From Alex Cole-Hamilton to Nigel Farage it's certainly been a week for public figures making bold statements.
We look at them all starting with Cole Hamilton's "ancient nations that can never and should never exist again" then move on to examine whether there was more to Jacob Rees-Mogg's admission over Tory gerrymandering over voter ID than at first glance when taken in the context of Nat Con and the split in the party over immigration.
The retiring Children's Commisioner for Scotland,Bruce Adamson,has come under fire for his damning remarks that the Scottish Government had"absolutely failedto deliver for young people". Despite Scotland having the lowest rates of child poverty in the UK did he have a point when it comes to the failure to progress the UN Convention on Rights for the Child after it was blocked by the UK Government?
One of the former directors of Yes Scotland Ian Dommett, in a damning interview with Neil Mackay in The Herald claimed the SNP was the biggest contributor to its failure in 2014. Lesley gives her perspective as a major non SNP figure in that campaign.
Lesley's two most recent articles in The Herald and The National throw into sharp relief the re-industrialisation and green " just transition" policies being pursued in Gothenburg and Aberdeen. The comparison is stark and disturbing.
Lesley's new book "Thrive" is published this Friday
If you want to see her in conversation about it or get a signed copy here are the links
 Signed copy from Lesley
https://lesleyriddoch.com/books/thrive
Make sure to tick box asking if you want a dedication even if it's no. Otherwise you can't proceed.

Also gigs;
Aye Write Glasgow – May 26th 19.45 https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/lesley-riddoch-and-neil-findlay-the-futures-of-scotland

Dundee – June 6th
Robert Falcon Scott Suite,
Discovery Point 7-9pm with wine
Tickets £9 from Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/come-and-hear-lesley-riddoch-tickets-630968863857
Organiser Jane Phillips

Fort William – June 9th Kilmallie Community centre 7PM
Admission free
Organiser Bill Lees

Inverness – June 10th 13.30 Spectrum Centre
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lesley-riddoch-talk-and-new-book-tickets-629846125717?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete
Organiser Kay Frew

Perth - June 15th AK Bell Library 7pm
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lesley-riddoch-thrive-the-freedom-to-flourish-tickets-635942299537
Organiser Jacqui Jensen

Edinburgh –Thu 22 June 7.30 Toppings.
https://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/edinburgh/lesley-riddoch-2023/
with Tommy Sheppard

Maybole – Sunday 25th June YES Carrick Public Meeting at 14.00. in the Carrick Centre, Maybole by railway station.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/yes-carrick-with-lesley-riddoch-tickets-636512394707
Organiser Alec Oattes