The Lesley Riddoch Podcast

A Beret of Berries

Some big pennies are dropping this week. The biggest, probably, is the US disengagement from Ukraine. It's not just Ukrainians that are being given the heave-ho, it seems to be Europe as a whole. We also  look at the big statement about energy for an independent Scotland and the promise of a third off bills. Is that realistic? of course, it actually is, but quite how would you get there? And does John Swinney have to spell it out? We analyise the nuclear consensus amongst Labour, Tory, and the Westminster parties. Why on earth are they so keen to have new nuclear plants in Scotland? We talk about Lord Malcolm Offord and his defection to Reform to stand for the Scottish Parliament. And we look at the Sandy Peggie verdict. Does anybody really see clearly what it means? The A'Chraobh Forest Project Producing a professional film from the footage will cost £600-£1000. The Spiral Forrest at Borgie in Sutherland is an attempt by descendants of the people cleared by the Duke of Sutherland from Strathnaver to have their say about the landscape. It’s composed of the 18 trees native to Scotland which are also part of the unique Gàidhlig alphabet. Lesley planted the first tree in 2000 along with hundreds of school kids from North Sutherland and returned this weekend with organisers, some of those children now adults and their own children, to commemorate 25 years of a very different kind of woodland. She captured footage while she was there and is looking to raise some money to pay an editor. If any Sutherland folk or people who feel strongly about native Woodland or indeed the clearances, want to contribute, please contact her at hello@lesleyriddoch.com [hello@lesleyriddoch.com] Links Norway the Twin Nation https://youtu.be/oUbMAFO6kA4 [https://youtu.be/oUbMAFO6kA4] Makar Homes https://www.makar.co.uk/ [https://www.makar.co.uk/] ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://lesleyriddoch.com/podcast/subscribe]

Budget Pressures

This week, we learnt that there was no black hole in the UK finances all along. We discuss Rachel Reeves and her doom and gloom pre-budget speech, the controversies that have followed and the stoochie caused by the Office for Budget Responsibility having already told the chancellor that she had some money in the kitty after all. The resignation of the head bummer of the OBR and calls for the resignation of the Chancellor. We discuss all things Saint Andrew’s Day, planning nightmares in the Highlands over wind farm expansion. That and Barclays Hamden Stadium, whether anybody will ever call it that, and does it matter? Links Find out more about the Birthplace of the Saltire and the new Saltire Monument https://saltire.scot/ [https://saltire.scot/] ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://lesleyriddoch.com/podcast/subscribe]

Goal For Scotland

Well, there's the football and the football and the reaction to the football and the football, and the goals and the radio commentary and the hope and the exhilaration and the football. So we talk about that even though Fraser's nae all that keen. We talk also about the lessons you might learn from Denmark, which is being heralded by Labour as their template for their new crackdown on refugees and asylum seekers. We look at the recent Copenhagen mayoral election where the Social Democrats have lost the control that they have held for 100 years, mostly over the pact with the far right. So beware what you wish for Labour. We talk also about the new Good Morning Scotland that isn't called that anymore. Is it all that different, and what could it be doing more? We look at the COVID inquiry verdicts and the tragedy of the UK  establishment telling the Scottish Government that their big mistake was not deviating completely from what the British government was doing. All this and more.. Links Celebrate Saint Andrew's Day at the birthplace of Scotland's Flag Pipes and Drums from 1.30pm, Flag Ceremony 2pm followed by a service in Athelstaneford Parish Church. (small hand flags only, plesase, no personal flags, saltires or banners) https://www.facebook.com/events/800678686169345 [https://www.facebook.com/events/800678686169345] Pennie Taylor - scroll to 1:27:49  https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mp06 [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93d10k987xo] Richard Murphy and budget - https://www.thenational.scot/politics/25643726.scotland-needs-budget-wont-get/ [https://www.thenational.scot/politics/25643726.scotland-needs-budget-wont-get/] Guardian and Danish left resurgent - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/22/danish-model-centre-left-parties-labour-doesnt-work [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/22/danish-model-centre-left-parties-labour-doesnt-work] Down Cemetery Road 5 stars from Graudian https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/oct/29/down-cemetery-road-review-emma-thompson-thriller-apple-tv [https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/oct/29/down-cemetery-road-review-emma-thompson-thriller-apple-tv] ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://lesleyriddoch.com/podcast/subscribe]

Worst Week of the Week Award

Suddenly, Denmark is in the news and not necessarily in a good way. We discuss the UK Government's plans for changes to immigration and asylum in the UK. We also look back to what's been described as the circular firing squad of Labor's inept briefing against Wes Streeting and the kind of will she won't she hokey cokey budget where the tax rises that were supposed to be inevitable have suddenly been offlaid by discovering some money down the back of the sofa. We take a look at the latest news on WASPI Women, The Alba Party's policy announcements on Onshore Wind, and muse over what is going on with Your Party as it continues to move forward despite repeated setbacks. Links Celebrate Saint Andrew's Day at the birthplace of Scotland's Flag Pipes and Drums from 1.30pm, Flag Ceremony 2pm followed by a service in Athelstaneford Parish Church. (small hand flags only, plesase, no personal flags, saltires or banners) https://www.facebook.com/events/800678686169345 [https://www.facebook.com/events/800678686169345] Danish Immigration System by BBC's Iain Watson https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002m315 [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002m315] Interesting land reform piece which Lesley contributed background for; https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/green-lairds-lego-millions-and-the-battle-to-buy-back-scotlands-land [https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/green-lairds-lego-millions-and-the-battle-to-buy-back-scotlands-land] ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://lesleyriddoch.com/podcast/subscribe]

Salvo - Podcast Extra

In this podcast extra Lesley speaks to writer, human rights campaigner and former diplomate Craig Murray and to Sara Salayers of Salvo about their work in the UN in both Geneva and New York taking forward the case for Liberation Scotland find out more at https://liberation.scot/ [https://liberation.scot/] ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://lesleyriddoch.com/podcast/subscribe]