The Lesley Riddoch Podcast

It’s a week of breaking press conferences and transatlantic sporting drama. This week, Lesley and Fraser try to find their feet amidst a fast-moving political news cycle, broadcasting through recycling collection interruptions and unexpected announcements. From Donald Trump's latest ego-driven phone call to FIFA to Nigel Farage's high-stakes scramble over undeclared cash and property portfolios, w...

It’s a tale of two islands and two very different political visions this week. With Lesley broadcasting from the quiet, remote shores of Gola Island in Donegal and Fraser pitching up on the Isle of Bute, the pair unpack a massive week of infrastructure breakthroughs, constitutional questions, and sporting heartbreak. From Shetland finally securing a green light for subsea tunnels to Andy Burnham’s...

Could a little noticed Bill passed in Holyrood this spring transform Scotland into a  prosperous and powerfully local country?  Neil Mcinroy believes it can.  He's Global Community Wealth Building lead for the Democracy Collaborative – an American tank. But this well travelled, experienced Scot works across the world from his home in Argyll and is helping drive the CWB agenda here. The new Act req...

King of the North, By-Election Blues, and Tartan Army Joy Well, the by-elections were well worth waiting for. In this delayed "wait for it" by-election special, Lesley and Fraser digest a massive week in UK and Scottish politics. Andy Burnham has secured a predictable but comprehensive landslide in Mackerfield, leaving everyone wondering how quickly he might challenge Keir Starmer for the keys to...

Well, folks, it’s been a week of delayed recordings and riveting exchanges. This week, Lesley and Fraser weigh in on a fair old rammy at Holyrood regarding the SNP, plus the deeply troubling scenes playing out on the streets of Belfast and beyond. From a Scottish Parliamentary debate that saw the Green amendment triumph, to the surprising political unity across the water in Northern Ireland, we tr...

Well, it seems the big men being laid low is the theme of the moment. Lesley and Fraser are back to discuss a busy week. Lesley has been in all parts, taking in the incredible Orkney Folk Festival and witnessing the seamless infrastructure of the Netherlands, before returning to the rather less seamless Edinburgh Airport. Back in Scotland, the Peter Murrell narrative has been laid out, leaving man...

So much for the week off. Fraser and Lesley rush to the microphones for an unexpected, emergency podcast following Peter Murrell's guilty plea in Edinburgh.  With Lesley literally broadcasting from a hotel car park in Wick on her way to the mass rally outside Holyrood, we unpack what this catastrophic pivot moment means for the SNP and the wider independence movement.  In this episode, we discuss:...

From the incoming First Minister to an impending vote on a Section 30 order and a row brewing over William Wallace's safe conduct letter. We discuss the ongoing First Minister elections, with John Swinney set to be confirmed. We look at the parliamentary process, the inevitable outcome and why other party leaders put their names forward despite the forgone conclusion. Time for Scotland: John Swinn...

In this week's bumper post-election edition—recorded at a frantic 2:06 PM on Tuesday as Jess Phillips resigns and the Westminster cabinet jitters intensify—Lesley and Fraser dissect a week of "wooden" communication and grassroots resilience. From Keir Starmer’s Scunthorpe gamble to the Saltires fluttering in the background of the BBC’s Holyrood studio and the singing Welsh. We discuss some of the...

In this week's eposide it's the final sprint to the line or should that be tacking or gybing or something more nautical. We look at the current state of the campiagns including Lord Offord's run down of his wealth indicators and the many boats he has at his dispoal. Fraser reports back from the mood on the doors in the final week of the election including insight into how people are splitting thei...

Lesley and Fraser dive into a week of high-stakes testimony, "shadowy" Westminster figures, and the emeerging cross-party consensus in Scotland on when our children should actually start school. The Whitehall "Schmozzle" We look at the recent Foreign Affairs Committee sessions featuring the "Whitehall Mandarin" Philip Barton and Keir Starmer’s strategist, Morgan McSweeney. It was a masterclass in...

In this week’s episode, we look at Kier Starmer’s ongoing Mandelson woes. We discuss the wildly oscillating Scottish opinion polls and MRP extrapolations that come from them and what they mean for the Scottish election campaign and the future of the independence movement. We discuss what you need to get over the line on the regional list and the prospect of smaller independence-supporting parties....

In this week’s episode, Lesley and Fraser navigate the "actual apex of insults to humanity," as AI-generated imagery and global conflict collide. From Donald Trump’s bizarre portrayal of himself as a "healer of men" to the first American Pope taking a stand against the destruction of civilization, we analyse a world that feels increasingly discombobulated. Closer to home, the Scottish election is...

How many crises can unfold over a single bank holiday weekend? This week, Lesley Riddoch and Fraser Thompson try to make sense of a surreal and frightening international backdrop as Donald Trump issues terrifying new threats against Iran. Closer to home, Lesley shares her experiences travelling around the Northwest of Scotland filming about the clearances in Strathnaver and she highlights the very...

How many crises can unfold over a single bank holiday weekend? This week, Lesley Riddoch and Fraser Thompson try to make sense of a surreal and frightening international backdrop as Donald Trump issues terrifying new threats against Iran. Closer to home, Lesley shares her experiences travelling around the Northwest of Scotland filming about the clearances in Strathnaver and she highlights the very...

In this week's episode, Lesley and Fraser reflect on a weekend that saw thousands take to the streets of Edinburgh for the "Believe in Scotland" march. From the fair old "pech" up to Calton Hill to the "tremendously cheery" atmosphere at the front of the pack, we discuss why the energy of the independence movement is far from fading. We also look at the power of "normal" language as Brian Cox take...

In this episode, Leslie and Fraser discuss the recent failure of the assisted dying bill in the Holyrood Parliament and the disconnect between parliamentarians and public opinion. They discuss why a Citizen’s Assembly would have been a better way to resolve this issue. They also cover ScotRail’s train procurement, the ethical concerns surrounding Palantir's NHS contracts, Reform’s Scottish rally a...

In this week's episode, Lesley and Fraser navigate a blustery start to the week. Lesley recounts her experience at the Irish Consul's celebration in Edinburgh, noting Ireland's cultural confidence. The discussion turns to the "heating oil headache" facing off-grid Scots, with the UK government’s £35 support package being branded as woefully inadequate. We look to our Northern neighbours for soluti...

In this week's episode, Lesley and Fraser digest a whirlwind week that saw Scotland’s rugby players secure another win—but this time, there’s a trophy involved with a very specific history. Fraser reveals his own "tangential" role in the creation of the Old Alliance Trophy and why it’s definitely not a cup. The mood shifts as we analyse the terrifying escalation in the Middle East following the bo...

In this episode, we analyse the recent escalation in the Middle East following the attacks on Iran and discuss the potential for regional conflict and the broader impact on global stability. We consider the broader US and Israeli strategies, the prospects for peace, and how these developments affect Europe, Scotland and NATO. Closer to home, we discuss the ongoing fallout over the Lord Advocate br...