Alister Jack's taking of the "nuclear option" of using Section 35 Scotland Act powers to order the Presiding Officer not to submit the GRR bill for royal assent, the political fall-out from that decision, and the SNP Special Conference on de facto referendum options are the three big topics of this week's podcast.
Show Notes
The Gender Recognition Reform Bill was passed by an overwhelming majority of the Scottish Parliament. Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, has decided for the first time in 25 years to invoke Section 35 of the Scotland Act to stymie its implementation.
We examine the background to the legislation and wonder if he has unwittingly succeeded in uniting Yessers, who disagree over this issue and soft Nos, in opposition to the undermining of the Parliament.
Sir Keir Starmer seems to have thrown Scottish Labour under the bus over GRR by criticising some of its measures. This despite Anas Sarwar whipping his MSPs to vote for it. How will Scottish Labour voters and party react to another piece of Starmer political opportunism?
The SNP Special Conference will have two options presented to it on using a future election, either Westminster or Holyrood, as a de facto referendum. Both depend on gaining a majority of votes for the SNP and any other parties with whom they've reached a pre-election agreement. How will Alba respond?
Lesley stresses the need for the SNP to step up to the plate with a compelling narrative on the shape of a future independent Scotland and a serious strategy for securing that majority of votes.
All this plus praise for Colin McKay of STV for his Rishi Sunak interview, Suella Braverman and the Home Office's attempts to remove a video showing a confrontation with a Holocaust survivor, more Alister Jack, this time on Brexit, and Lesley's new book.
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What is The Lesley Riddoch Podcast?
Scottish politics dissected from a left, pro-independence stance. Each week, award-winning broadcaster and journalist, Lesley Riddoch chews over the week’s news with former media lecturer and Dundee United fan, Pat Joyce. If you like intelligent, quirky chat about Scottish society and culture, and Scottish, UK and international politics analysed from a Scottish perspective; this podcast is for you.