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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

In this week's episodeThe 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...

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...

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...

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...

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.SpeakersProfessor Will Storrar-current Director of the Center of Theological Inquiry at Princeton University. He has led...

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...

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...

As Sir Keir Starmer, no matter what the apologists claim, follows in the line of Blair and Brown by praising Margaret Thatcher we look at the damage wreaked by the Iron Lady's policies of privatisation and her toxic legacy and wonder why Starmer thought it was essential to pay homage to the Blessed Margaret.The Tories are going ahead with the immigration reforms we discussed last week, James Cleverly is in Rwanda seeking to formalise a new treaty which will magically make Rwanda a safe...

Some weeks there are so many issues to get through but we try our best in this episode.The Covid Inquiry continues to throw a hard light on the incompetence and down right corruption of the UK government during the pandemic.We look at the latest revelations and testimonies from amongst others Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham.We also question the almost universal ignoring of the inquiry by the Scottish media.This is in stark contrast to the obsession with Michael Matheson's laptop, which spilled...

Hope is high that there will be a truce between Hamas and Israel meaning that there will be a release of hostages and a suspension of fighting in Gaza.Today saw Humza Yousaf present a motion to the Scottish Parliament calling for a ceasefire. We give our immediate reaction to the speeches.The Westminster vote last Wednesday on the SNP King's Speech amendment saw a rebellion by 56 Labour MPs who disobeyed the instruction to abstain. The narrative being that the SNP ceasefire proposal was a...

As yet another Tory Cabinet reshuffle took place we ask if Sunak is making the last throw of the electoral dice by ditching Braverman and bringing back Cameron?Was he trying to entice back "the blue wall" while assuaging the red meat right with the recall of Esther McVey?Massive pro peace demonstrations took place across the UK last weekend. This display of popular disgust at the Israeli destruction of Gaza and the ensuing loss of life seems to signal a shift, at least among the public,...