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

In this week’s episode, we digest a heavy couple of weeks of news, including the latest killing by ICE agents in Minneapolis. We ask how long can Reform in the UK continue to get away with their references to America, connections with the Trump administration, and leaning on the sort of DOGE style of efficiencies in government as their big offer in the Scottish elections? We look at Lesley’s column and discussion of whether Scotland should have boycotted the World Cup if Trump had gone further with Greenland threats.

We also look at Andy’King of the North’ Burnham's knockback from standing, in the forthcoming by-election that would have let him jump in as a replacement Labour leader. Will it all just be brushed under the carpet? How successful will that be?

Scottish Labour seems to have got a new tactic of ‘mandamification’ of Anas Sarwar. We digest the attempts to ape the social media style of the New York Mayor with groovy videos, the walking, talking, jazzy music, and jumping camera shots. Will that work?

Edinburgh Cameo screening of the Finland film

Unfortunately the Cameo double booked themselves. The February 20th screening of the Finland film HAS MOVED to Sunday March 22nd 5.15pm. T

Ticket-holders for the original date will be refunded but must buy a new ticket for the March date. Sorry about that. A new booking link for March 22nd will be online soon at https://lesleyriddoch.com/events.

Links
Scottish Labour is a party stuck in long-term decline
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25789020.scottish-labour-party-stuck-long-term-decline/

Gavin Newsom World Economic Forum Davos

https://www.youtube.com/live/ObkKhPt1QM0?si=lzSpDW8FWWTrWB_U

Deacon Blue 'appalled' after Malcolm Offord quotes Dignity

https://www.thenational.scot/news/25800409.deacon-blue-appalled-malcolm-offord-quotes-dignity/

The Scottish Budget dominates this week’s episode - did Scottish Labour produce a massive own goal by not bothering to contest or argue for anything in the budget? Has their decision to abstain made life easier for the SNP and led to muted criticism in the press? There seems to be the impression, in the press at least, that there's not an awful lot to say about the budget and the SNP have sailed through a fairly steady as she goes and uninspring pre-election budget with little pain.

We look at the situations across the world at the moment, in Minnesota in the aftermath of the terrible shooting there, the situation in Iran, and the continuing pressure on Greenland. All this and more.

Links
See the latest film showings for the new Finland Film
https://lesleyriddoch.com/events

Greenland films
Uncovering the history of America's secret cold war base on Greenland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIw8pEqJMHw

How did Greenland become part of Denmark and why does Trump want to buy it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYfSlQaIEXk

In this Podcast Extra, we speak with Liam McArthur MSP about his private member’s bill - Assisted Dying for Terminally ill Adults. Lesley and Fraser reflect on their own views and their personal connections and involvement with the assisted dying campaign.

You can find out more about the bill at https://www.dignityindyingscotland.org.uk/. Both Lesley and Fraser take a supportive view of the legislation. This is a complex and difficult subject. A contrary view is taken by organisations like Care Not Killing https://carenotkilling.scot/

It's a new year, and a happy one, we hope. We start, as we did last year, with Donald Trump in the headlines - this time after illegally kidnapping the President of Venezuela. We discuss all the ramifications of that, how it is occupying all the bandwidth of every world leader as well as Trump and the USA’s renewed threats to Greenland.

It’s the start of the Scottish election campaign; we look at how things have kicked off and where the election might leave prospects for an independent Scotland.

Some big pennies are dropping this week. The biggest, probably, is the US disengagement from Ukraine. It's not just Ukrainians that are being given the heave-ho, it seems to be Europe as a whole.

We also look at the big statement about energy for an independent Scotland and the promise of a third off bills. Is that realistic? of course, it actually is, but quite how would you get there? And does John Swinney have to spell it out? We analyise the nuclear consensus amongst Labour, Tory, and the Westminster parties. Why on earth are they so keen to have new nuclear plants in Scotland? We talk about Lord Malcolm Offord and his defection to Reform to stand for the Scottish Parliament. And we look at the Sandy Peggy verdict. Does anybody really see clearly what it means?

The A'Chraobh Forrest Project
Producing a professional film from the footage will cost £600-£1000.
The Spiral Forrest at Borgie in Sutherland is an attempt by descendants of the people cleared by the Duke of Sutherland from Strathnaver to have their say about the landscape. It’s composed of the 18 trees native to Scotland which are also part of the unique Gàidhlig alphabet. Lesley planted the first tree in 2000 along with hundreds of school kids from North Sutherland and returned this weekend with organisers, some of those children now adults and their own children, to commemorate 25 years of a very different kind of woodland. She captured footage while she was there and is looking to raise some money to pay an editor. If any Sutherland folk or people who feel strongly about native Woodland or indeed the clearances, want to contribute, please contact her at hello@lesleyriddoch.com

Links

Norway the Twin Nation
https://youtu.be/oUbMAFO6kA4

Makar Homes
https://www.makar.co.uk/