Latest episodes

• United We Stand

  The past week in Scottish politics has been all about fall outs. Who can speak at an independence rally? Which rally should take precedence? Will the Scottish Greens bail out of the Bute House Agreement over the abandonment of climate change targets and the Cass Review?
  We ask if these disputes mask the dearth of ideas at government level over how to tackle the fundamental issue of climate change and cloud the necessity of cooperation and unity in the drive for Scottish independence?
  
  The Cass Review has been the focus of much of the media and many politicians. Who is Hilary Cass and what does the review actually say?
  
  Robin McAlpine of Common Weal thinks the news on climate targets is grim but not unexpected. He called for a move away from a free market approach and  put forward ideas that he is convinced would work.
  https://commonweal.scot/anger-at-dropped-targets-must-lead-to-change/
  Craig Dalzell also flagged up initiatives from five years ago that would have saved government the recent embarrassment of bad headlines over wood burning stoves.
  https://commonweal.scot/shedding-light-on-rural-heat/
  Meanwhile at Westminster the Tories are battering away at getting their Rwanda Bill passed, despite opposition in the Lords, despite the legal implications, the cost, and despite the very real likelihood it wont "Stop the boats". Has it become a totemic Tory policy that they simply can't give up?
  
  Labour have promised to stop the flights if they form the next government but have stuck to an opposition based on cost and its failure to protect "our borders".
  Sticking with Labour, has Starmer scored an own goal with his statements on English patriotism which he cheerfully conflates with Britishness?
  
  May the 11th and 12th sees a weekend celebration of all things Cunninghame Graham. Don Roberto and Scotland: international perspectives. There’s a day of talks at the Smith Stirling Museum on the Saturday, and a morning visit to Gartmore House, his childhood home , and the island of Inchmahome, place of his burial, on the Sunday.
  https://donrobertoandme.com/2024/04/04/don-roberto-and-scotland-international-perspectives/
  And if you listen carefully you might just hear a wee mention or two of the world famous Dundee United winning the Scottish Championship.

• A Sense of Proportion

  In this week's episode we wonder if Iran has fallen into the trap set by an increasingly desperate Netanyahu who was seeing Western support for Israel's actions in Gaza ebb away.
  Israel has long argued that the whole Gaza war has in effect been “a war against Iran” from the start. An Iran which threatened not only Israel but stability across the region and beyond.
  We also examine the legality of both Israel and Iran's actions and the hypocrisy in particular of the USA and the UK.
  Germany has been a staunch,almost unquestioning, supporter of Israel over Gaza, and indeed being a major arms supplier. Does the recent ban on entry to the country of Glasgow University rector Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah, who was due to speak on his experiences as a surgeon in Gaza, shine a light on why Germany is facing claims of facilitating genocide at the ICJ?
  Lesley's Lyme disease health issues lead us into our thoughts on Wes Streeting's latest statements on the role of private healthcare in the NHS. Are we being middle class lefties?
  
  Lesley looks at the recent legislation concerning wood burning stoves and asks if, yet again, it shows the urban centric perspective of the Scottish government.
  Lesley's latest film Denmark The State of Happiness seems to have touched a very sensitive nerve with a significant number of unionist commentators. We try and get behind their rhetoric to reality.
  And if you want to see the film and make up your own mind it's available online here
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTJnu6lAhvM
  plus live at the following venues
  https://lesleyriddoch.com/events
  As promised
  The Hutters Rally event in Dundee
  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hutters-rally-2024-tickets-840277692197?aff=oddtdtcreator
  Believe in Scotland Rally
  https://www.thenational.scot/news/24247987.believe-scotland-confirms-full-line-up-speakers-hosts/
  There's also a cheeky wee special offer on a £20 annual subscription to The National
  https://www.thenational.scot/subscribe/?utm_source=x&utm_campaign=SS

• Taking Sides

  As promised last week we do tackle the Land Reform Bill but not before casting our gimlet gaze over other major issues.
  Ally McCoist didn't turnup at the Rangers v Celtic match on Sunday so missed out on the opportunity to fall foul of the new Hate Crime Act. However 48000 other Rangers fans did, we revisit the Act in light of what did and didn't happen.
  Unlike me Lesley didn't watch the match but appeared on Sky's Trevor Phillips On Sunday show. Having really done her homework on all matters Scottish Lesley was armed with facts and data none of which were needed as the focus was on Israel, Gaza and arms sales.
  In the week when Conservative ex Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan speaking on LBC  said the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) group had been "doing the bidding of [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, bypassing all proper processes of government to exercise undue influence at the top of government", Guto Harri, Boris Johnson's No 10 Director of Communications, was also unequivocal in his condemnation of Israeli's actions in Gaza. Lesley compares this to the mealy mouthed statements from  Labour's David Lammy, Pat McFadden and others.
   Sarah-Jane Laing the chief executive of Scottish Land and Estates claimed that The Land Reform Bill was a full on attack on the property rights of land owners. The Scottish Government said it would "revolutionise land ownership in Scotland". Lesley it's fair to say has her doubts about both these statements.
  Thanks to a listener we have further insight into how publicly owned Scottish Water actually is.
  If you want to go see Lesley's Denmark film here's the link
  https://lesleyriddoch.com/events
  It's also now  available online
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTJnu6lAhvM

• April Is The Cruelest Month

  Humza Yousaf has been First Minister and leader of the SNP for a year. We look back at the past 12 months and ask no matter how effective he has been in steering Scotland through crises which have seen massive strike action in England why do so many folk seem dismissive of his tenure.
  We also question the timidity of the Scottish Government in challenging the limitations of the devolved settlement and wonder if being a good conciliator is enough for a party leader going into a General Election.
  Lesley suggests that getting on the front foot over economic issues such as bailing out the privatised English water companies should be a political priority for Humza.
  Eylon Musk, and JK Rowling have been vocal and vehement critics of the new Scottish Hate Crime Act. Rishi Sunak has weighed in with support for Rowling despite similar hate legislation in England. How far does this politicking undermine the justified criticisms of aspects of the act by someone like Joanna Cherry?
  We enter these choppy waters and try our best to navigate them.
  Humza and the SNP have been outspoken opponents of the actions of the Israeli Government and the IDF in Gaza since the outbreak of the conflict. As evidence that UK Government lawyers  have advised that Israel has breached international humanitarian law how long can the government continue to allow arms sales to continue?
  All this plus daffodils, weird Fife airport dreams, and Ally McCoist says stuff out loud, in this week's episode.

• The Act We Act

  April the first( Hands up who thinks Gowk's Day was a smart idea?)sees the introduction of the new Hate Crime and Public Order( Scotland) Act.
  We try and delve beneath the social media sound and fury to look at the reasoning behind the act and its  pros and cons.
  
  Back at Westminster Stephen Flynn skewered Labour during PMQs with their seeming embrace of Margaret Thatcher. What is the Thatcher legacy? What is the continuing allure of the Thatcher myth?
  Sticking with Labour as yet another of their previous pledges, this time on compensation for the WASPI women, has been dumped, according to Labour loyalist John McTernan  their ceasefire motion changed UK foreign policy and in so doing led to the passing of the UN resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. Lesley has quite a bit to say on tboth.
  This weekend the Scotonomics Festival took place in Dundee. Lesley chaired a couple of sessions but much has been made of Professor Mark Blyth's contribution in the unionist press. Was the reporting fair and accurate?
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C33RWFYec3A
  More showings of Lesley's Denmark movie. Full details below
  https://lesleyriddoch.com/events

• In the Zone

  Humza Yousaf's using the phrase “Tory-free” umpteen times  when addressing SNP activists, and telling Scottish Tory MPs: “The SNP is coming for you.” seems to have set off a political storm not just among the usual suspects but such SNP luminaries as Pete Wishart and the Aberdeen Independence Movement.
  Unwarranted pearl clutching? We discuss.
  Last Wednesday's PMQs saw the unedifying spectacle of Sir Lindsay Hoyle ignoring Dianne Abbott on no less 46 occasions as she tried to speak on the Frank Hester racist comments about Dianne Abbott. Stephen Flynn, yet again, as on BBC Question Time , was an outstanding performer. Lesley asked in her most recent article if performance is all the SNP's presence at Westminster can be?
  The Hester Tory donations issue, " He was racist but it was half a decade ago and we're keeping the cash", set us thinking about the murky world of UK political party funding. And murky it certainly is.
  In stark contrast to PMQs, no question is ever answered, Scottish FMQs is an entirely more rigorous affair. Lesley gives her reaction to last week's session.
  We look at Scottish Green Freeports. Are they Green? Are they indeed ports? What differentiates them, if anything from the English version? Why did the Scottish Government acquiesce in their creation?
  Full details of the Scotonomics Festival in Dundee
  https://scotonomics.scot/festival-of-economics/
  If you still haven't seen Lesley's Denmark movie you can book below
  https://lesleyriddoch.com/events

• It's Not What You Think

  Back after the two week break when Pat decided to take his holidays at precisely the wrong, political, time.
  In this "while he was away" episode we kick off with our reaction to the return of George Galloway to Westminster after his thumping victory in the Rochdale by election.
  As Galloway enters Parliament Lee Anderson departs from the Tory Party to join Reform. This plus speculation on Kate's family photo took up 40 minutes of The World at One on Radio 4. Lesley questions the focus and asks if this represents the values and priorities of Scots.
  We take a look at Hunt's Budget. What traps has he laid for an incoming Labour government? What does it say about Starmer's Labour when it is committed to the same "We can't max out the country's credit card" narrative?
  Sticking with Westminster, is there merit in Keith Brown's suggestion that the SNP should consider Sinn Fein style abstentionism?
  Keith has also been blunt in his calling for Stephen Kerr MSP's candidacy for the Conservative Party be removed after his recent comments on Humza Yousaf and the Scottish Government's funding of UNRWA.
  Growth is the cry from both Labour and the Tories but the UK's is anaemic in comparison to that of the USA. What part, if any, will the economy play in the upcoming Presidential election? Biden and Trump have their nominations sewn up but will Trump's culture wars appeal beyond his base?
  Labour also seem about to back Michael Gove's controversial redefinition of extremism. We examine the backgrounds of those driving this and its potential implications.
  Along the way we also cover Michelle Donelan's libel case, the showing of Lesley's Denmark movie to MSPs, the special women's edition of the National and what inspired it, and baggage shenanigans at Edinburgh airport.
  If you want to see Lesley's Denmark movie follow this link
  https://lesleyriddoch.com/events

• Scotonomics Festival-Podcast Extra
  In this podcast extra we speak with William Thomson who along with Kairin Van Sweeden co-founded Scotonomics. It was set up with" a commitment to enhancing economic literacy and fostering discussions that are informed, objective, and accessible to a wide audience, with a particular focus on the economic context of Scotland."
  A major part of this is its annual Scotonomics Festival which is taking place in various venues across Dundee and online from Friday the 22nd of March until Sunday the 24th.
  It's Scotland’s biggest festival of economics with over 30 sessions covering aspects of the Scottish, UK and global economy with academics, activists, economists, policymakers, politicians and the public coming together to discuss people, place and planet.
  We cover what the founding principles and ideology of Scotonomics are and just what they mean for Scotland in the here and now and in an independent future.

  
  If you're interested in attending here's the link
  https://scotonomics.scot/event/festival-of-economics/
  As well as the events in Dundee there will be an "Economics of the Real World" event  at Leith Dockers Club on Thursday March the 21st. Four internationally renowned economists will challenge  the mainstream economic dogma currently dominating political thought.
  https://scotonomics.scot/event/economics-of-the-real-world-edinburgh/
  This includes screening of the movie "Finding the Money"
  It follows former chief economist to Senator Bernie Sanders, Stephanie Kelton, on a journey through Modern Money Theory or “MMT”, to unveil a deeper story about money, injecting new hope and empowering democracies around the world to tackle the biggest challenges of the 21st century: from climate change to inequality.
  https://scotonomics.scot/event/finding-the-money-film-leith/
  It will also be shown in Dundee
  https://scotonomics.scot/event/finding-the-money/
• Stitch ups, Suspensions and Statements

  Sometimes a series of events can encapsulate the state of the United Kingdom, the cynical manipulation of tensions surrounding Gaza for party political and personal advantage., the relationship between the media and the political establishment , and the reality of the position of the  SNP at Westminster.
  Last Wednesday saw the House of Commons descend into chaos as the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle , broke with Parliamentary procedure, and the advice of the Clerks, to allow a Labour amendment to the SNP Opposition Day motion calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to Israeli collective punishment. We examine those events , the role of the Speaker, the ramifications of his decision and his reasons for making it.
  We also give our immediate reaction to the UK government's statement on Gaza this Tuesday afternoon. The statement given as the reason for Hoyle to reject the SNP call for an SO24 debate. A debate he had promised to grant the SNP last week.
  The focus has shifted from the situation in Gaza, aided by political commentators , on to alleged threats to MPs' security hard on the heels of Lord Walney's report on political violence. Who is Walney? What was in his report? Can he be trusted as an impartial actor in the current context of pro Palestinian protests?
  Meanwhile , while claiming "words are important" , the Tory Party is mired in an Islamophobia crisis with Rishi Sunak and a string of ministers refusing to say that ex Deputy Chair of the party Lee Anderson was racist in his attack on Sadiq Khan. This while ignoring Suella Braverman and ex PM Liz Truss's recent similar outbursts. Weakness or a symbol of a hierarchy of racism within the Conservative Party?
  Today is the 50th anniversary of the long secret McCrone Report with its revelations on the potential impact on the Scottish economy of North Sea oil and its implications for Scottish independence.
  The National has published the report in full. Read it and weep.
  https://www.thenational.scot/news/17461406.westminster-doesnt-want-read-mccrone-report-full/
  Simon Forrest CEO of Nova Innovation has written about the  current "  tragedy played out in Scotland " with the failure of both the UK and Scottish governments to reap the benefits of Scotland's new energy bonanza. Renewables.
  https://www.thenational.scot/politics/24145789.top-renewables-firm-ceo-scotlands-energy-story-tragedy/
  Tickets for Lesley's Denmark film are still available right here
  https://lesleyriddoch.com/events

• A Question of Leadership

  Does the murder of Alexei Navalny signal the end or a new beginning of anti Putin activism in Russia? Is it also a wake up call for those of us in the West who have taken our eyes off the developments in Russia, Ukraine, and the destabilization of the region?
  Despite the row over accusations of antisemitic statements by prospective Parliamentary candidates the Labour Party romped to two outstanding victories in the Kingswood and Wellingborough by-elections. We examine Rishi Sunak's response to these losses and ask if he might call a snap election. If he is still Tory leader.
  Meanwhile Scottish Labour held its annual conference with a significant focus on Anas Sarwar as leader. Sarwar was quite willing to state his willingness to stand up to Starmer. Will this show of independence stretch to his two Scottish MPs following the Scottish Labour conference position and voting with the SNP on its motion calling for an immediate Gaza ceasefire?
  In response to Scottish Labour’s plans for a windfall tax on oil profits, more than 800 oil ,engineering, and business executives have raised concerns that this could lead to massive job losses in the North East. The SNP is even more committed to phasing out of oil and gas production in an independent Scotland. We ask where stands the Just Transition and the development of local industry and training?
  All this plus the origins and consequences of the Right to Buy policy and the thorny question of Ullapool and its train station.
  If you want to see Lesley's Denmark movie check out this link
  https://lesleyriddoch.com/events

• All the Rs

  In the latest and biggest U-turn in a series of policy reversals Sir Keir Starmer ditched the £28 billion spending target central to Labour's Green Prosperity Plan.
  Why and why now?
  To add to his woes as further revelations appeared on, Azhar Ali, Labour's candidate in the Rochdale by-election, there was a volte face and Ali was deselected. He remains on the ballot as the decision was made too late to remove him.
  We again ask. Why? Why now?
  As accusations of antisemitism are thrown around between and across political parties and individuals has the distinction between anti Jewish racism and anti Zionism been forever blurred?
  Michael Matheson's resignation over the iPad data bill has led to a Cabinet reshuffle. Who's in? Who's out? What makes a "good" minister?
  Professor Jim Gallagher was given a platform on Good Morning Scotland to outline Our Scottish Futures plans on reforming Scottish local government. He argued that Scotland was an over centralized country. His solution seemed to be  bigger local authorities. At the time of recording we could find no trace of the report on their website. However "Rewiring Scotland" has now appeared. We shall, no doubt, return to examine it in greater depth next week.
  A stooshie has broken out over the re-opening of the Redcoat cafe in Edinburgh Castle. A petition asking for it to be renamed has attracted thousands of signatures. The controversy has engaged such luminaries as Professor Sir Tom Devine and us.
  Tickets are still available for the remaining dates of Lesley's Denmark movie. Link below
  https://lesleyriddoch.com/events

• Polls Apart

  Saturday the third of February 2024 was an historic moment as Michelle O'Neil became the first republican to hold the position of First Minister in the 103 year history of Northern Ireland. Both she and the DUP's Deputy First Minister Emma Little- Pengelly have a family background in the paramilitaries and yet both made impressive speeches emphasizing cooperation and conciliation. We look at this and the promises and potential pitfalls on the return of Stormont.
  Sir Keir Starmer's Labour continue to lead in the polls but internal party polling shows that it is losing support among the Muslim community over its stance(s) on Gaza. What do the polls show and will Labour lose votes not only among Muslims over this? Meanwhile in the latest U-turn Starmer has abandoned the pledge to reform/abolish the House of Lords and threatened MPs who don't toe the party line with deselection for the upcoming General Election.
  Details of Michael Gove's secret State of the Union poll have now been made public post the Scottish Covid Inquiry and it makes very interesting reading.
  Lesley reflects on Nicola Sturgeon's appearance at the inquiry.
  
  Meanwhile has Rishi Sunak sunk to a new low with his Piers Morgan Rwanda bet?
  If you want to see Lesley's Denmark movie here's the link
  https://www.lesleyriddoch.com/events-mobile
  
  All this plus Lesley's mystery patient experience, the coverage of King Charles' cancer diagnosis and the usual meanderings frae Pat.

• A Proportionate Response

  This is the bumper episode to end all bumper episodes.
  We reflect on the DUP behind the scenes maneuvers that looks like leading to a return of devolved government in Northern Ireland. What are the details of the deal done between the DUP and the UK government and what political impact will it have both domestically and in the UK?
  The drone attack on Tower 22 and the death of three US serviceman has added yet another layer of complexity to the expanding crisis in the Middle East. What will Biden's response be? How connected was it to the situation in Gaza?
  We also examine the ICJ rulings on potential Israel genocide in Gaza, the Israeli reaction and the defunding of UNRWA.
  Donald Trump won the New Hampshire Republican primary. Is this the end for Nikki Haley or is there still more to play for in the race for the GOP's presidential nomination?
  Michael Gove was the "star turn" in the Scottish leg of the Covid Inquiry. We ask just who was playing politics during the pandemic?
  All this plus epic bus journeys, speirin Scoats, and double heel day.
  If you fancy seeing Lesley's new film on Denmark, follow this link
  https://www.lesleyriddoch.com/events-mobile

• Rebel Rebel

  In this week's episode
  The much trumpeted and poured over Tory rebellion in the Commons over the Rwanda Bill fizzled out but it looks like it will face defeat in the Lords. We cheer the humanitarian victory but what does it say about the state of British politics when we rely on the unelected chamber?
  As DeSantis drops out of the race to be the GOP presidential candidate the circus moves on to New Hampshire and its primaries. Nikki Haley is the last candidate standing as the Trump juggernaut rumbles on. The Donald is way ahead in local Republican polls but what part will the 40% Independents play in the final result?
  Biden is not on the ballot in the Democratic primary but will a low turnout and lack of "write ins" be blow to his re-election strategy?
   We discuss Lesley's latest National article which looks at the contest and what lessons the SNP could learn from Biden's lack of popular appeal.
  Talking of the SNP Humza Yousaf has expressed his unease at the "National" element of the party name. Where did the name come from? Should it be changed and to what?
  Meanwhile the Covid Inquiry Scottish phase has begun. We try and get our heads around the WhatsApp messages kerfuffle.
  Emily Thornberry was the latest politician to claim that Netanyahu's rejection of the two-state solution was somehow an outlier within Israeli politics and that there were significant opposition voices. We question that assumption.
  According to a new report for Centre for Cities, the average person in the UK has lost out on an average of £10,200. The figures are even worse in Scotland. It rises to £45,240 for Aberdeen, which is the worst-hit city in the report.
  https://www.centreforcities.org/publication/cities-outlook-2024/
  For those of you who don't know the great Dick Gaughan and his work here's a few wee links.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThuBz6ly-ts
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmwHHUsWM_M
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWyWe-udK7M&list=OLAK5uy_lS2djP85J9fMir5R2zW5ETNv7xez7H6qQ
  
  Meanwhile Lesley continues her tour with the new Denmark film. If you fancy seeing it, here you go.
   https://lesleyriddoch.com/events

• Back in the US of A

  I don't know about you folks, but it doesn't seem like two minutes since the last US Presidential elections.  Yet here we are January 2024, and the results of the Iowa Republican caucus are in and it's a resounding victory for Donald Trump. We try and make sense of this most arcane aspect of American political life and what the figures tell us about the potential of another Trump presidency.
  Here in the UK, there will be a General Election this year and YouGov have just published a massive "super poll" predicting an almost unprecedented wipe-out of the Tory Party and a massive Labour majority. The SNP being predicted to lose around half its seats while remaining, just, the largest party, ahead of Labour.
  How is the SNP responding to this threat and what is its campaign strategy?
  However, that General Election might be closer than we think if the Conservative" Five families" put their money where their mouths are and rebel on Sunak's Rwanda Bill. Will Lee Anderson et al be the turkeys who vote for Christmas?
  Tension in the Middle East continues to ramp up with the USA and UK taking military action against the Houthi rebels in the Yemen. Who are the Houthis and what do they want?
  If you want to see Lesley's Denmark film here's a list of dates, times, and venues
  https://lesleyriddoch.com/events

• Communication Breakdown

  It's the first episode after our Christmas break and there's certainly a lot to talk about. When wasn't there?  I hear you ask.
  The political parties are definitely shifting into election mode. Big speeches from Sir Keir Starmer, Humza Yousaf, and Anas Sarwar.
  Meanwhile Rishi Sunak, and his communications "experts" decided that a mash-up video of Home Alone and Love Actually was just the job to promote Sunak as the man to be Prime Minister.
  We dissect not just that video but those speeches to examine the terrain the election will be fought on in Scotland.
  2024 sees the 25th anniversaries of both the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd. We ask the question why the Labour Party in Wales has taken such a radically different perspective and position on "nationalism" to that of Scottish Labour.
  Mr. Bates v The Post Office has struck a popular chord probably not seen since Cathy Come Home. Why has it taken 25 years for this scandal to attract so much attention and for how long can those responsible avoid the consequences?
  Along the way we also discuss reform of the NHS, the movie "One Life", dodgy festive period breakfasts and screenings of Lesley's latest film Denmark: State of Happiness
  Details of where and when you can see it right here
  https://www.thenational.scot/news/24035052.denmark-state-happiness-film---showings/
  And here
  https://lesleyriddoch.com/events

• Richard Wyn Jones-Podcast Special
  Richard Wyn Jones is Director of Cardiff University's Wales Governance and Dean of Public Affairs is our guest on this podcast special.
   His current work focuses on contemporary Welsh politics, devolved politics in the UK and nationalism. He is also considered to be one of the founders of Critical Security Studies.
  
  

  Richard is a regular and widely respected broadcaster, commentating on Welsh politics in both Welsh and English for the BBC in Wales and across the UK. He has presented two TV series and is a regular columnist for the Welsh language current affairs magazine Barn. In addition, he has contributed comment columns to a number of newspapers including the Western Mail, Irish Times, The Guardian and Sunday Times.
  Richard is a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales and the Academy of the Social Sciences.
  
  We explore the Welsh political landscape with Richard in light of Mark Drakeford's recent resignation announcement
  https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/14/england-chaos-boris-johnson-wales-mark-drayford-wales-legacy?CMP=share_btn_fb&fbclid=IwAR3c6Z4kFs5JSL8NREvYtT0cLOmsjqmWJ4DNZCR6FLzeaXZS7vk_bJQAwUU
  
  We then move on to the fascinating findings contained in Englishness: The Political Force Transforming Britain where Richard and Ailsa Henderson, Professor of Political Science at Edinburgh University, draw on data from the Future of England Survey, a specially commissioned public attitudes survey programme,to explore the political implications of English identity, and the nature of English nationalism.
  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Englishness-Political-Force-Transforming-Britain/dp/0198870787
  https://academic.oup.com/book/39510
  In September 2023 Richard and Ailsa also co-authored The Ambivalent Union report which revealed different attitudes within and between the UK’s constituent units towards the European Union, it also revealed the ambivalence of attitudes towards the union of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
  https://www.ippr.org/files/2023-09/the-ambivalent-union-sept23.pdf
• The Break Up Of Britain Conference-Podcast Special

  Inspired by the works of Tom Nairn, who died in January this year, the Break Up Of Britain Conference was held in the Assembly Rooms Edinburgh on November the 18th.
  The conference focused on the future of the United Kingdom, its nations, and the European Union.
  This podcast special features the opening panel session chaired by Adam Ramsay openDemocracy's special correspondent.
  Speakers
  Professor Will Storrar-current Director of the Center of Theological Inquiry at Princeton University. He has led research on the potential of global civil society and digital democracy
  Caroline Lucas MP - has twice led the Green Party of England and Wales and has been the Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion since the 2010 general election. She was re-elected in the 2015, 2017 and 2019 general elections.
  Clive Lewis MP - has been the Member of Parliament for Norwich South since winning the seat at the 2015 general election. He was a candidate for Leader of the Labour Party in the 2020 leadership election. He is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group parliamentary caucus.
  Leanne Wood - served as the leader of Plaid Cymru from March 2012 to September 2018, and served as a Member of the Senedd from 2003 to 2021.
  And oor ain Lesley Riddoch
  Noo a correction fir an error Lesley made in her speech. Denmark's GDP per capita is one third higher than the UK's no three times higher. Still no bad fir a wee nation.

• Money Money Money
  In the last podcast of 2023, we give our initial reaction to the Scottish Budget. How will the much trumpeted 1.5 billion pound "blackhole" be filled?
  Baroness Michele Mone and her husband Douglas Barrowman appeared on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Baroness Mone conceded she will benefit from the profits made by PPE Medpro, which is led by her husband. She also admitted she repeatedly lied about her non-involvement with the company. Will she be used as a lightning rod by the Tories to divert attention from the bigger scandal of cronyism at the heart of the UK government response to the Covid crisis? Will she spill the beans? And how did Kuenssberg handle the interview?
   Nadine Dorries, remember her, has made accusations that Sir Robbie Gibb, one of the non-exec directors on the BBC Board who is responsible for upholding and protecting its independence, sought to influence the appointment of the Head of Ofcom.
  
  Speaking at an event in Italy, Rishi Sunak said "enemies" could use immigration as a "weapon" by "deliberately driving people to our shores to try to destabilise our society". and hinted at the need to change international law on immigration, telling the crowd at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Atreju political festival: "If we do not tackle this problem, the numbers will only grow. "It will overwhelm our countries and our capacity to help those who actually need our help the most.
  Have far right policies become so embedded in the Conservative Party that the UK Prime Minister can address a far-right convention and talk of shared values?
  With yet more horror stories emerging from Gaza how long can the international community, yes you the USA and UK, stay silent on an immediate ceasefire?
  
  We asked you to get in touch with your experiences of Curriculum for Excellence and Lesley goes through some of your replies.
  
  

  We also look back at our favourite things from 2023.
• Chaos Theory

  It's not been a great week for Rishi Sunak.
  First off was his appearance at the Covid Inquiry following hard on the heels of that of Boris Johnson. We look at the testimony of this pair and what it says about the state of the UK.
  As we record, Sunak is scuttling around trying to ensure he can scrape together enough votes to stave off defeat on the Second Reading of his Rwanda Bill.
  Talking about scuttling, Graham Stuart UK Climate Minister has been summoned back from COP28 to take part in the Rwanda vote right at the critical moment when last minute negotiations are taking place over the watering down of the text calling for phasing out of fossil fuels.
  
  Much has been made of Scottish "failings" when it comes to the recent PISA results from the OECD with negative comparisons being made with England. We take a look behind the headline figures and other recent findings which seem to contradict the received wisdom over the "failure" of the Scottish education system.
  Meanwhile Alister Jack and David Cameron have taken a major strop at Humza Yousaf having the temerity to actually meet and speak with folk at COP28.
   Whaur's yir maist pooerful devolved government noo?