In this episode, we analyse the recent escalation in the Middle East following the attacks on Iran and discuss the potential for regional conflict and the broader impact on global stability. We consider the broader US and Israeli strategies, the prospects for peace, and how these developments affect Europe, Scotland and NATO.

Closer to home, we discuss the ongoing fallout over the Lord Advocate briefing John Swinney on the indictment of Peter Murrell and the conflict inherent in the dual role the Lord Advocate holds and the difficulty in parliamentary scrutiny.

We look at the joint report from Scotonomics and the Scottish Currency Group - Scottish Government Bonds and Investing in Ourselves, highlighting the failure of the Scottish Government to consider independence when planning their bond issue and how the current framework for bonds continues the extractive nature of Scotland’s economy with an over-reliance on foreign direct investment. 

Also in this episode, Labour’s one-day conference, Community energy news, data centres, and UK Labour’s problems following the Green win in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Links
Support the podcast
https://lesleyriddoch.com/podcast/subscribe

Scottish Government Bonds and Investing in Ourselves
https://scotonomics.org/scottish-government-bonds-and-investing-in-ourselves/

Community energy - heat from Polmaise pit at Fallin
https://www.thenational.scot/news/25606042.scottish-village-hopes-use-abandoned-mine-thermal-energy

Film Screenings
https://lesleyriddoch.com/events