Budget Eve Blues and a Drunk Man Looks At A Thistle

It’s budget eve, the new microphone has arrived, and Lesley and Fraser are back to dissect another week of political and global news. From the impending UK budget and minor tariff reductions (would you like gherkins with that?) to the devastating realities on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank, the pair chew over the big stories. Plus, we look ahead to a fascinating upcoming conference in Glasgow celebrating the centenary of Hugh MacDiarmid’s legendary poem, *A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle*. **In this episode, we discuss:** - **The Budget & Tiddly Fixes:** As the Chancellor prepares to deliver his budget, we look at the minor tariff reductions—such as cheaper marmalade and gherkins—that do little to offset massive energy bills and fuel costs. With 60% of people ranking energy prices as their number one concern, these micro-policies feel entirely inadequate against the Scottish Rowntree Foundation's warning that household incomes after housing costs could drop by £800 a year by 2029. - **North Sea Wealth & Gas Addiction:** We examine the Treasury’s long-overdue modelling of a North Sea Energy Wealth Fund, which suggests receipts of £200 billion over the years could have led to a one trillion pound wealth fund —a fraction of Norway’s multi-trillion nest egg. Lesley tears into the UK's continued "gas, gas, gas" addiction and complete failure to invest in local heat networks. - **The Israeli Election & Gaza Despair:** Following harrowing Channel 4 News reports on civil defense teams digging through ruins with shonky bulldozers to recover bodies in Gaza, we look at the high-stakes Israeli election. With both Netanyahu and his so called centrist challenger offering little hope for a two-state solution or an end to settler violence, the outlook remains profoundly grim. - **BBC Scotland & The "Scottish Six":** Reflecting on the ongoing struggles of BBC Scotland, Lesley shares insider perspective on why the original vision for a "Scottish Six" news hour was killed off by London management, leaving audiences with a disconnected service that struggles to compete in a digital-first world. - **Hugh MacDiarmid Centenary Conference:** We preview a major upcoming one-day conference in Glasgow celebrating 100 years of *A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle*. Featuring a stellar line-up including Sir Tom Devine, Gerda Stevenson, and Murray Pittock, the event explores the contested legacy of Scotland's most complex creative genius. **Links** - A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle: Hugh MacDiarmid and a Hundred Years of the Scottish Renaissance Centenary Conference – Saturday, November 21st at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. [**★ Support this podcast ★**](https://lesleyriddoch.com/podcast/subscribe "★ Support this podcast ★")