Ten Years After

Ten years after the Scottish independence referendum Lesley interviewed First Minister John Swinney in an exclusive for The National. We focus on this and the state of the independence movement and the SNP in the first half of this extended episode.
Anas Sarwar emerged from hiding to pontificate on Glasgow hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. We have our say.
Much was made in the media of Scotland's lack of spending on remediation work in the wake of the Grenfell Inquiry. The reality is a bit more complicated and nuanced.
 As Sir Keir Starmer comes under scrutiny for the variety of donations and hospitality he's received we look at both this and Anushka Asthana's new book Taken As Red which lifts the lid on the campaign to undermine and remove Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party.
A significant element of the strategy was to paint Corbyn and his supporters as antisemitic. Stephen Pollard, when editor of the Jewish Chronicle, declared "I'm proud that we were relentless in our pursuit of Corbyn".
Under the new editor Jake Wallis Simons the pursuit of journalistic standards seems to have been less than relentless with the unfolding Elon Perry scandal.
As promised in this week's episode here are some links
Scottish Currency Group conference
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scottish-currency-group-conference-tickets-965256055847
Grenfell
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/society/housing/67805/grenfell-report-social-housing-respect
Glasgow Commonwealth Games: Athletes Village
https://www.landcommission.gov.scot/our-work/housing-development/housing/glasgow-commonwealth-games-village-a-lasting-legacy
Rally for Independence
https://www.believeinscotland.org/rally_for_independence

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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.