The Lesley Riddoch Podcast

As Sir Keir Starmer, no matter what the apologists claim, follows in the line of Blair and Brown by praising Margaret Thatcher we look at the damage wreaked by the Iron Lady's policies of privatisation and her toxic legacy and wonder why Starmer thought it was essential to pay homage to the Blessed Margaret...

Some weeks there are so many issues to get through but we try our best in this episode.
The Covid Inquiry continues to throw a hard light on the incompetence and down right corruption of the UK government during the pandemic.
We look at the latest revelations and testimonies from amongst others Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham.
We also question the almost universal ignoring of the inquiry by the Scottish media...

Hope is high that there will be a truce between Hamas and Israel meaning that there will be a release of hostages and a suspension of fighting in Gaza.
Today saw Humza Yousaf present a motion to the Scottish Parliament calling for a ceasefire. We give our immediate reaction to the speeches.
The Westminster vote last Wednesday on the SNP King's Speech amendment saw a rebellion by 56 Labour MPs who disobeyed the instruction to abstain...

As yet another Tory Cabinet reshuffle took place we ask if Sunak is making the last throw of the electoral dice by ditching Braverman and bringing back Cameron?
Was he trying to entice back "the blue wall" while assuaging the red meat right with the recall of Esther McVey?
Massive pro peace demonstrations took place across the UK last weekend...

It was all pomp and circumstance at the State Opening of Parliament.
We give our first impressions of King Charles' speech and consider the underlying significance of the cosplay...

All the political parties are having issues this week.
The Tories lost two by-elections with massive swings to Labour.
Labour cock a hoop but look to be in trouble with Sadiq Khan, Andy Burnham and Anas Sarwar all calling for an immediate ceasefire. Starmer's LBC interview where he did not, despite later "clarifications", condemn Israel's cutting off water, food, and electricity to Gaza leading to resignations by councilors right across the UK...

Humza Yousaf's closing speech to the SNP annual conference in Aberdeen is the focus of this week's episode.
He began as do we with his response to the developing humanitarian disaster in Gaza and the atrocities carried out by Hamas.
We compare and contrast his measured and humane approach to that of Sir Keir Starmer before going on to give our initial impressions of the speech itself and the measures he announced within it...

In this podcast special we feature the two contenders for SNP President .The current incumbent Mike Russell and challenger Graeme McCormick.

We begin with our thoughts on the horrific events unfolding in Gaza and Israel...

A bumper episode featuring Rishi Sunak, the Rosebank oilfield, the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, and Robin McAlpine.
The numerate among you will note that's four not three Rs but why ruin a good podcast title over arithmetic?
Rishi Sunak seems assailed on all sides at the Conservative Conference in Manchester. Farage hob-nobbing with Priti Patel, Liz Truss re-emerging with her 60 "Growthers", and northern Tory mayors not at all happy with the rumoured cancellation of HS2...