Lesley and Fraser are back at the mic — though Fraser's proper kit is officially goosed apologies for the less than stellar sound quality. This week we look at Kemi Badenoch and her suggestion of a review and roll-back of Holyrood’s devolved powers, handing John Swinney an open goal. Meanwhile, PM Andy Burnham threatens to crash the party in Aberdeen with his own unsolicited foray into Scottish local government reforms with a possible added big energy policy announcement up his sleeve.

In this week's episode, the hosts break down what First Minister John Swinney needs to deliver to capture the public's imagination amidst voter exhaustion and a yearning to "get back to normal." Plus, a deep dive into the impending Jackdaw gas field decision, Green Party conference post-mortems, Stephen Flynn's gallus transport committee grilling, Hannah Mary Goodlad’s broad Shetlandic clapback to tabloid froth, and the constitutional standoff over Portadown's Garvaghy Road.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Badenoch's Devolution Review & Burnham’s Conference Gatecrashing: Kemi Badenoch threatens to clip Holyrood's wings, while Andy Burnham plans a cheeky Friday trip to Scotland right in the middle of the SNP conference. Fraser Thompson and Lesley Riddoch analyse whether Burnham is staying in his own lane as he wafts around regional devolution and rejoining the EU single market. Plus, Lesley previews the Build Local Scotland fringe meeting at the SNP conference (Friday 9:15 AM, Conference Room 3 — hot bacon rolls included!).
• Jackdaw, Rosebank & Scotland's Energy Crossroads: With rumours mounting that an official decision on the Jackdaw gas field off Shetland is imminent, Lesley unpacks the crucial differences between Jackdaw’s gas reserves and Rosebank’s oil. Will local extraction actually lower household energy bills, or are we just trapped on an endless fossil fuel hamster wheel?
• Green Party Conference & By-Election Fallout: Following the Holborn & St Pancras by-election, Green deputy leader Zack Polanski faces heat over a contentious conference motion defining Zionism as racism. Meanwhile, reports of entryism, internal slates, and Welsh Greens threatening to split off add to a proper post-conference stramash.
• Stephen Flynn’s Gallus Transport Grilling: Stephen Flynn faces a sticky patch after Holyrood’s Transport Committee appearance and subsequent FOI revelations of who sent what when. Was "FaceTiming the bairns" a valid defence for a lack of briefing, or does the former Westminster leader need to drop the gallus put-downs and get fully read into his cabinet secretariat brief?
• Hannah Mary Goodlad & The Shetland Trowies: Tabloid newspapers get themselves into a right fankel over Shetland MSP Hannah Mary Goodlad advertising for an "artist in residence" comms role. Hannah Mary takes to Facebook in Shetlandic to set the record straight on parliamentary office budgets and political mischief-makers.
• Garvaghy Road, Drumcree & The Northern Ireland Standoff: A major jurisdictional row erupts after Secretary of State Chris Bryant bans an Orange Order parade along Portadown’s Catholic Garvaghy Road, overruling a legal determination by the Parades Commission and placing First Minister Michelle O'Neill right on the protest line.

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• Rosebank & Jackdaw Explainer: Stop Cambo: Everything You Need to Know About the Rosebank Oil Field
• Drumcree & Garvaghy Road Context: BBC News: Drumcree Explainer
• Hannah Mary Goodlad's Response: Hannah Mary Goodlad MSP Facebook Video Riposte

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In this week's episode, Lesley Riddoch and Fraser Thompson reflect on a more lively couple of days at the SNP Conference in Aberdeen. Far from the half-empty halls predicted by the right-wing press, Lesley reports a perkier atmosphere powered by an articulate new wave of young independence campaigners, frisky debates on land tax, and big questions on local democracy.

Topics Covered This Week

• A Perkier SNP Conference: Lesley gives her view from the Aberdeen floor, where Young Scots for Independence set an energetic tone right out of the gates. Meanwhile, Dave Doogan delivered a sharp, witty address as Westminster leader, landing cheeky jabs at both Andy Burnham's ten-year plans and Stephen Flynn's hair.
• SNP Policy Debates: key motions from the conference floor. Hannah Mary Goodlad and Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth brought forward a motion on investigating a Scottish Land Tax—provoking spirited discussion on shell companies, unregistered land, and compulsory purchase powers for tax dodgers.
• Bus Franchising & Andy Burnham’s Interventions: Re-regulating buses is firmly back on the menu. As John Swinney announced plans for public control over routes and fares, private bus operators threw a proper paddy, while Andy Burnham made a cheeky wee jaunt into proceedings from Motherwell to lecture Holyrood on centralisation.
• Local Democracy & Mega-Councils: At a packed Build a Local Scotland fringe meeting, Dave Watson (Jimmy Reid Foundation) and Cabinet Secretary Ivan McKee joined the fray. Lesley and Fraser discuss the confusion surrounding council reorganisation, comparing Scotland's remote mega-councils with Sweden’s hyper-local municipal setup, and making the case for a genuine Citizens' Assembly.
• De-Xing Holyrood: A near-unanimous conference vote backing an exit from X (formerly Twitter) sparks lively debate on toxic algorithms versus the practical need for public transport operators like CalMac to reach folk.
• Film Review – NAZA: Lesley shares her experience watching NAZA at the Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA). The documentary presents clinical, unvarnished testimony from IDF soldiers detailing automated targeting systems, collateral civilian damage ("Naza" counts), and the total destruction in Gaza.

Links

• Better Buses Strathclyde Campaign: bringbackbritishrail.org/strathclyde
• Lesley Riddoch on Bus Franchising: The National Column (2024)
• The National Podcast with Ivan McKee: Watch on YouTube
• NAZA Film Documentary Review: RogerEbert.com
• Local Government Reform Article: Sceptical Scot

Pacific-Sized Prep, Green Stramashes & Burnham’s Neoliberal Double-Lock

It’s a Monday recording this week as Lesley dodges the pending house-clearance for 'the moth man' to chew over a busy week in politics. With conference season rumbling on, Andy Burnham’s constitutional double-talk is under the microscope alongside Richard Murphy’s sobering warnings about rejoining a possible right-leaning future EU. Meanwhile, the Green Party conference in Brighton triggers internal splits over a contentious Zionism motion, Kemi Badenoch channels her inner Iron Lady with a 30,000-word manifesto, and the SNP faces hard questions about whether passing conference motions is any substitute for real independence preparation.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Burnham, Neoliberalism & EU Rejoining: Fraser and Lesley unpack the ongoing fallout from the Labour conference. Citing Richard Murphy who cut through the noise to highlight how Burnham’s grand promises clash with Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules. Plus, a look at Europe’s far-right surges as we contemplate what future EU partnership might look like.

• Holyrood's Targets & Tory Nuclear Tanks: With the Joseph Rowntree Foundation warning that legally binding Scottish child poverty targets are set to be missed, Lesley and Fraser discuss the need for a bolder vision. Meanwhile, UK Tory energy spokesperson Andrew Bowie threatens to override Scottish planning powers to force nuclear power onto Holyrood's lawn.

• Green Party Conference & By-Election Blues: As Holborn & St Pancras approaches, John Crace’s scathing Guardian review paints a bleak picture for Zack Polanski. We look at the fallout from the conference floor, where delegates voted to define Zionism as racism while rejecting an amendment to protect Jewish members attending Zionist synagogues.

• Rental Crises & Youth Protests: Beyond party squabbles, housing protests in Madrid and radical shifts in European cities highlight a generation of despairing young key workers priced out of living.

• Kemi’s Tapestry & December Rumours: The Tories prepare for conference with an 18-foot AI Bayeux Tapestry mockup and Kemi Badenoch’s 30,000-word The Right Way pamphlet. Fraser recalls the miserable freezing reality of the December 2019 general election campaigning with Joanna Cherry amid fresh chatter of a snap winter poll.

• Pensions, Social Care & The Pacific Rowing Mindset: John Swinney sparks unionist outrage over Burnham's pension double-lock proposal. Ahead of the SNP conference, Fraser and Lesley discuss Tony Giugliano’s motion on independence strategy, arguing that passing a motion is meaningless without the relentless, ocean-rowing levels of preparation needed to build a real movement.

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• Common Weal: Prospectus for a New State
• The Guardian: What is Zionism? The Green Party Debate
• John Crace (The Guardian): Zack Polanski at Brighton: Wave Goodbye
• Simon Pearson (Substack): Zionism, Racism and the Green Party
• Richard Murphy (The National): What Angers Me Most About Andy Burnham's Conference Speech

Support the Podcast:

If you enjoy our weekly banter and independent Scottish political analysis, please consider supporting the show!

Become a Pal or Buddy: Get extra bonus content, archive access, and help keep us podcasting over at lesleyriddoch.com/podcast.