Saturday the sixth of May saw two major occasions, the coronation of King Charles III in London and the All Under One Banner march in support of Scottish independence in Glasgow.
We compare and contrast the two events and examine their significance not only at UK level but for the Yes Movement and the SNP.
The coronation also provided the first opportunity for the Met to exercise the muscle given to them in the rushed through Public Order Act. We discuss not only this but the revelation that if they came to power Labour would not seek to repeal the act.
Talking of Labour, they, the Lib/Dems, and the Greens, had good results in last week's English local elections. However, not good enough to guarantee a majority Labour government if repeated at a General Election. The prospect of a hung Parliament prompted the SNP's Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, to call on Labour voters to lend the SNP their votes to keep out the Tories in Scotland, and to lay out his demands to secure SNP support to prop up a minority Labour administration. We examine the feasibility of this strategy.
We also look at the impact of the new voter ID requirements, the growing Conservative influence in public appointments and controversial proposals for "politicisation" of the Civil Service.
Lesley's new book, Thrive, is now at the printers. If you want to go along to hear her talk about it here are the links to upcoming events
Glasgow Aye Write with Neil Findlay May 26
https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/lesley-riddoch-and-neil-findlay-the-futures-of-scotland
Edinburgh June 22
https://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/edinburgh/lesley-riddoch-2023/
Other June events in Perth, Dundee, Inverness, Fort William and Maybole - details to follow.