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 ..read more

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 suppl ..read more

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, Ga ..read more

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 privatis ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 an ..read more

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 c ..read more

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 po ..read more