Anas Sarwar has announced a U turn on Scottish Labour's stance on Winter Fuel Payments. If they form a Holyrood government in 2026 he has pledged to reverse the cuts and reintroduce the payments to pensioners on a universal but means tested basis. What lies behind this sudden change of heart. Political expediency in the light of recent polls and upcoming by elections? No matter his reasons it does present a challenge to the Scottish Government. How will it respond? How should it respond?

The row over Stephen Flynn, and other SNP MPs , plans to seek a dual mandate in 2026 and become MSPs rolls on. Lesley has always highlighted the accident of the election cycle for the absence of so many talented SNP politicians from Holyrood. Why is she so opposed to Stephen's bid?
How damaging are the revelations to the SNP of the use of ministerial cars to attend sporting events? How naive were these politicians to how this would look given the furore over Starmer's freebies?

A lot has been made over the proposed appointments Trump has made to his Cabinet with much of the focus falling on Robert Kennedy Jr and Matt Gaetz. However in terms of foreign policy the nomination of Mike Huckabee as US ambassador to Israel has tended to go unreported. Who is Huckabee? What are his beliefs and why should all who believe in a just peace be concerned?

Meanwhile the 30 day deadline imposed by the Biden administration for Israel to take specific steps to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has come and gone with none of the promised "consequences" coming to pass.
This denial of genocide was not only echoed but amplified by Sir Keir Starmer at Westminster. What is the UN definition of genocide? Is Starmer a hypocrite given his stance on Serbian actions in Croatia before the ICJ in 2014?

The narrative of farmers under threat after the changes to include them in inheritance tax is picking up pace. What's the reality?

Talking of reality Femke Halsema the Mayor of Amsterdam has signalled her regret at claiming there was an anti-Jewish pogrom after the Ajax v Maccabi Tel Aviv football match. A welcome retraction but is it too late?

It's the aftermath of the US Presidential Election and there are lots of questions.
Did Trump win or did the Democrats lose?
What do Trump's first appointments tell us about what to expect from his administration?
Will the next four years totally redefine the US?
What impact will a Trump Presidency have on Europe and the UK?

The reaction to the events before and after the Maccabi Tel Aviv v Ajax football match in Amsterdam laid bare the thrall in which the vast majority of the media and almost all world political leaders are held by the pro Israel lobby. We discuss.
Stephen Flynn has announced that he's put his name forward to stand as an MSP in 2026. How significant a decision is this ?
We're also joined by special guest Max Wiszniewski, Campaigns Manager for REVIVE to talk about last weekend's The Big Land Question Conference co-hosted by Lesley and actor David Hayman.
To take part in REVIVE'S survey and have your say follow this link
https://diffleypartnership.co.uk/the-big-land-question/

We pick over the detail of last week's UK Budget. Did it signal the "end of austerity" as Anas Sarwar claims? What's the reality of the increase in the Scottish Block Grant? What impact will it have on December's Scottish Budget and what challenges does it lay down for the Scottish Government?
It's election day in the USA. What's the state of the polls? Will early voting decide the outcome again? Are the Republicans already laying the ground for another "stolen election" narrative?
Meanwhile the Tories have elected a new UK leader, Kemi Badenoch. The contest came down to a choice between two right wing candidates, Badenoch and Jenrick. Badenoch has now appointed her new front bench and among the ranks of " Who's that?" and "Never heard of them!" some old familiar faces are back signalling that shift even further to the right.
Stephen Flynn has been "given" a seat on the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster. What is this committee and why is the Labour Party so focused on it in the run up to the Holyrood elections in 2026?
Plus a tribute to Janey Godley an icon of Scottish popular culture.