Lesley Riddoch
@lesleyriddoch.bsky.social
Journalist, Blossom & Thrive, Director http://nordichorizons.org, Columnist http://thenational.scot. Podcast http://lesleyriddoch.com Denmark & Estonia films https://www.youtube.com/@Lesley_Riddoch
Finland is the world's happiest country for the 8th year running. How do they do it? New film coming very soon. www.reuters.com/business/fin...
November 25, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Finland is the world's happiest country for the 8th year running. How do they do it? New film coming very soon. www.reuters.com/business/fin...
Has Scotland's fitba victory left a lasting bounce? The Covid Inquiry says Scotgov should've deviated faster fm WM - should Nicola Sturgeon have closed the border? As Danish Labour lose Mayors to the left/greens sd UK Labour rethink its hardline migration stance? Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
November 24, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Has Scotland's fitba victory left a lasting bounce? The Covid Inquiry says Scotgov should've deviated faster fm WM - should Nicola Sturgeon have closed the border? As Danish Labour lose Mayors to the left/greens sd UK Labour rethink its hardline migration stance? Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
In truth, it’s not the hope that kills you. It’s having nothing left to hope for. The men’s team have done their bit. Time for the rest of us to get back out there.
www.thenational.scot/sport/opinio...
www.thenational.scot/sport/opinio...
Lesley Riddoch: Scotland’s team have given us much-needed hope – now it’s our turn
So that’s what it feels like. Hope flooding a country. I don’t need to mention the cause. The whole of Scotland is still buzzing
www.thenational.scot
November 20, 2025 at 5:49 PM
In truth, it’s not the hope that kills you. It’s having nothing left to hope for. The men’s team have done their bit. Time for the rest of us to get back out there.
www.thenational.scot/sport/opinio...
www.thenational.scot/sport/opinio...
Watching Kenny McLean, radio commentators urged caution - ready to settle for just good enough. And then a man with a reputation for caution lifted his head, spotted a possibility, trusted himself & smashed every mediocre expectation of Scots to smithereens.
www.thenational.scot/sport/opinio...
www.thenational.scot/sport/opinio...
Lesley Riddoch: Scotland’s team have given us much-needed hope – now it’s our turn
So that’s what it feels like. Hope flooding a country. I don’t need to mention the cause. The whole of Scotland is still buzzing
www.thenational.scot
November 20, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Watching Kenny McLean, radio commentators urged caution - ready to settle for just good enough. And then a man with a reputation for caution lifted his head, spotted a possibility, trusted himself & smashed every mediocre expectation of Scots to smithereens.
www.thenational.scot/sport/opinio...
www.thenational.scot/sport/opinio...
Listening to Radio Scotland phone-in. Tidal waves of repressed hope & joy unleashed. Have to write a column today. But sitting greetin, laughing and replaying vid of McTominay searching for his mum after that goal. Helps to hear half of Scotland is also awash with emotion. 🏴
Scott McTominay's three-word celebration after scoring the first goal in last night's match against Denmark has won hearts in viral clip 🚨
Scott McTominay's emotional three-word celebration wins hearts in viral clip
www.thenational.scot
November 19, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Listening to Radio Scotland phone-in. Tidal waves of repressed hope & joy unleashed. Have to write a column today. But sitting greetin, laughing and replaying vid of McTominay searching for his mum after that goal. Helps to hear half of Scotland is also awash with emotion. 🏴
Labour’s draconian crackdown against asylum seekers has pushed Number Ten's circular firing squad off the front pages along with the hokey Cokey budget. But will it push left leaning voters further away fm Labour & validate Reform’s empathy-crushing agenda? Yes. Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
November 18, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Labour’s draconian crackdown against asylum seekers has pushed Number Ten's circular firing squad off the front pages along with the hokey Cokey budget. But will it push left leaning voters further away fm Labour & validate Reform’s empathy-crushing agenda? Yes. Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
Scotland's Missing Forests 120k views in a week. Wonder if Scotgov gets the message. Barren-looking land, even overgrazed & burnt grouse moors, can support natural woodland & biodiversity. This is the story of two pals who went where politicians fear to tread www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuTV...
November 15, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Scotland's Missing Forests 120k views in a week. Wonder if Scotgov gets the message. Barren-looking land, even overgrazed & burnt grouse moors, can support natural woodland & biodiversity. This is the story of two pals who went where politicians fear to tread www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuTV...
Chuffed to be discussing Scotland's Future tomorrow Sun 6pm at AyeWrite in Glasgow with former FM Henry McLeish, chaired by Kirsteen Paterson. Henry & I had frisky chat at Kircudbright Fringe a month ago. Trust this will be similar. Some tix still available. www.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/unfi...
November 15, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Chuffed to be discussing Scotland's Future tomorrow Sun 6pm at AyeWrite in Glasgow with former FM Henry McLeish, chaired by Kirsteen Paterson. Henry & I had frisky chat at Kircudbright Fringe a month ago. Trust this will be similar. Some tix still available. www.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/unfi...
Panorama's mistake has riled Trump. But one bad edit merits apology & correction not capitulation with our licence fee cash. The BBC sd prepare for court like NY Times & Wall St Journal with Number 10 support. Instead, we're in for a credibility-destroying grovel www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
Lesley Riddoch: I thought the BBC was about broadcasting – not capitulation
THE BBC is facing meltdown, thanks to a sloppy Panorama edit and a management unable to apologise and quickly correct it
www.thenational.scot
November 13, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Panorama's mistake has riled Trump. But one bad edit merits apology & correction not capitulation with our licence fee cash. The BBC sd prepare for court like NY Times & Wall St Journal with Number 10 support. Instead, we're in for a credibility-destroying grovel www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
Five UN Special Rapporteurs condemn Palestine Action ban as "not justified", "unnecessary" and a move associated with authoritarian states. Will this be raised in #PMQs? Will it be covered by @BBCNews?
tinyurl.com/2s4cyzar
tinyurl.com/2s4cyzar
November 12, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Five UN Special Rapporteurs condemn Palestine Action ban as "not justified", "unnecessary" and a move associated with authoritarian states. Will this be raised in #PMQs? Will it be covered by @BBCNews?
tinyurl.com/2s4cyzar
tinyurl.com/2s4cyzar
Has the BBC been captured by a bunch of extreme right wingers? Does anyone believe Aunty is pro Palestine? Who will pay Trump's damages - licence-fee payers? What about record low trust levels in Scotland post #indyref? Plus prisons, David Lammy & Trad Awards. Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
November 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Has the BBC been captured by a bunch of extreme right wingers? Does anyone believe Aunty is pro Palestine? Who will pay Trump's damages - licence-fee payers? What about record low trust levels in Scotland post #indyref? Plus prisons, David Lammy & Trad Awards. Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
Centuries of overgrazing & muirburn for grouse moors mean Highland Scotland looks treeless & desolate. But it doesn't have to be this way. New film Scotland's Missing Forests went online y'day. Chuffed to see almost 10k views. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuTV... @chrisgpackham.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Centuries of overgrazing & muirburn for grouse moors mean Highland Scotland looks treeless & desolate. But it doesn't have to be this way. New film Scotland's Missing Forests went online y'day. Chuffed to see almost 10k views. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuTV... @chrisgpackham.bsky.social
30 years ago this hopeless, overgrazed hillside was turned into a thriving woodland. Care & fencing restored desolate Glen Garry despite a sub-Arctic climate & proved forests are possible anywhere. So why is much of Scotland a barren wasteland? New film www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuTV...
November 8, 2025 at 5:21 PM
30 years ago this hopeless, overgrazed hillside was turned into a thriving woodland. Care & fencing restored desolate Glen Garry despite a sub-Arctic climate & proved forests are possible anywhere. So why is much of Scotland a barren wasteland? New film www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuTV...
Will Trump cut cash to NYC if 'communist' Zohran Mamdani wins Mayoral race? Are public reassured or panicked by Rachel Reeves pre-budget tough times speech? Reform manifesto pledges falling apart. Plus Land Reform Bill, Edinburgh Trams & the late Elspeth King. Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
November 4, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Will Trump cut cash to NYC if 'communist' Zohran Mamdani wins Mayoral race? Are public reassured or panicked by Rachel Reeves pre-budget tough times speech? Reform manifesto pledges falling apart. Plus Land Reform Bill, Edinburgh Trams & the late Elspeth King. Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
Well said. Elspeth was a life force. Blocked by the auld guys who didn’t ‘get’ the People’s Palace. A Harpies & Quines supporter with her suffragette research. She sd have run Kelvingrove but re-energised Dunfermline & revived Stirling’s Smith Gallery instead. It’s such v bad news.
Sorry to learn this.
She had to fight tooth and nail to get the museums to pay any attention to Glasgow's Women.
She had to fight tooth and nail to get the museums to pay any attention to Glasgow's Women.
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Well said. Elspeth was a life force. Blocked by the auld guys who didn’t ‘get’ the People’s Palace. A Harpies & Quines supporter with her suffragette research. She sd have run Kelvingrove but re-energised Dunfermline & revived Stirling’s Smith Gallery instead. It’s such v bad news.
I spoke at Yes Cymru rally in Rhyl last weekend and was blown away by their wall-to-wall use of Welsh. Astonished to be only non-Welsh speaker on that platform. Its obvious their language is massive part of Plaid’s Caerphilly by-election success.
October 30, 2025 at 12:59 PM
I spoke at Yes Cymru rally in Rhyl last weekend and was blown away by their wall-to-wall use of Welsh. Astonished to be only non-Welsh speaker on that platform. Its obvious their language is massive part of Plaid’s Caerphilly by-election success.
Radio Scotland’s problem isn't GMS presenters but the station's inability to reflect the real, post-indyref, curious, questioning nation Scotland has become & all the narratives, sources & outlooks that exist beyond a weary mainstream. Today's National column.
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
Lesley Riddoch: What should Radio Scotland be doing instead of current 'shake up'?
GOOD Morning Scotland is dead. Long live Good Morning Scotland
www.thenational.scot
October 30, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Radio Scotland’s problem isn't GMS presenters but the station's inability to reflect the real, post-indyref, curious, questioning nation Scotland has become & all the narratives, sources & outlooks that exist beyond a weary mainstream. Today's National column.
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
www.thenational.scot/politics/255...
Spooky - Reform hog headlines tho Plaid Cymru wins. Why is the UK media so desperate for the relentless-rise-of-the-right narrative? Plus Irish Presidential election, violence in Scottish schools, Your Party Glasgow launch & Labour's McNukes policy. Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
October 28, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Spooky - Reform hog headlines tho Plaid Cymru wins. Why is the UK media so desperate for the relentless-rise-of-the-right narrative? Plus Irish Presidential election, violence in Scottish schools, Your Party Glasgow launch & Labour's McNukes policy. Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
This looks good.
October 26, 2025 at 5:10 PM
This looks good.
Why didnt stunning Caerphilly victory clinch prime 8.10am slot for Plaid_Cymru on BBCr4today prog this am? Instead it's all about Labour & Reform losing. Wakey wakey chaps. This is why Welsh folk feel so ignored. Special free podcast with Yescymru folk I met last weekend.
lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
October 24, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Why didnt stunning Caerphilly victory clinch prime 8.10am slot for Plaid_Cymru on BBCr4today prog this am? Instead it's all about Labour & Reform losing. Wakey wakey chaps. This is why Welsh folk feel so ignored. Special free podcast with Yescymru folk I met last weekend.
lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
Or …. Plaid played a blinder. Belief in UK weakened. Small party with zero coverage pulled off massive result.
Polling expert Sir John Curtice said the result of the Caerphilly by-election showed Labour are in 'severe trouble' in Wales after Plaid Cymru won the Senedd seat 👇
Read here: www.thenational.scot/news/2...
Read here: www.thenational.scot/news/2...
October 24, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Or …. Plaid played a blinder. Belief in UK weakened. Small party with zero coverage pulled off massive result.
Are Scots the most indoor folk in Europe? Daytrippers. Next to no family weekend huts. Priced out of overnight stays. Lost family links. Strangers in our own land. Why no outrage? Speaking at Blether of Books Festival Nov 2 Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway. Tix tinyurl.com/bdfcfev2
October 21, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Are Scots the most indoor folk in Europe? Daytrippers. Next to no family weekend huts. Priced out of overnight stays. Lost family links. Strangers in our own land. Why no outrage? Speaking at Blether of Books Festival Nov 2 Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway. Tix tinyurl.com/bdfcfev2
Must Scotland thole being a net exporter of green energy to England with the highest energy bills in Europe? This summer 56 Highland community councils came together to demand a pause & local control. Are they NIMBYs or spot on?
See the film Carnoustie next Tuesday -free with Q&A
See the film Carnoustie next Tuesday -free with Q&A
October 21, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Must Scotland thole being a net exporter of green energy to England with the highest energy bills in Europe? This summer 56 Highland community councils came together to demand a pause & local control. Are they NIMBYs or spot on?
See the film Carnoustie next Tuesday -free with Q&A
See the film Carnoustie next Tuesday -free with Q&A
Is rising popularity of Welsh language driving Plaid's poll lead for 2026 - what can Scotland learn from Cymru? Starmer makes another bad call letting Andrew keep title as Prince. And Burntislanders need a law change to access their own harbour - why? Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
October 21, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Is rising popularity of Welsh language driving Plaid's poll lead for 2026 - what can Scotland learn from Cymru? Starmer makes another bad call letting Andrew keep title as Prince. And Burntislanders need a law change to access their own harbour - why? Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast
Impressive @YesCymru turnout in Rhyl on overcast day. No Saltires @YesBikers or @SaorAlbaPD pipers but Welsh dragon flags everywhere, brass band leading off & organisers using Welsh quite naturally. I’m on around 2pm. Hope I’m as perky #awfyearlystart
October 18, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Impressive @YesCymru turnout in Rhyl on overcast day. No Saltires @YesBikers or @SaorAlbaPD pipers but Welsh dragon flags everywhere, brass band leading off & organisers using Welsh quite naturally. I’m on around 2pm. Hope I’m as perky #awfyearlystart