The Lesley Riddoch Podcast

In the latest and biggest U-turn in a series of policy reversals Sir Keir Starmer ditched the £28 billion spending target central to Labour's Green Prosperity Plan.
Why and why now?
To add to his woes as further revelations appeared on, Azhar Ali, Labour's candidate in the Rochdale by-election, there was a volte face and Ali was deselected. He remains on the ballot as the decision was made too late to remove him.
We again ask...

Saturday the third of February 2024 was an historic moment as Michelle O'Neil became the first republican to hold the position of First Minister in the 103 year history of Northern Ireland. Both she and the DUP's Deputy First Minister Emma Little- Pengelly have a family background in the paramilitaries and yet both made impressive speeches emphasizing cooperation and conciliation. We look at this and the promises and potential pitfalls on the return of Stormont...

This is the bumper episode to end all bumper episodes.
We reflect on the DUP behind the scenes maneuvers that looks like leading to a return of devolved government in Northern Ireland. What are the details of the deal done between the DUP and the UK government and what political impact will it have both domestically and in the UK?
The drone attack on Tower 22 and the death of three US serviceman has added yet another layer of complexity to the expanding crisis in the Middle East...

In this week's episode
The much trumpeted and poured over Tory rebellion in the Commons over the Rwanda Bill fizzled out but it looks like it will face defeat in the Lords. We cheer the humanitarian victory but what does it say about the state of British politics when we rely on the unelected chamber?
As DeSantis drops out of the race to be the GOP presidential candidate the circus moves on to New Hampshire and its primaries...

I don't know about you folks, but it doesn't seem like two minutes since the last US Presidential elections.  Yet here we are January 2024, and the results of the Iowa Republican caucus are in and it's a resounding victory for Donald Trump. We try and make sense of this most arcane aspect of American political life and what the figures tell us about the potential of another Trump presidency...

It's the first episode after our Christmas break and there's certainly a lot to talk about. When wasn't there?  I hear you ask.
The political parties are definitely shifting into election mode. Big speeches from Sir Keir Starmer, Humza Yousaf, and Anas Sarwar.
Meanwhile Rishi Sunak, and his communications "experts" decided that a mash-up video of Home Alone and Love Actually was just the job to promote Sunak as the man to be Prime Minister...

Richard Wyn Jones is Director of Cardiff University's Wales Governance and Dean of Public Affairs is our guest on this podcast special.
 His current work focuses on contemporary Welsh politics, devolved politics in the UK and nationalism. He is also considered to be one of the founders of Critical Security Studies.

Richard is a regular and widely respected broadcaster, commentating on Welsh politics in both Welsh and English for the BBC in Wales and across the UK...

Inspired by the works of Tom Nairn, who died in January this year, the Break Up Of Britain Conference was held in the Assembly Rooms Edinburgh on November the 18th.
The conference focused on the future of the United Kingdom, its nations, and the European Union.
This podcast special features the opening panel session chaired by Adam Ramsay openDemocracy's special correspondent...

In the last podcast of 2023, we give our initial reaction to the Scottish Budget. How will the much trumpeted 1.5 billion pound "blackhole" be filled?
Baroness Michele Mone and her husband Douglas Barrowman appeared on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Baroness Mone conceded she will benefit from the profits made by PPE Medpro, which is led by her husband. She also admitted she repeatedly lied about her non-involvement with the company...

It's not been a great week for Rishi Sunak.
First off was his appearance at the Covid Inquiry following hard on the heels of that of Boris Johnson. We look at the testimony of this pair and what it says about the state of the UK.
As we record, Sunak is scuttling around trying to ensure he can scrape together enough votes to stave off defeat on the Second Reading of his Rwanda Bill...