How many weeks have started with a ponder that this has been an extraordinary week for the Labour Party? Nothing, so far at least, could eclipse Anas Sarwar’s solo attempt to unseat Prime Minister Kier Starmer this week. In this episdoe, we look at the series of departures, Tim Allan, the press officer who hardly got noticed going in the wake of Morgan McSweeney's departure as Chief of Staff.

We discuss the impact in Scotland and the May elections. We also react to the Scottish conference of Your Party, which voted decisively to be a pro-independence party and their decision to field candidates on the list and in constituencies at the Holyrood election.

There’s a smattering of on the winter Olympics and renewed calls for a proper bank holiday on Saint Andrew’s Day.

In this week’s episode, we examine the Community Wealth Bill now and Act and discuss how it might pave the way for better local procurement and build wealth locally as a slight antidote to Scotland’s extractive economy.

We discuss Kier Starmer and yet another U-turn as the UK Government continue to spin around. This time on English local elections. We look at the latest revelations about the criminal charges against former SNP CEO Peter Murrel, the detail of the allegations against him and the political fallout about the delay to his trial. We also discuss how this all reflects on the SNP as a party and the scorn that was heaped on folk who tried to flag up problems.

We also discuss Alba, Alliance for Liberation Scotland, Jim Ratcliffe and much else besides.

Links
Finland Film
Glasgow - 18th February - https://www.believeinscotland.org/shop/#!/Screening-of-Lesley-Riddochs-new-film-with-Q&A/p/807936451

Musselburgh - 19th February
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lesley-riddoch-finland-the-happiest-country-that-almost-never-existed-tickets-1980183406875?aff=oddtdtcreator

Community Wealth Building Bill

https://spice-spotlight.scot/2025/11/11/an-introduction-to-the-community-wealth-building-scotland-bill/

Band Back Together at the Òran Mór - Indpendence Gig
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/independence-forum-scotland/were-putting-the-band-back-together-supporting-scottish-arts/e-rbjakz

Morgan McSweeney's gang investigate journalists - National got there first

https://www.thenational.scot/newsletters/bulletin/1898/?nid=1898&ref=eb

In this week’s episode, we discuss the Labour Party cheerfully throwing Peter Mandelson under the bus. We look at the allegations and the possible police investigation that's been called for by the SNP and others after leaks of sensitive information by him to Jeffrey Epstein.

Everybody is deciding that he betrayed the country, that they're shocked and horrified by these allegations, and yet, Mandelson was a repeat offender in terms of breaking the rules, and Kier Starmer put him right back at the top of government yet again. We look at the further damage to the UK PM’s reputation and the sorry state of the Westminster Government. We ponder how this reflects on his right-hand man, Morgan McSweeney? And what does it say about the House of Lords and our so-called democracy when this man cannot have his peerage stripped away?

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Links
Finland Film Showings
https://lesleyriddoch.com/events

French Government Social Media
https://www.politico.eu/article/france-diplomats-memes-fight-maga-era-information-wars-emmanuel-macron/

Richard Murphy - Big parties are falling flatM for some reason
https://www.thenational.scot/politics/25815305.big-parties-falling-flat-reason/

Liam McArthur - Podcast Extra
https://share.transistor.fm/s/7d0b957a