On this week’s dugcast I am delighted to be joined by the writer and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch. We chat about the hutting movement, Scotland’s relationship to the land, how our chances for independence have recently been boosted by public confidence in the handling of the pandemic in Scotland, and a whole lot more besides.
We had some sound issues with this dugcast. I had to turn my microphone down quite a lot as otherwise there was a very distracting echo on the recording. So my sound level is very quiet. Apologies for that.
If the embedding doesn’t work for you, you can access the podcast by clicking on the following link : https://soundcloud.com/user-291670852/dugcast-24-09-2020-with-lesley-riddoch
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Wee Ginger Dug 
“Some of the only” WTF?
Lesley Riddoch is one person who you would be willing to listen to when she worked at the bbc. Good interviewer. I think she was removed for being too independent thinking.
Yes, and she’s not alone. It’s amazing how any freelancer in broadcasting who has had a positive view of the prospects of independence has largely disappeared from BBC Scotland over the last few years. Likewise people like our host, while now representing more than 50% of (licence-paying) public opinion, are very evidently persona non grata. Whatever their personal opinions, staffers are kept on a very tight leash, with only a background drone of negativity to be discerned.
Grizbard.
The BBC have censored those who support Scottish independence, indeed MI5 once, and probably still do vet potential BBC employees.
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/bbc-denies-blacklist-claims-by-presenter-hardeep-singh-kohli/?share=email
Reverted to earphones as the audio balance between you and Lesley was brutal and no offence intended, perhaps have a word with Pat/Lesley how their “helper” solved it after they went through similar problems.
An excellent and most enjoyable exchange otherwise even if the “hutting” aspect didn’t get quite the attention it should but ultimately will..
Any ship can be a minesweeper, once, the SS Johnson is volunteering, Starmer wants “to look at it” in 2021, hope he has a rear view mirror handy as we’re off, and not waiting for the explosion…
I have listened to Lesley many, many times. The more I do the less I understand the reluctance, timidity, self doubt of so many of my fellow countrymen.
The quality of people who speak in favour of Independence fills me with pride. I have no doubt we will build a much fairer society than that shaped by the current Union which is an outdated legacy of an old Empire mindset based on entitlement.
“I have no doubt we will build a much fairer society than that shaped by the current Union which is an outdated legacy of an old Empire mindset based on entitlement”
Seconded.
..thirded !!!
Fourthed!
Lesley is a fantastic speaker, and it’s great to hear you and her together. Here’s hoping her rightful fascination with land ownership and its stunting effect on the Scottish soul (long before even the Union…) has rubbed off on you. We are a funny folk, and it’s our history what’s made us so.
Fingers crossed you’ll have Andy Wightman (the Greens best MSP) on at some point, too. He’s a significant voice on this stuff, and Holyrood seldom listens.
Excellent Pod cast!
I too would like to hear more of what Andy Wightman has to say. I think he’d fit well into the longer format that these podcasts allow.
We need more of our clever people to come forth and speak up for Scotland’s independence.
The time for sitting on the fence has passed
Thanks for that.
I’d rather listen to Lesley Riddoch talking a whole lot of sense and with authority on subjects that we don’t hear nowhere near enough about. The difference between Lesley and say, Ruth Davidson, Annie Wells, Pritti Patel or Liz Truss is only one of them know what they are talking about!
The rest of them need the media to big them up and that’s why they get the airtime. I never knew that it was Labour who took out of the Scotland Act the proposal for our parliament to have power over broadcasting.
Now that I do I’ll make sure that I remind those who still support Labour how they have been responsible for Scotland being screwed over by the Tory party for more than a decade now.
Thoroughly enjoyed the intelligent ,highly informative and interesting discussion with Lesley Riddoch and yourself. The sound quality from your end WGD did not live up to the discussion…..must admit it was a bit of a distraction.
Lesley‘s is a voice of sanity and clarity in the present madness.
Yeah, sorry about the sound. It was either reduce the volume on my end substantially or there would have been an even more distracting echo on the recording.
It’s caused when the person I’m interviewing’s mic picks up the sound of my voice coming from their earphones or headpiece.
In other news:
Brillo is on the move from the BBC:
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/sep/25/andrew-neil-launches-24-hour-new-channel-to-rival-bbc-and-sky
Ineos boss leaving ‘the country:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/sep/25/sir-jim-ratcliffe-uks-richest-person-moves-to-tax-free-monaco-brexit-ineos-domicile
Another Westminster trick
This is an excuse to have wall to wall coverage of anti independence propaganda because the BBC wouldn’t get away with doing it.
So here we have GB TV set up by Westminster and Andrew Neil to increase the propaganda war against Scotland
In other news Ciaran Jenkins told to go home. Hahahahaha.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/18749044.nicola-sturgeon-defends-welsh-channel-4-reporter-told-go-home/
Darn, she spoiled that one.
In light of his comments, and the fact that over 50% of the Scottish electorate support Independence, I would imagine that Brillo will be desperate to offer people like Paul and Lesley a job 🙄.
“We will champion robust, balanced debate and a range of perspectives on the issues that affect everyone in the UK, not just those living in the London area.”
Anti independence propaganda against Scotland
I guess their “robust debate” will be “balanced” in the same the way that QT audiences are “balanced”, and the HoC is “balanced”. Being “balanced” over the whole of the UK is just another way of essentially serving an ever-dominant England, “balanced” to their satisfaction maybe but not so much to ours.
So that’ll be places like Kent, the Cotswolds and maybe a foray into the ‘North and North East’ … that’ll be of England, of course. Any really ‘bad’ news and they’ll venture into Scotland to harass and then ultimately ignore anything the ScotGov has to say while allowing DRoss and the Baroness, Ali Jack-in-the-Box who pops up now and again, and Richie Lender to prattle on uninterrupted about no more referendums and the terrible state Scotland’s in thanks to 300 years of Union – oops, sorry, no, got that wrong – thanks to 10 years of SNP Govt.
We get the picture.
You’re whispering Paul.
I’m really not – but I had to turn my microphone way down in order to prevent an echo in the recording because Lesley’s mic was picking up the sound of my voice from her headphones.
O/T Trump’s administration are sending the US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland next week to our shores.
“Mr Mulvaney will travel to Dublin, Belfast and London.”
Last week, Mick Mulvaney warned against creating a “hard border by accident” on the island of Ireland following efforts by the UK government to amend parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.
https://archive.vn/HTxQ9
Their cards are being marked, this time by the Republicans after Joe Biden threatened no deal if the GFA is compromised. Looks like both parties are in competition for the Irish vote in the US election which is bad news for the Internal Market Bill.
I sense another U-Turn by this incompetent government hahaha.
But wait! Leaving the EU meant that the UK wasn’t going to be pushed around any more. Taking back control, etc. Free to do whatever
weUKGov wants. So this is all havers. Can’t be happenin’.Just can’t. Can it…?
Scotland has a record of winning second referendums once the first ones have been designed to be lost to put us off the idea of having any autonomy, so I’m not in the slightest bit worried about anything, I’m beginning to think this next referendum is going to be a bit of a breeze and everybody will wonder what the hell happened to make it so easy
But it seems the leftists and puzzle masters -aye the ones that canny get elected under proportional representation have other plans “…Otherwise, all bets are off – civil disobedience, general strike, occupations, blockades, and every other peaceful method of disruption will be used and escalated until we get a democratic channel for our legitimate ambition i.e. the channel we’ve been promised for years.”
Aye that will be popular. Sorry guys it’s no the polltax
Some feedback Paul.
Your mic for me is always very quiet. Sometimes the other one is too, but Lesley’s voice or her mic was top notch.
Maybe you’re quiet-spoken, but I think the mic could be turned up a smidgen.
For those of us that don’t have 100% lugs. Pretty sure everyone can tune the volume down to suit. 🙂
Have now listened to the whole thing. Good and interesting podcast. I picked up on a lot of things, such as people being challenged as ‘divisive’. Smiled at that. Then Lesley mentioned Hanover Street, and I got to thinking about my home city of Aberdeen.
Main street – Union Street (see also Union Terrace, Union Grove, Union Row, Union Square (Shopping Centre built 2009). King Street, Queen Street, Queen’s Cross, and on and on.
Then there’s the notable statues:
Queen Victoria at the centre of Queen’s Cross roundabout, in an affluent area with legal and medical businesses, large houses.
Edward the VII – Massive statue, right in the centre of Union Street, but along Union Terrance we have a wee statue of Rabbie Burns.
Further off the beaten track we have a very impressive statue of William Wallace, which quite frankly looms over you when you stare up at it. I can remember looking at it as a child and being inspired by it.
Later on I realised he had been relegated to the backstage of Aberdeen, and now guides the way to “His Majesty’s Theatre”, like a permanent doorman.
Have a wander from Union Street along Union Terrace on Google Maps. You’ll see what I mean.
The ‘swastikisation ‘ of one of England’s last colonies.
Butcher’s Aprons flutter everywhere, and Scotland’s newest hospital named after the English Queen Elizabeth II without our say so, the citizens of Scotland who actually paid for the thing and its upkeep.
Like every other imperial fascist nation, England swamps its conquered territories with symbols of its power, just to let us, the vanquished, know whose boss.
I equate the Jack with the swastika.
Not any feckin’ more.
There will be a massive renaming of buildings come Independence.
‘The Royal Alexandria Infirmary’?
Aye right.
‘who’s’. Autocorrect? Whit?
I saw an advert online this week for Harris Tweed – but alongside it , just as prominently displayed , was a Union fleg and the words ”British Tweed ” !!!
Have you noticed that outside all Morrison’s supermarkets they have a cardboard cutout of a policeman – an English policeman !
The brainwashing is not even subtle anymore !
What a nice interview.
Alzheimer’s so widespread is it’s effect.
I remember my father saying to me about his Alzheimer’s when I asked if it gets him down
“ the thing is terry , you forget you have a bad memory “ !!
I see so many people relatives , who are always trying to correct their loved one with Alzheimer’s
I say to them “don’t” , the error is unimportant just agree with them in the moment or make no comment
Then at a later time you can if you wish state the correction
Staying friendly keeps you on their side
Continually correcting memory loss often causes annoyance unnecessarily
I often search online property sale websites for something like a wee hut or bothy in the middle of nowhere but as you say …nothing.
It’s scandalous that we are all crammed into five cities and all that land we see is owned but shut off to us the owners being secret and absent
One of my seemingly limitless hoary old chestnuts, Terence.
18% 0f Scotland laid waste so that fat rich folk can kill animals for fun, including golden eagles.
New Scotland bans blood sports from day one, and ‘buy back’ the Robber Barons plundered land at £1 an acre.
Then we shall breathe again if Free Scotland.
I’m all for that