Lesley is back and Finland's in the news, not just because Russian jets invaded Baltic airspace as well as Estonian earlier last weekend, but because they are prepared for a future that perhaps all of us are suddenly having to focus on. Oslo and Copenhagen airports both experienced Russian drones wandering through their airspace and closing those airports and there was an alleged cyberattack in Brussels.

It feels like the problems of the continent are certainly coming home to roost. We talk about all of that, and the many ways in which Finland is a country that just actually functions extremely well because it is prepared and it never gave up the good old stuff that many other societies, Britain in particular, just dispensed with, things like trams and affordable housing. So there's a lot of Finland in this week's episode. 

We also discuss Your Party and its travails and a a bit of Andy Burnham and chanllanges to Kier Starmer. We look too at Palestine and whether recognition will actually aid some sort of progress there. Not to mention Donald Trump and his paracetamol and Seagull gate and the SNP's new CEO. 

This podcast extra was recorded at the NORA conference in Stornoway. This was the first conference of its kind in Stornoway. It included Scotland and Scottish Isles, and the NORA countries: Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and coastal Norway. The title of the event was Building Sustainable Futures for Island communities.

NORA, or Nordic Atlantic Cooperation, is an intergovernmental organisation under the Nordic Council of Ministers, uniting Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and coastal Norway. Established in 1981 and formalized as NORA in 1996 when coastal Norway joined, the organization strengthens regional cooperation to make the North Atlantic a dynamic part of the Nordic region.
https://nora.fo/

Lesley spoke with:
https://nora.fo/participants-stornoway

Gréta Bergrún Jóhannesdóttir, a researcher at Bifröst University, Iceland, focusing on rural Iceland, gender, and equality.

Ondrej Spala, Project Manager for ICE Kirkenes, Norway, and Director of the Arctic Circular Economy Summit. His role in fostering entrepreneurial networks in the Nordic Arctic.

Karin Marie Funding Lyster, an entrepreneur from the Faroe Islands, founder of MAI Learning AS, an EdTech company focused on AI integration. She has won awards for Arctic youth entrepreneurship.

The Labour Party dominates this week's podcast, which might be a bit of a shock for followers of Independents, but not in a very good way for Keir Starmer. We discuss the fall out of Angela Rayner's resignation and the further collapse in confidence since the departure of the golden girl of the working class side of Labour stepped out. We look at the fall out over her stamp duty debacle on her what actually was a third residence.

We also take a look at the race for the deputy leadership and what that might mean for UK Labour and for Scottish Labour's chances in next year's Holyrood election. The election campaign which will be masterminded by Douglass Alexander after poor old Ian Murray, who sacrificed life principles actually over nuclear weapons to be loyal to Keir Starmer was brutally sacked on the phone. Have a wee look at Douglas Alexander and how liked he is north of the border by his own folk.

And flags and more flags from the use of the Saltire in Scotland and English politicians obsession with mentioning the Union Jack in every press conference.

Links
Birthplace of Scotland's Saltire - https://saltire.scot/

Public opionon Frage and Reform
https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/52896-how-do-britons-see-reform-uk-ahead-of-their-2025-conference

With both the Scottish and UK Parliaments back in session today, there is a back to school vibe for this week's podcast. After a quite week last week everything is kicking up a gear. We look at the Keir Starmer's mini mini reshuffle, which is a lot less sensational than expected, but seems to be centralizing power in Number 10. We talk about the number of departures from the Scottish Conservatives, and the fact that one of them, Graham Simpson going to Reform, might jeopardize the recall petition idea that he is pushing through as a private member's Bill.

We also talk about the Scottish Green's leadership election and what that might mean in terms of new leadership, the energy price cap, and Kemi Badenoch: drill, baby, drill. All of that and more.

Home Truths for Home Rule
3pm Kirkcudbright Parish Church Saturday 6th Sept
https://kbtfringe.com/events/06-09-2025-15-00-home-truths-for-home-rule-scotland-after-25-years-of-devolution

Scotland’s Parliament, established over 25 years ago, has changed how we do politics. But has its record and impact been as significant as its advocates claim? What have been its successes - and what could it do better? People feel increasingly alienated by party politics and the centralisation of ‘Edinburgh knows best’. How if at all can this change? Join journalist and campaigner Lesley Riddoch and former First Minister Henry McLeish assess the impact of devolution, the contours of next year’s Scottish elections, and what Scotland’s future should look like and how we might get there.

Links
On Sept 13 & 14 at Netherbow Theatre in Storytelling Centre Royal Mile Edinburgh 7pm.
https://scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:6226/

“The Invaders’ Fear of Memories” is a theatre piece based on the life and diaries of Yosef Nachmani – a Russian Jew who migrated from Tsarist Russia to Ottoman Palestine in 1907. Nachmani became Director of the Jewish National Fund in the Galilee and subsequently played a central role in the ethnic cleansing of Palestine’s indigenous people. The play offers a perspective into the origins of settler-colonialism and apartheid in modern-day Israel, exploring themes of loyalty, violence, ideology, and grief.
The Invaders’ Fear of Memories is performed by Benjamin Rivers, the great grandson of Nachmani. Over the course of the play, Rivers performs 12 characters and sings in Arabic, Hebrew, Ukrainian, and Yiddish.

Tam Dean Burn as guest actor and a panel of distinguished academics for post screening Q&A
Since August 2023, The Invaders’ Fear of Memories has been performed to audiences across four continents.

Also Peter Kennard’s new exhibition “GAZA” from 6pm on Friday August 8th at 13A Dundas Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6QG extended till end September.

FREE SPEECH AGAINST THE GENOCIDE rally
2pm Saturday Sept 6th Queen Elizabeth House (Scotland Office) Edinburgh
https://www.scottishpsc.org.uk

The Promise
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-promisehttps://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-promise
Claire Foy and Christian Cooke star in Peter Kosminsky's BAFTA-nominated drama. Eighteen-year-old Erin sets out on an emotional journey when she retraces her grandfather's footsteps in Palestine.

Is it time for John Swinney to do something robust and clear to make it obvious to everyone that Scotland is really got a different outlook towards the whole question of Palestine and Palestine Action than Westminster? We discuss the call from Ross Greer MSP to explore legal ways to stop arrests and prosecutions like the ludicrous situation of award-wining sreenwriter Paul Laverty.

We talk also about the asylum protests that have been going on in Perth and elsewhere and ask where they largely the product of people being bused in or are there deeper problems with asylum and housing. We look at the electoral commission's publication of the annual accounts of Scottish politial parties and look at the numbers. And we discuss the Great John McLean and the campaign to create a permenant memorial to him in Glasgow.

Links
Paul Laverty arrest https://youtube.com/shorts/1PCYk92UtpE?si=5s5vkpMC2-qYoDQv

Saturday 6th September at 2pm outside Scotland Office (off Royal Mile) Edinburgh

More info soon on

https://www.scottishpsc.org.uk

John Maclean statue
Crowdfunder - https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/john-maclean-statue-campaign-2
Article - https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/25415449.crowdfunder-bid-statue-revolutionary-john-maclean-glasgow/

"I wish no harm to any human being” 

"No human being on the face of the earth, no government is going to take from me my right to speak, my right to protest against wrong, my right to do everything that is for the benefit of mankind,” 

“I am not here, then, as the accused; I am here as the accuser of capitalism dripping with blood from head to foot.”

John Maclean March - Hamish Henderson
https://youtu.be/4gaUezjN87w?si=vKgb-8SzFGZ6ALrQ

This is a special podcast about Scotland’s culture and its tenacity over centuries of denial, marginalisation and nae seemin posh enough.

Lesley heard these two in action at an Independence Forum Scotland event in Perth and thought the craic was so good it deserved this wider audience.

So Stuart McHardy a writer, occasional broadcaster, and storyteller who has been Director of the Scots Language Resource Centre in Perth and President of the Pictish Arts Society is in conversation with Roger Emmerson, a distinguished architect who surprised many in his own profession by running the first Scottish architecture course in the 1990s.

We discuss the irrelevance of ‘clown characters’ like Neil Oliver and David Starkey, delve into the Scots embrace of contradiction and the ability to (happily) be in twa minds and ponder the success of Department Q. Amongst many other fascinating cultural themes.

Stuart McHardy books include The Quest for Arthur, On the Trail of Scotland's Myths and Legends, Tales of the Picts, Strange Secrets of Ancient Scotland, Tales of Whisky and Smuggling, The Wild Haggis an The Greetin-faced Nyaff.

View Stuart's books at Luath Press

Forthcoming Edin Book Festival gig Weds 13th August about book at printers now Scotland's Sacred Goddess (and if new book link appears then slot in here)   

Roger Emmerson books include

Scotland in 100 buildings

Land of Stone – a journey through Modern Architecture in Scotland

View Roger's books at Luath Press 

Nicola Sturgeon and her book is absolutely everywhere with the press full of the tiniest revelations. We have a look, neither of us having read the book, but take a look at really what's sitting behind some of the more serious revelations, particularly over the wisdom of pressing on with the gender recognition reforms, and behind the scenes, what was really happening. We ask the whether we going to learn anything that helps us with creating a more democratic country in Scotland that isn't so reliant on leaders and top-down instruction through all of this? Or just promote Nicola Sturgeon's book sales?

All of that and news from the big wind farm convention that was held in Inverness where Lesely was present making a new film.

Are these guys just NIMBYs who need to knuckle down and accept the hardware the same as everyone else for the green transition? Or has planning for it and democracy about it just gone completely out the window? And some culture from Fèis Rois.

Links
Nicola Interview
https://www.itv.com/watch/news/nicola-sturgeon-reflects-on-her-arrest-and-her-trans-policies-in-exclusive-interview/7qr93nf

Fèis Rois

https://feisrois.org/

Robin McAlpine
https://robinmcalpine.org/this-is-the-one-tall-tale-that-matters/

https://www.thenational.scot/politics/25385625.wholly-political-campaign-independence-terrible-idea/

Shona Craven
https://www.thenational.scot/politics/25382339.lessons-must-learned-loss-rationality/

A blowy week in Scotland and for Scottish Politics, we speak about Kate Forbes's decision not to stand in next year's Holyrood Election. We look at the huge question of childcare, not just for her, but for everyone, speculate on who might stand in her constituency. We analyise the the disagreements on concience and policy issues from the stance gay marriage to Kate's economic strategy, and look at the suggestion that infrastructure has to come first before you can get to wealth creation, and childcare is infrastructure.

We also discuss Kier Starmer and his guttural position on Palestine and John Swinney's much interrupted Edinburgh Fringe gig over the question of whether he has condemned Israel's genocide. All of that with a little swatch of Belladrum and a lot of speculation and the wind.

Links
Mike Mackenzie column about the inability of a devolved government to properly finance infrastructure; https://www.thenational.scot/politics/25361743.highlands-islands-will-win-scottish-independence/

Jon Shafi column about all parties in a state of collapse and flux not just the SNP.

https://www.thenational.scot/politics/25365016.politicians-fleeing-stage-old-certainties-collapse/

Kate Forbes - Mum guilt means my daughter comes with me
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/kate-forbes-snp-mum-children-interview-2zfvjn8pr

Donald Trump comes to Scotland and don't we know it! President Trump, with saltires fluttering on his motorcade instead of the union flag descended this week on Turnberry in Ayrshire and then up to Aberdeenshire. He's described John Sweeney as a terrific guy despite not really having met him yet and he suggests that all the proceeds from removing tariffs should go to Scotland, not to the UK. We discuss whether he's just mixing it, whether he actually favours Scotland in some way or is it all just rubbish that will be reversed next week.

We also talk also about John Swinney's suggestion that there should be a constitutional convention. Again, that's suggested now, having been ruled out in previous weeks. We look at the SNP's strategy, such as it is, that there can be no move forward for Scotland without a referendum and that a referendum will only come if the SNP somehow manages to get over the line as the largest party in 2020. Simples! We take a look at the latest announcements. We also discuss the action that's ongoing against supporters of Gaza and the emergency UK cabinet meeting.

Links
Dave Pearson article about private wires https://bylines.scot/news/scotland/retaining-scotlands-wind-wealth-a-strategy-for-renewable-power/

A 'good constituency MP'? how ‘hard working local politicians’ are facilitating a genocide
https://substack.com/home/post/p-169235829

There's a bit of a protest theme in this week's podcast. Obviously the Gaza Palestine demonstration at the weekend where Lesley was speaking. Thankfully there weren't arrests at the time, but could they be yet to come? There was also, if you like, the protest of Richard Murphy on Radio Scotland, interrupted continually on a program about bias and trust in the BBC.

We discuss the rebels who've been booted out of the parliamentary Labour Party, but oddly not all the rebels that voted for axing the welfare cuts that were put forwward by Kier Starmer. Will this produce more dissent within a party that's now polling about the same as the new left wing party created by Zara Sultana that dosen't even exit yet.

We talk about Trump and his potential comeuppance over his connections with Jeffrey Epstein. Forget to even mention that he's coming to Scotland. We'll take that next week and have a wee tribute to Dick Gaughan the master of Scottish traditional music. All of that and more!

Join the Pals and Buddies and support the Lesley Riddoch podcast

Links
Palestine letter to sign Protest is not terrorism
https://protestisnotterrorism.wordpress.com/

War Crimes CD - all income (not profit ) going to Gaza https://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Crimes-Champion-Doug-Veitch/dp/B0F3JY4KTL

Dick Gaughan special Travelling Folk with Anna Massie on BBC Sounds

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002ft8f

Donate to help Dick Gaughan try and retreive the rights to some of his most important tracks
https://www.gofundme.com/f/aatux2

Buy the 8 disc set of Dick's music

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2121905920/dick-gaughan-r-evolution-1969-84-an-8-disc-box-set/rewards