speech in Munich lambasted the European liberal democracies claiming that they were in retreat from their most fundamental values, and that this ,not China or Russia, was the true threat to Europe.This was echoed by Kemi Badenoch, hard on the heels of the mutually shameful exchange on Palestinian refugees at PMQs with Starmer, in a another speech given at the ARC -Alliance for Responsible Citizenship- conference in London. She clearly played the anti-immigration culture wars card. Not to be left out UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting was quick to concur with Richard Madeley on Good Morning Britain that immigration  was a key factor in pressures on the NHS. Are we seeing the ground that the next UK General Election being fought on laid out in front of us as both Labour and the Tories seek to see off Reform?Streeting has mad no secret of his intention to expand private involvement in the English health system this while privatised Thames water staggers from crisis to financial crisis.Brewdog's James Watt has announced his intention to start up a "Shadow UK DOGE" mimicking Musk's cost cutting regime in the USA. How practical are Watt's ideas? Has he completely misread the reality behind the rhetoric in the States?We also discuss David Tennant's BAFTA kilted singing exploits plus the other usual other meanderings.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUr8QyTCph8The Brewdog forest and Parkswatch https://parkswatchscotland.co.uk/2024/02/14/brewdogs-lost-forest-at-kinrara-lost-trees-lost-carbon-and-lost-finances/ ★ Support this podcast ★

    1h 3m

  6. FEB 11

    Hot Water

    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 pre-election pledges on Grangemouth, has made it a difficult week for the Scottish Labour leader. There also appears to have been a rethink by the party hierarchy over its 2026 election strategy with a pledge( yup more of these) to "protect" the achievements of "devolution" such as free prescriptions, the baby box, free tuition. As UK Labour apes Reform is Scottish Labour doing the same with the SNP ? Sarwar, at the end of the Mackay car crash piece, reiterated Labour support for the expansion of nuclear energy in Scotland to tackle climate change, provide jobs and ( wait for this one) reduce bills. Lesley has a few thoughts on this.The latest headlines suggest that the Scottish Government is, finally, set on creating a "fairer","better" system of local taxation. Do its actions match the headline? There's all the usual stuff plus more on Sustainable Aviation Fuel, a movie review and wisdom teeth extractions. ★ Support this podcast ★

    1h 5m

  7. FEB 4

    Seizing The Moment

    Rachel Reeves' big speech on growth. We ask where was Scotland in the raft of major projects? Hard on the heels of this came the shock, not to anyone who'd been paying attention, news that the CEO of GB Energy, Juergen Maier, could not only give no date for the £300 reduction in consumer bills promised by Labour at the General Election but also that the one thousand Scottish jobs would take around 20 years to materialise. Sticking with Labour is there another U-turn on policy in the pipeline despite the Court of Session ruling by Lord Ericht putting a stop on oil and gas production in the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields? Will Starmer side with Rachel Reeves, the GMB and Scottish Labour, and give the go ahead to drill? Or will Ed Milliband stand up to those voices and refuse to issue new licences?We, in the light of listener Simon Brooke's excellent contribution, re-examine the validity of the claims made by the  industry on so called sustainable aviation fuel?Donald Trump has called time out on his plans to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico. What's the reality behind the bluster? What's in store for the UK and the EU?Lesley looks at the historical precedence for US expansionism and just why Trump might be so keen on taking over Greenland.Suella Braverman trotted off to the USA to display her MAGA credentials at Trump's inauguration. She hung around to go "full Trump" in her speech to the Heritage Foundation . Is she signalling a potential jump to Reform, or is this an ongoing  part of a campaign to oust Kemi Badenoch as Tory leader by shifting even further to the right? All of this within the context of Reform's rise in the polls.PlusLast in Iceland series that explains why Icelanders pay £60 pcm for heat, hot water & electricity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXBEDk_o_hI&t=610s Why does Trump want Greenland explainer video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYfSlQaIEXk Brave New Music book about Martyn Bennett https://luath.co.uk/products/brave-new-music?variant=54829697007992 ★ Support this podcast ★

    58 min

  8. JAN 28

    Relocation,Relocation, Relocation.

    SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn MP will introduce a 10 Minute Rule Bill on WASPI women compensation on which the SNP say they will force a vote. Even if it makes it past this stage it has limited, if no chance, of being implemented as Private Members Bills normally require government support to pass. What then does Stephen Flynn hope to achieve?Just as there seems to be dissent in Labour ranks both at Holyrood and Westminster over this issue Labour MP Brian Leishman has been extremely vocal over the future of Grangemouth. Is there more to his opposition than standing up for his constituents? Where do the Unions stand ? Why has a Labour government decided to continue with the Tory £600 billion loan to Ineos to set up a plant in Antwerp? What's the controversy surrounding that plant?Just like its U-Turn on WASPI women Labour now seems intent on reversing its position on a third runway at Heathrow. What does this, when allied to Rachel Reeves making concessions after listening to the "non dom community" tell us about the direction of travel of this government? Meanwhile the Trump "revolution" is in full swing in the USA. Deportations, threats of trade wars against nations who stand up to him, plans to take over Greenland, and a raft of distinctly dodgy health decisions.  He has also shown his true colours on Gaza with his "  we just clean out that whole thing" , and relocate one and half million Palestinians to neighbouring Arab nations. We discuss.Lesley has updated her YouTube channel with two short films on Iceland and (soon) a Greenland (explainer) - if you can like and subscribe to this channel, I'd be very grateful and you will get notified about new videos as soon as they are posted. https://www.youtube.com/@Lesley_Riddoch  If you want to see/listen to the podcast on YouTube follow this link. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWnxyoRlJxfMqJInR8kGf5iuVGThuEpL2Again like and subscribe thanks. ★ Support this podcast ★

    1h 3m
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4.9
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

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 former media lecturer and Dundee United fan, Pat Joyce. 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.

Information

  • Creator
    Lesley Riddoch and Pat Joyce
  • Years Active
    2007 - 2025
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ℗ © 2021 A Feisty Production
  • Show Website
    The Lesley Riddoch Podcast

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