Anas Sarwar has announced a U turn on Scottish Labour's stance on Winter Fuel Payments. If they form a Holyrood government in 2026 he has pledged to reverse the cuts and reintroduce the payments to pensioners on a universal but means tested basis. What lies behind this sudden change of heart. Political expediency in the light of recent polls and upcoming by elections? No matter his reasons it does present a challenge to the Scottish Government. How will it respond? How should it respond?
The row over Stephen Flynn, and other SNP MPs , plans to seek a dual mandate in 2026 and become MSPs rolls on. Lesley has always highlighted the accident of the election cycle for the absence of so many talented SNP politicians from Holyrood. Why is she so opposed to Stephen's bid?
How damaging are the revelations to the SNP of the use of ministerial cars to attend sporting events? How naive were these politicians to how this would look given the furore over Starmer's freebies?
A lot has been made over the proposed appointments Trump has made to his Cabinet with much of the focus falling on Robert Kennedy Jr and Matt Gaetz. However in terms of foreign policy the nomination of Mike Huckabee as US ambassador to Israel has tended to go unreported. Who is Huckabee? What are his beliefs and why should all who believe in a just peace be concerned?
Meanwhile the 30 day deadline imposed by the Biden administration for Israel to take specific steps to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has come and gone with none of the promised "consequences" coming to pass.
This denial of genocide was not only echoed but amplified by Sir Keir Starmer at Westminster. What is the UN definition of genocide? Is Starmer a hypocrite given his stance on Serbian actions in Croatia before the ICJ in 2014?
The narrative of farmers under threat after the changes to include them in inheritance tax is picking up pace. What's the reality?
Talking of reality Femke Halsema the Mayor of Amsterdam has signalled her regret at claiming there was an anti-Jewish pogrom after the Ajax v Maccabi Tel Aviv football match. A welcome retraction but is it too late?
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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.