Humza Yousaf has been First Minister and leader of the SNP for a year. We look back at the past 12 months and ask no matter how effective he has been in steering Scotland through crises which have seen massive strike action in England why do so many folk seem dismissive of his tenure.
We also question the timidity of the Scottish Government in challenging the limitations of the devolved settlement and wonder if being a good conciliator is enough for a party leader going into a General Election.
Lesley suggests that getting on the front foot over economic issues such as bailing out the privatised English water companies should be a political priority for Humza.
Eylon Musk, and JK Rowling have been vocal and vehement critics of the new Scottish Hate Crime Act. Rishi Sunak has weighed in with support for Rowling despite similar hate legislation in England. How far does this politicking undermine the justified criticisms of aspects of the act by someone like Joanna Cherry?
We enter these choppy waters and try our best to navigate them.
Humza and the SNP have been outspoken opponents of the actions of the Israeli Government and the IDF in Gaza since the outbreak of the conflict. As evidence that UK Government lawyers have advised that Israel has breached international humanitarian law how long can the government continue to allow arms sales to continue?
All this plus daffodils, weird Fife airfield dreams, and Ally McCoist says stuff out loud, in this week's episode.
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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.