The much delayed, and much over budget CalMac ferries. Are there more fundamental issues than procurement and construction problems. Have P and O Ferries got away with it? Has the shine gone off Sunak? The Oscars-selling Scotland by the pound?
Show Notes
The row over the much delayed, and much over budget CalMac ferries has been going on across the Scottish media all week. Lots of claims and counter claims of political spin and bias being thrown around. But Lesley asks if there's a far more fundamental set of problems at the root of the issue which are not being addressed.
The UK government has come out ,apparently, swinging on the sacking of 800 P and O seafarers promising strong action of plugging loopholes in employment legislation and calling for P and O's Chief Executive to resign. However, is this just a load of soundbite and fury signifying nothing?
The shine seems to have gone off, the heir apparent to No 10,Rishi Sunak. Clunky photo opps and tetchy media appearances have taken the headlines while some outlets seem to have bought into the Tory narrative of tax cuts to support hard pressed low paid workers. We examine the reality of the Spring Budget Statement. We also discuss whether Sunak's fall from from grace is good news for Boris Johnson .
The Oscars hit, literally, the front pages with Will Smith's assault on Chris Rock but Lesley's petition on plots of Scottish land being "gifted" in Oscar goody bags got over 8000 signatures in under 2 days. Lash Fary , the founder of Distinctive Assets, the company that provides Academy Award hopefuls with presents before the ceremony, defended the inclusion of a Highland Titles gift as “light-hearted fun”. We reckon there's a lot more to it than that.
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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 co-host Fraser Thompson. 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.