The Lesley Riddoch Podcast

The disaster of the "mini-budget" nearly crashed the UK's pension funds and saw a massive drop in value of sterling with calls from Tory big beasts to reverse the plans to borrow to fund tax cuts with threats of a back bench rebellion. Truss and Kwarteng caved and u-turned but can they survive?

Show Notes

The disaster of the "mini-budget" nearly crashed the UK's pension funds and saw a massive drop in value of sterling with calls from Tory big beasts to reverse the plans to borrow to fund tax cuts and threats of a back bench rebellion. Truss and Kwarteng caved and u-turned on the cut to the top rate of income tax, but can they survive?
Will their refusal to raise benefits in line with inflation, unlike pensions, lead to another revolt?
We look at the current state of opinion polls, the mood music from Tory MPs worried about holding on to their seats and speculate on the imminence not only of a General Election but of yet another Conservative leadership coup.
We also consider the mental gymnastics now being performed by Scottish Tories who demanded the Scottish Government copy that top rate tax cut but who now totally support Kwarteng's U-turn.
Truss also signaled her complete opposition to another Scottish independence referendum even if the Supreme Court ruled in the Scottish Government's favour. Where would this leave Scottish Labour,Lib Dems, and Tories, in this blatant attack on democracy?
Focus has finally turned on the economics of Truss's plans for growth. Do they stack up?
The Tories also made great play on claims of Labour's economic incompetence. How well do these hold up in reality?
Labour gained great publicity on its plans to create the Great British Energy Company. This seemed to throw down a challenge,from the left, to the SNP. However, will this publicly owned company challenge the current privatised system in any meaningful form?
All this plus praise for STV's political coverage, BBC local radio presenters, and a couple of very different movie recommendations.


★ 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.