The Lesley Riddoch Podcast

MPs are scheduled to vote on the Private Members’ Bill proposed by Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP, to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults on Friday.
However a cross party group has co-sponsored a so-called “fatal motion amendment” that could kill the Bill if enough MPs support it.
The amendment comes amid concern in the Commons that such a significant change was proposed as a Private Members’ Bill, meaning there is limited detailed assessment and analysis of the provisions it includes.
We examine the detail of both the Leadbeater Bill and Liam McArthur's proposed Scottish Bill and ask what impact Friday's Westminster vote may have in Holyrood.

Meanwhile there's much heat being generated in the media over the " Call a General Election Now" petition which has apparently garnered over 2 million signatures in the past four days.
How significant is this in reality? Should Labour be concerned? Should the Tories be more concerned?

Rachel Reeves has announced the payment to the Scottish Government to compensate for the impact of her raise in employers' National Insurance contributions.
How fair was the package?

After recent polling and by election results we look at the state of play of the parties in Scotland. How much of an impact have they had on Anas Sarwar's U-turn on Winter Fuel Allowance payments? How concerning is the rise of Reform? Will we face a Holyrood impasse in 2026 with no viable coalitions in prospect?

And as Donald Trump makes his final nominations for his Cabinet we cast our eyes over the array of right wing, reality TV, Fox News hosts, dubious characters he's selected.
Here's the link to the Neal Ascherson article Lesley mentioned
https://www.thenational.scot/politics/24746186.neal-ascherson-scotland-needs-take-as-if-approach/
★ Support this podcast ★

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.