Iceland has a stunning landscape with glaciers galore … but is more properly fire island. Lava, earthquakes eruptions and volcanoes dominate life and world headlines. Before Christmas 2023, an eruption forced people from their homes in the fishing port of Grindavik. One year and six eruptions later – the townspeople are back. But another eruption nearby is spewing lava across the car park of the famous Blue Lagoon. By the time you hear this podcast, that eruption could be over… or much worse.

Yet despite all the risk and uncertainty, many Icelanders say they live here because of their volcanoes not despite them. Why? That’s what this podcast is all about.
Credits

Thanks to Easyjet for flights – direct to Reykjavik every weekday from Edinburgh. 

Lesley travelled to the Westman Islands in a Europcar vehicle (complete with winter tyres) from Keflavik airport, took the dual fuel Herjolfur ferry (government owned and council run) courtesy of Business Iceland and stayed at the Hotel Vestmannaeyjar thanks to Visit South Iceland

Accommodation in Reykjavik was kindly provided by podcast listener Scott Riddell. 

Big thanks also to interviewees – 

Laufey Sif Lárusdóttir who runs a pizzeria and Ölverk brewery using geothermal steam in Hveragerði with husband Elvar. She also manages to be mum to three small boys.

Páll Zóphóníasson was once Mayor of Heimaey (main town on Westman Islands) and town engineer at the time of the 1973 eruption. Tax office staff, Jóhanna Kristín Gunnlaugsdóttir and Ròsa Sveinsdòttir were just children at the time.

Kári Valgeirsson is Science Communicator at the Hellisheiði power plant – one of the largest single-site geothermal power plants on the planet. Daily tours available via https://www.on.is/en/geothermal-exhibition/

Thanks also to Limma and Gudrun Hannesdottir, 

Researched, recorded and produced by Lesley Riddoch

Edited by Pat Joyce

The latest Norstat poll for the Sunday Times put support for independence at 54% and the SNP on track to be the largest party after the 2026 election and a pro independence majority  at Holyrood. It also showed a startling drop off for Labour and the continuing rise of Reform.
We look at the data and discuss what is happening. Is Labour caught in a pincer movement between Reform on the Right and the SNP on the Left? What hopes are there for a united front between pro independence parties to secure the biggest Yes majority?

The SNP has launched another "grassroots" membership independence campaign while John Swinney is looking to secure that Holyrood victory by highlighting its record in government and offering a positive message of "Hope" for the future. We discuss.

Pat McFadden has been all over the media promoting the idea of bringing the "tech bros" into government to drive efficiency and reform while defending Israel's bombing campaign in Syria and tip toeing around the thorny question of how to engage with the Syrian rebels primarily led by HTS. The same HTS whose origins are in Al Qaeda and are currently a proscribed terrorist organisation.

We also look at what's been a good couple of weeks for the Irish language rap group Kneecap. Seven wins at the British Independent Film Awards, including best film, and a victory in their court case over the withdrawal by Kemi Badenoch of funding for the movie .

Sticking with awards the short list for BBC Sports Personality of the Year has been announced. The omission, once again, of Duncan Scott Britain's third most decorated Olympian prompted us to cast a critical eye over the Anglocentric, male dominated , borefest.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_Scott_(swimmer)

Lesley reflects on Alex Salmond's memorial service in this week's episode. How was the service itself? Can it prove to be a significant moment in unifying the struggle for Scottish independence?
Wednesday saw the first Scottish Budget since the return of a UK Labour government. We give our first impressions on what it, and just as importantly ,what  it didn't contain. We also examine Scottish Labour's response to the challenges the Budget laid down for them.
As Reform makes headway in recent Scottish and Welsh opinion polls and Nigel Farage is set to make his 38th appearance on Question Time Lesley says it's time to take off the gloves and oppose not appease the Right.
Amnesty International has issued a 296 page report claiming that  Israel intended to commit genocide against the Palestinian people. Thus joining the UN and many other international bodies in this conclusion. It also stated that the international community had not only failed miserably to condemn this but through its delay in calling for a ceasefire and continuing to supply arms to Israel it was complicit in this atrocity. Meanwhile there was a record attendance at the Labour Friends of Israel lunch including Starmer, Reeves, Lammy and many other Cabinet members amongst the 100 Labour MPs. Starmer was a keynote speaker along with the far right Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely.
We also cast our eyes over the crises in Germany, France, and South Korea.

MPs are scheduled to vote on the Private Members’ Bill proposed by Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP, to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults on Friday.
However a cross party group has co-sponsored a so-called “fatal motion amendment” that could kill the Bill if enough MPs support it.
The amendment comes amid concern in the Commons that such a significant change was proposed as a Private Members’ Bill, meaning there is limited detailed assessment and analysis of the provisions it includes.
We examine the detail of both the Leadbeater Bill and Liam McArthur's proposed Scottish Bill and ask what impact Friday's Westminster vote may have in Holyrood.

Meanwhile there's much heat being generated in the media over the " Call a General Election Now" petition which has apparently garnered over 2 million signatures in the past four days.
How significant is this in reality? Should Labour be concerned? Should the Tories be more concerned?

Rachel Reeves has announced the payment to the Scottish Government to compensate for the impact of her raise in employers' National Insurance contributions.
How fair was the package?

After recent polling and by election results we look at the state of play of the parties in Scotland. How much of an impact have they had on Anas Sarwar's U-turn on Winter Fuel Allowance payments? How concerning is the rise of Reform? Will we face a Holyrood impasse in 2026 with no viable coalitions in prospect?

And as Donald Trump makes his final nominations for his Cabinet we cast our eyes over the array of right wing, reality TV, Fox News hosts, dubious characters he's selected.
Here's the link to the Neal Ascherson article Lesley mentioned
https://www.thenational.scot/politics/24746186.neal-ascherson-scotland-needs-take-as-if-approach/

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.

As the US Presidential election enters its final days Donald Trump held a rally at Madison Square Garden where speaker after speaker spewed racist, misogynist bile. Has this harmed or enhanced his campaign in those seven vital swing states where the presidency will be won or lost?

World leaders have condemned the overwhelming decision by the Knesset to ban the UNWRA from operating inside Israel,Gaza and the West Bank. Israel has claimed that UNRWA has colluded with Hamas in Gaza. This is the culmination of decades of  anti UNRWA activity by Israel.
The USA government has said it is "deeply concerned". Is it concerned enough to use legislation which allows the stopping of military aid to countries that restrict US humanitarian aid?

King Charles acknowledged “painful aspects” of Britain’s past while sidestepping calls to directly address reparations for slavery at the summit of Commonwealth leaders, saying “none of us can change the past, but we can commit … to learning its lessons”.
What lessons can we learn by examining the role of the Royal Family in the slave trade? Reparations are justified but who should pay them?

We look forward to Rachel Reeves' first Budget. Will there be any surprises? Just what is a "working person"?

Kemi Badenoch appeared on the Sunday Show and was skewered by Martin Geissler over the "voluntary" union and her plans-lack of- for reprogramming devolution. It looks likely that she will defeat Robert( Pensioners waking up with illegal migrants in their bedrooms) Jenrick to become Tory leader. No matter which of the two win it signals yet another shift to the Right in UK politics.

All this plus a surprise guest appearance of the Masked Postie!

Lesley's back from her trip to Iceland with lots to talk about and share including disturbing news about The Gulf Stream.
https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/09/atlantic-ocean-circulation-nearing-devastating-tipping-point-study-finds

There seem to be more leaks from within this new Labour government than a set of Thames Water's pipes. This time on what might be in next week's Budget. BBC Scotland's Sunday Show focused on this. We look at who was on the show and what questions were asked. What questions weren't asked,especially  of Energy Minister Michael Shanks in terms of GB Energy and Carbon Capture and Storage.

Sticking with energy Lesley takes the lid off a looming crisis particularly impacting Scotland over smart meters.

Meanwhile Labour held a swanky Investment Summit trumpeting a £63 Billion post-election boost in investment.What's the reality behind the boast, what have Labour promised the likes of Blackrock, and just how many new jobs will all this cash create?

All this plus the new movie about the early years of Trump's rise ,"The Apprentice" reviewed.

In this episode of Riddoch Questions Lesley spoke with Alex Salmond who had just led the SNP to become the largest party in the Scottish Parliament. He was literally in the throes of trying to form that first ever SNP government and spoke from the car park outside a pub in the pouring rain. 

This episode focuses on our  reflections on the life, career and  political legacy of Alex Salmond in the aftermath of his sudden death.
The great "What ifs". What if he hadn't resigned in 2014? What if he was re-elected to Holyrood in 2026?
Away from the political sphere Lesley talks about her personal encounters with him over the years.

In his final post on Twitter Alex criticised the attendance of John Swinney at UK Government’s first Council of Nations and Regions, “Of course the First Minister has the right to insist on bilateral JMC meetings with the Prime Minister. I am not sure in which world that correct business approach includes a convivial group selfie with the political opponent who is freezing Scots pensioners." “Part of becoming independent is about thinking independently, not subserviently. John should have politely declined the meeting with the words ‘Scotland is a country not a county.”
Was Alex correct? Does the creation of this Council signal a move from Labour to impose another layer of centralised "local" government  Metro Mayors on Scotland?
Lesley is off  to Iceland.If you want to get video updates on her travels subscribe to her Youtube channel here
https://www.youtube.com/@Lesley_Riddoch
All of this plus gratuitous references to former leaders of the TGWU and health updates.