The Lesley Riddoch Podcast

News is coming at us thick and fast this week! Lesley and Fraser take a deep dive into the big breaking story: a draft plan circulating to EU members proposing the UK aligns with EU food and vetenary rules. They unpack what removing this post-Brexit red tape means for Scottish food producers, island shellfish exporters, and seed potato growers who have suffered years of mountain-high paperwork, and lost European markets. They also examine whispers from Brussels reported by Politico suggesting the EU might offer flexibility on the Euro and Schengen opt-outs if the UK ever seeks to rejoin.

The duo then turns to broadcasting and culture, examining recent criticisms of BBC Radio Scotland's style. Lesley reflects on the historical snobbery faced by working-class Glaswegian accents on the airwaves and explores how much of Scots grammar and phrasing is rooted directly in Gaelic.

Across the Atlantic, as Americans head to the polls for the midterms, the hosts look at the massive influence of money—including election campaign pacts backed by Elon Musk’s spending record-breaking $446 million —and the widespread anxiety over whether Donald Trump will accept the election results if his party loses.

Also discussed:

• Slavery Reparations & Commonwealth Diplomacy: Prime Minister Andy Burnham plays cricket in Antigua while King Charles gets caught in a tropical downpour ("a drucket King") without an umbrella amidst intense discussions around historic accountability and debt restructuring.
• Immigration Policy Updates: Shabana Mahmood's long-term settlement rules and the rollbacks for care workers.
• Scottish Politics & The Union: Listener emails on CalMac board representation, the 60th anniversary of Aberfan, and an academic's proposal for a "third" confirmatory independence referendum.
• Culture Corner: Lesley shares her visit to the new David Bowie exhibition at V&A Dundee, complete with handwritten lyrics on graph paper and memories of Bowie scaling the Caird Hall!

Links

• The Third Referendum Argument
• Trump's Revenge on Europe if He Loses
• UK Won't Have to Join Euro (Politico)

Scotland's first Festival of Human Rights is running this year from 9th to 13th December with over 60 events across Scotland, all of which seek to celebrate our rights, plus explore where they are being challenged, and need defended. 

The event is being led by the Scottish Human Right Consortium, details here: https://www.hrcscotland.org/scotlands-human-rights-festival/ 

It’s budget eve, the new microphone has arrived, and Lesley and Fraser are back to dissect another week of political and global news. From the impending UK budget and minor tariff reductions (would you like gherkins with that?) to the devastating realities on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank, the pair chew over the big stories. Plus, we look ahead to a fascinating upcoming conference in Glasgow celebrating the centenary of Hugh MacDiarmid’s legendary poem, A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Budget & Tiddly Fixes: As the Chancellor prepares to deliver his budget, we look at the minor tariff reductions—such as cheaper marmalade and gherkins—that do little to offset massive energy bills and fuel costs. With 60% of people ranking energy prices as their number one concern, these micro-policies feel entirely inadequate against the Scottish Rowntree Foundation's warning that household incomes after housing costs could drop by £800 a year by 2029.
• North Sea Wealth & Gas Addiction: We examine the Treasury’s long-overdue modelling of a North Sea Energy Wealth Fund, which suggests receipts of £200 billion over the years could have led to a one trillion pound wealth fund —a fraction of Norway’s multi-trillion nest egg. Lesley tears into the UK's continued "gas, gas, gas" addiction and complete failure to invest in local heat networks.
• The Israeli Election & Gaza Despair: Following harrowing Channel 4 News reports on civil defense teams digging through ruins with shonky bulldozers to recover bodies in Gaza, we look at the high-stakes Israeli election. With both Netanyahu and his so called centrist challenger offering little hope for a two-state solution or an end to settler violence, the outlook remains profoundly grim.
• BBC Scotland & The "Scottish Six": Reflecting on the ongoing struggles of BBC Scotland, Lesley shares insider perspective on why the original vision for a "Scottish Six" news hour was killed off by London management, leaving audiences with a disconnected service that struggles to compete in a digital-first world.
• Hugh MacDiarmid Centenary Conference: We preview a major upcoming one-day conference in Glasgow celebrating 100 years of A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle. Featuring a stellar line-up including Sir Tom Devine, Gerda Stevenson, and Murray Pittock, the event explores the contested legacy of Scotland's most complex creative genius.

Links

• A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle: Hugh MacDiarmid and a Hundred Years of the Scottish Renaissance Centenary Conference – Saturday, November 21st at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

In this week's episode, Lesley Riddoch and Fraser Thompson reflect on a more lively couple of days at the SNP Conference in Aberdeen. Far from the half-empty halls predicted by the right-wing press, Lesley reports a perkier atmosphere powered by an articulate new wave of young independence campaigners, frisky debates on land tax, and big questions on local democracy.

Topics Covered This Week

• A Perkier SNP Conference: Lesley gives her view from the Aberdeen floor, where Young Scots for Independence set an energetic tone right out of the gates. Meanwhile, Dave Doogan delivered a sharp, witty address as Westminster leader, landing cheeky jabs at both Andy Burnham's ten-year plans and Stephen Flynn's hair.
• SNP Policy Debates: key motions from the conference floor. Hannah Mary Goodlad and Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth brought forward a motion on investigating a Scottish Land Tax—provoking spirited discussion on shell companies, unregistered land, and compulsory purchase powers for tax dodgers.
• Bus Franchising & Andy Burnham’s Interventions: Re-regulating buses is firmly back on the menu. As John Swinney announced plans for public control over routes and fares, private bus operators threw a proper paddy, while Andy Burnham made a cheeky wee jaunt into proceedings from Motherwell to lecture Holyrood on centralisation.
• Local Democracy & Mega-Councils: At a packed Build a Local Scotland fringe meeting, Dave Watson (Jimmy Reid Foundation) and Cabinet Secretary Ivan McKee joined the fray. Lesley and Fraser discuss the confusion surrounding council reorganisation, comparing Scotland's remote mega-councils with Sweden’s hyper-local municipal setup, and making the case for a genuine Citizens' Assembly.
• De-Xing Holyrood: A near-unanimous conference vote backing an exit from X (formerly Twitter) sparks lively debate on toxic algorithms versus the practical need for public transport operators like CalMac to reach folk.
• Film Review – NAZA: Lesley shares her experience watching NAZA at the Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA). The documentary presents clinical, unvarnished testimony from IDF soldiers detailing automated targeting systems, collateral civilian damage ("Naza" counts), and the total destruction in Gaza.

Links 

• Better Buses Strathclyde Campaign: bringbackbritishrail.org/strathclyde
• Lesley Riddoch on Bus Franchising: The National Column (2024)
• The National Podcast with Ivan McKee: Watch on YouTube
• NAZA Film Documentary Review: RogerEbert.com
• Local Government Reform Article: Sceptical Scot

Lesley and Fraser are back at the mic — though Fraser's proper kit is officially goosed apologies for the less than stellar sound quality. This week we look at Kemi Badenoch and her suggestion of a review and roll-back of Holyrood’s devolved powers, handing John Swinney an open goal. Meanwhile, PM Andy Burnham threatens to crash the party in Aberdeen with his own unsolicited foray into Scottish local government reforms with a possible added big energy policy announcement up his sleeve.

In this week's episode, the hosts break down what First Minister John Swinney needs to deliver to capture the public's imagination amidst voter exhaustion and a yearning to "get back to normal." Plus, a deep dive into the impending Jackdaw gas field decision, Green Party conference post-mortems, Stephen Flynn's gallus transport committee grilling, Hannah Mary Goodlad’s broad Shetlandic clapback to tabloid froth, and the constitutional standoff over Portadown's Garvaghy Road.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Badenoch's Devolution Review & Burnham’s Conference Gatecrashing: Kemi Badenoch threatens to clip Holyrood's wings, while Andy Burnham plans a cheeky Friday trip to Scotland right in the middle of the SNP conference. Fraser Thompson and Lesley Riddoch analyse whether Burnham is staying in his own lane as he wafts around regional devolution and rejoining the EU single market. Plus, Lesley previews the Build Local Scotland fringe meeting at the SNP conference (Friday 9:15 AM, Conference Room 3 — hot bacon rolls included!).
• Jackdaw, Rosebank & Scotland's Energy Crossroads: With rumours mounting that an official decision on the Jackdaw gas field off Shetland is imminent, Lesley unpacks the crucial differences between Jackdaw’s gas reserves and Rosebank’s oil. Will local extraction actually lower household energy bills, or are we just trapped on an endless fossil fuel hamster wheel?
• Green Party Conference & By-Election Fallout: Following the Holborn & St Pancras by-election, Green deputy leader Zack Polanski faces heat over a contentious conference motion defining Zionism as racism. Meanwhile, reports of entryism, internal slates, and Welsh Greens threatening to split off add to a proper post-conference stramash.
• Stephen Flynn’s Gallus Transport Grilling: Stephen Flynn faces a sticky patch after Holyrood’s Transport Committee appearance and subsequent FOI revelations of who sent what when. Was "FaceTiming the bairns" a valid defence for a lack of briefing, or does the former Westminster leader need to drop the gallus put-downs and get fully read into his cabinet secretariat brief?
• Hannah Mary Goodlad & The Shetland Trowies: Tabloid newspapers get themselves into a right fankel over Shetland MSP Hannah Mary Goodlad advertising for an "artist in residence" comms role. Hannah Mary takes to Facebook in Shetlandic to set the record straight on parliamentary office budgets and political mischief-makers.
• Garvaghy Road, Drumcree & The Northern Ireland Standoff: A major jurisdictional row erupts after Secretary of State Chris Bryant bans an Orange Order parade along Portadown’s Catholic Garvaghy Road, overruling a legal determination by the Parades Commission and placing First Minister Michelle O'Neill right on the protest line.

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• Rosebank & Jackdaw Explainer: Stop Cambo: Everything You Need to Know About the Rosebank Oil Field
• Drumcree & Garvaghy Road Context: BBC News: Drumcree Explainer
• Hannah Mary Goodlad's Response: Hannah Mary Goodlad MSP Facebook Video Riposte

Support the Podcast - we might need a new mic!

If you enjoy our weekly chat and independent Scottish political analysis, please consider supporting the show!

Become a Pal or Buddy to access extra bonus content, archive episodes, and help keep us podcasting over at lesleyriddoch.com/podcast.

Pacific-Sized Prep, Green Stramashes & Burnham’s Neoliberal Double-Lock

It’s a Monday recording this week as Lesley dodges the pending house-clearance for 'the moth man' to chew over a busy week in politics. With conference season rumbling on, Andy Burnham’s constitutional double-talk is under the microscope alongside Richard Murphy’s sobering warnings about rejoining a possible right-leaning future EU. Meanwhile, the Green Party conference in Brighton triggers internal splits over a contentious Zionism motion, Kemi Badenoch channels her inner Iron Lady with a 30,000-word manifesto, and the SNP faces hard questions about whether passing conference motions is any substitute for real independence preparation.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Burnham, Neoliberalism & EU Rejoining: Fraser and Lesley unpack the ongoing fallout from the Labour conference. Citing Richard Murphy who cut through the noise to highlight how Burnham’s grand promises clash with Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules. Plus, a look at Europe’s far-right surges as we contemplate what future EU partnership might look like.

• Holyrood's Targets & Tory Nuclear Tanks: With the Joseph Rowntree Foundation warning that legally binding Scottish child poverty targets are set to be missed, Lesley and Fraser discuss the need for a bolder vision. Meanwhile, UK Tory energy spokesperson Andrew Bowie threatens to override Scottish planning powers to force nuclear power onto Holyrood's lawn.

• Green Party Conference & By-Election Blues: As Holborn & St Pancras approaches, John Crace’s scathing Guardian review paints a bleak picture for Zack Polanski. We look at the fallout from the conference floor, where delegates voted to define Zionism as racism while rejecting an amendment to protect Jewish members attending Zionist synagogues.

• Rental Crises & Youth Protests: Beyond party squabbles, housing protests in Madrid and radical shifts in European cities highlight a generation of despairing young key workers priced out of living.

• Kemi’s Tapestry & December Rumours: The Tories prepare for conference with an 18-foot AI Bayeux Tapestry mockup and Kemi Badenoch’s 30,000-word The Right Way pamphlet. Fraser recalls the miserable freezing reality of the December 2019 general election campaigning with Joanna Cherry amid fresh chatter of a snap winter poll.

• Pensions, Social Care & The Pacific Rowing Mindset: John Swinney sparks unionist outrage over Burnham's pension double-lock proposal. Ahead of the SNP conference, Fraser and Lesley discuss Tony Giugliano’s motion on independence strategy, arguing that passing a motion is meaningless without the relentless, ocean-rowing levels of preparation needed to build a real movement.

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• Common Weal: Prospectus for a New State
• The Guardian: What is Zionism? The Green Party Debate
• John Crace (The Guardian): Zack Polanski at Brighton: Wave Goodbye
• Simon Pearson (Substack): Zionism, Racism and the Green Party
• Richard Murphy (The National): What Angers Me Most About Andy Burnham's Conference Speech

Support the Podcast:

If you enjoy our weekly banter and independent Scottish political analysis, please consider supporting the show!

Become a Pal or Buddy: Get extra bonus content, archive access, and help keep us podcasting over at lesleyriddoch.com/podcast.

Lesley and Fraser delayed recording this week to digest Andy Burnham’s blockbuster Labour Party Conference speech. From grand English policy pitches to Scottish local government reform, Glasgow’s equal pay row, and Holyrood drama, here is what’s in this week’s episode:

• Burnham’s "Prime Ministerial" Pitch: Big announcements on housing, water, energy, and a National Care Service. Impressive delivery, but as Lesley notes, Scotland has already implemented nearly all of it—from ending Right to Buy to free personal care.
• Local Government Reform: A look at Gerry Hassan's blog on council reorganisations. Do the current plans solve Scotland's democratic deficit, or do we need a Citizens' Assembly to work through a proper plan?
• Glasgow Equal Pay Row: Why Glasgow City Council suddenly threatened staff with "fire and rehire" over equal pay settlements, and why Unison stood its ground.
• Humza Yousaf’s Book & SNP Conference: Highlights from the Dundee launch of Humza’s book Under Fire, plus a new internal independence pressure group forming ahead of the SNP conference in Aberdeen.
• Holyrood’s "Right to Decide": Why Scottish Labour voted for the SNP's self-determination motion, and Patrick Harvie’s calm response to a bizarre speech comparing Scottish nationalism to Yugoslavia.

Links & Events:

• Film Screening: Lesley’s Finland film is showing at the Moffat Theatre this Saturday at 2:00 PM.
• Support the Pod: If you enjoy the show, help support us at lesleyriddoch.com/podcast.
• Gerry Hassan: How Scotland is Governed Matters Just as Much as Who Governs's It

Could Scotland be on the verge of a democratic revolution—both locally and nationally? In this week's episode, Lesley Riddoch and Fraser Thompson break down a today's debate at Holyrood as MSPs discuss Scotland’s right to hold an independence referendum. But that’s not the only constitutional shake-up on the table: the SNP Scottish Government’s radical proposal to dismantle the current local authority structure in favour of up to 160 new "community authorities" sitting inside 6-10 regional authorities. Alongside this, they explore the ripple effects of the Cardiff Celtic Alliance meeting, shifting international trade alliances, and the escalating pressure on the Scottish Government to honour its commitment to Israeli settlement boycotts.

Topics Discussed
Is this the end of Scotland's mega-councils?: Analysis of the Scottish Government’s paper proposing the replacement of current council structures with 6 to 10 strategic regional authorities and between 120 and 160 local "community authorities". The hosts caution against rushing this complex restructuring to meet a budget deadline, calling instead for a Citizens' Assembly to ensure genuine democratic empowerment.
Shifting Tides on Independence: Holyrood’s debate on the right to decide, marked by Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra suggesting his party may not oppose the motion. The hosts trace how the Cardiff Celtic Alliance meeting has caused ripples across the UK media, prompting LBC's James O'Brien and The Guardian's Simon Jenkins to publicly re-examine their positions on Scottish autonomy.
The £100,000 SNP Campaign Fund: Fraser and Lesley discuss Robin McAlpine’s sharp critique of the SNP’s newly announced campaign "war chest," maintaining that what the movement urgently needs is an independent, civic-led campaign rather than top-down party control.
Canada and the EU: Canada’s proposed association agreement with the European Union. Lesley and Fraser explore how "middle powers" are aligning internationally, potentially leaving a post-Brexit UK further isolated, and raising questions for Scotland's constitutional future.
Boycotts and Public Procurement: Pressure mounts on the Scottish Government regarding its pledge to disinvest from companies linked to illegal settlements. The hosts examine ASLEF’s potential strike action over a Spanish firm bidding for ScotRail rolling stock, alongside the cultural fallout surrounding Ed Sheeran dropping Macklemore as a concert support act.
Links
Poem - Andra on November 30th - https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/andra-november-30th/

Humza Yousaf book launch - 28 September 7pm https://www.waterstones.com/events/humza-yousaf-in-conversation-at-vanda-dundee/dundee

Build A Local Scotland event - Tuesday 1pm 6 October - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2000254783904

This week, Lesley and Fraser unpack a chaotic week in politics, kicking off with the unexpected fallout from Andy Burnham's border poll gaffes, which inadvertently paved the way for the historic Cardiff Declaration. As Donald Trump wades into the Irish unity debate for his own midterm electoral gain and Reform UK pockets an eye-watering £72 million donation, the pair also tackle the systemic issues plaguing Scottish local government and the aparent flaws within the Curriculum for Excellence.

• The Cardiff Declaration & Burnham's Gaffe: How the Prime Minister's shifting stance on an Irish border poll has united the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. We discuss the new cooperation agreement and what this united Celtic front means for the constitutional future of the UK.
• Trump on Ireland (and Scotland): Analysing Donald Trump's sudden, highly amusing support for a united Ireland to court the Irish-American midterm vote, while simultaneously claiming Scotland must wait 50 to 75 years for another independence referendum.
• Local Government Reform & Citizens' Assemblies: Lesley recounts her meeting with Scottish Government ministers to discuss the future of local democracy. With councils currently deemed "too big to be local and too small to be strategic," the pod argues for a Citizens' Assembly to completely restructure Scottish local governance rather than relying on uninspired, top-down council mergers.
• Education, PISA & Kindergarten: Digging into stagnant PISA results and structural hurdles in the Curriculum for Excellence. Following alarming government statistics regarding rising violence in Primaries 1 to 3, Lesley reiterates the urgent need for a fully funded, Nordic-style, play-based kindergarten stage to build resilience and cooperation before formal schooling begins.
• Reform UK's Mega-Donations: Nigel Farage's party lands a massive £72 million in donations from crypto-billionaires. Fraser and Lesley discuss the UK government's scramble to tighten residency rules for donors and the chilling prospect of this cash being deployed to micro-target voters online.

Links
Common Weal Prospectus For A New State - https://www.commonweal.scot/prospectus-for-a-new-state
Spell Songs - https://www.thelostwords.org/spell-songs/

Humza Yousaf Book launch -28th September https://www.waterstones.com/events/humza-yousaf-in-conversation-at-vanda-dundee/dundee

Building a Local Scotland - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2000254783904
Building a Local Scotland is inviting MSPs, civic organisations, campaigners, academics and community representatives to join us for a discussion in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 6 October at 1pm in Committee Room 1 of the Scottish Parliament.

Finland Film Screenings
Moffat - Saturday 3rd October at 2 pm with a ticket price of £8 Moffat Theatre - https://www.facebook.com/61556556485367/posts/scottish-broadcaster-lesley-riddoch-is-bringing-her-new-film-to-moffat-theatre-o/122313424520218549/

Island of Lismore - October 25, 2026 Taproot Festival, at the Lismore Gaelic Heritage Centre on Sunday afternoon 4:30

In this week’s episode, Lesley Riddoch and Fraser Thompson dive into everything from political peerages and far-right threats to centralisation battles in Scottish governance and local community empowerment.

Key Topics Discussed

• Barons & Westminster Politics: Fraser and Lesley dissect Anas Sarwar’s ennoblement, Keir Starmer’s political standing, and proposed UK trade sanctions on illegal West Bank settlements
• Bernara Café Dispute & Land Buyouts: Baron George Foulkes resignation from the Ethnic Minority Law Centre over a high-profile Bernara community café dispute, and how Bernara’s 11-year struggle highlights badly drafted community buyout legislation.
• Rising Far-Right Dynamic: The political impact of AfD’s electoral surge in East Germany, false rumors leading to the arson of a housing association property in Possilpark, and the contrast in police responses to far-right demonstrations in Dover versus left-wing protests.
• Reform UK Funding Scandal & Farage Speech: Undercover reporting by Channel 4 exposing foreign election donation loopholes, alongside Nigel Farage’s proposals to declare a state of emergency, sit Parliament 24/7, and replace uncooperative judges and lords.
• Scottish Governance & Centralisation: John Swinney’s proposals to reduce health boards to two and encourage council mergers, drawing parallels to failed municipal consolidation in Norway and criticisms from public health expert Alison Pollock.
• Rural Realities & Assynt Housing: Insights from the DTAS conference on urban-centric policies, including an example from Assynt where urban EV charging mandates required a £750,000-per-unit grid upgrade for a ten-home community project.
• Holyrood Scrutiny & Cultural Success: A critical look at a think tank report on lazy MSPs and Holyrood's flawed committee system, concluding with a celebration of Fèis Rois’s 40th anniversary concert in Inverness.

Articles & Resources Mentioned

https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/09/07/blackshirts-over-the-white-cliffs-of-dover/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/07/afd-germany-far-right-saxony-anhalt-nationalist-wave-europe-analysis

Talk of an election is cranked up on the eve of the Westminster Parliament returning to session. From Dame Priti Patel’s shadow cabinet exit to Andy Burnham’s constitutional landmines over border polls, Lesley Riddoch and Fraser Thompson dig into a week defined by grand promises, administrative centralisation, and missing strategies. Meanwhile, BBC Scotland faces plummeting ratings, local councils battle depopulation without visa powers, and the Nordic model offers a stark, practical contrast to Britain’s spiralling prison crisis. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• Tory Reshuffle & Snap Election Rumours: Dame Priti Patel and Sir Mel Stride exit as Labour eyes a potential 2027 snap election to lock in their lead over Reform.
• SNP Draft Agenda Stagnation: Party HQ releases a muted draft conference agenda lacking core independence strategy, but where is the will to do anything about it from SNP members?
• Prisons Crisis & Nordic Solutions: Lessons from Norway’s 1990s prison reform, which traded punitive overcrowding for a focus on rehabilitation and leading to massive drop in the reoffending rate.
• Holyrood's Food Price Cap: John Swinney’s proposed basic price caps face heavy retail pushback and potential clashes with Westminster’s Internal Market Act.
• Burnham’s Border Poll Blunder: The Prime Minister dismisses a Northern Ireland border poll, triggering pushback from Sinn Féin over Good Friday Agreement legislation.
• Iceland Rejects EU Talks: Why 53% of Icelandic voters blocked restarting EU accession talks to protect fishing rights despite existing EFTA and Schengen ties.
• Pacific Quay's Audience Slump: Radio Scotland’s morning slot suffers a 40% listener drop as critics compare the empty BBC headquarters to a redundant call centre.
• Scottish Visas & Realpolitik: Business leaders push for tailored migration schemes, while SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan courts controversy over negotiating with any party.
• District Heating Progress: How Aberdeen is utilizing existing gas riser routes to connect homes directly to clean district heating networks.

Links

Will Burnham rewrite UK constitution and try to handcuff in the Celts?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/aug/02/devolution-programme-written-uk-constitution-andy-burnham

The authorless Burnham Programme Website
https://theburnhamprogramme.co.uk

Burnarism Consitutional Reform

https://theburnhamprogramme.co.uk/burnham-written-constitution-devolution