Yes Cowal Scottish Independence Podcast

April's round up of topical clips from the world of Scottish politics.  Regular host Fiona is joined by guest co-host James as we catch up on events at Holyrood, Westminster and further afield.  We also turn the spotlight on the mainstream media and how to come out on top. Check out our Youtube channel for videos and extended video versions of some of these clips.   Contains information licensed under the Scottish Parliament Copyright Licence".

#MMT - Modern Monetary Theory - is the topic for this month's Mibbes Aye episode. Our guest is Jim Byrne who writes a series of economics articles for Bylines Scotland. Jim's articles give clear and accessible information about how Modern Monetary Theory works. In this episode, Fiona and Marlene get our heads around the basics of the theory and dig a little deeper into the implications of MMT for an independent Scotland. Please like and share this episode with anyone you think would be interested in understanding more about MMT, particularly if they are not yet persuaded about the economics of independence! You can find Jim's articles here: https://bylines.scot/author/jimbyrne/... Music: "Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod

An update on our previous show on Land Justice, with Loch Lomond once again under threat by a planning application which the locals are united against. Listen to our original Land Justice episode here  You can also watch the video version of this podcast episode on our Indypod Extra Youtube channel. Music "Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod "Contains information licensed under the Scottish Parliament Copyright Licence". #lochlomond

Introducing Aye Matters - podcast edit of a discussion hosted by two of our Scottish MPs  - Martyn Day and John McNally covering their experiences at Westminster as well as an insight into activities in their home constituencies.   You can watch the video version of the show on Independence Live's Youtube channel where it will be aired on Mondays whenever parliament is in session.

Iain Bruce talks to Mary Church of Friends of the Earth Scotland about the Scottish government's new Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan - does it need to go further?  Faster?  Are hydrogen and carbon capture the solutions we need?

Another stormer of a month in Scottish politics, with the SNP leadership contest finally leading to the appointment of a new First Minister. Join us for a round up of this and all the other highlights of the month   "Contains information licensed under the Scottish Parliament Copyright Licence".    

...or a pirate's dream come true? With our guests Prof Alf Baird, Mike Robertson and Geordie Sandison, we explore the background, concept and complications of freeports.  We also ask whether the Scottish concept of "Greenports" is really any better? Includes a short extract from Ep 153 of the Commonweal Policy Podcast, you can listen to that whole episode here or wherever you get your podcasts. Music: Motivational Upbeat Corporate by RinkevichMusic https://soundcloud.com/rinkevichmusic Video Link: https://youtu.be/U78mgVaM12M "Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod "The Buccaneer's haul" by Silverman Sound Studios includes information licenced under the Scottish Parliament Copyright  licence   

John Drummond chats with Judith Reid, one of the team organising the Scottish Chain of Freedom event, an ambitious plan to have 75k people all holding hands all along the central belt canal system.   Find out more from their facebook page and register interest in taking part. Music: Motivational Upbeat Corporate by RinkevichMusic https://soundcloud.com/rinkevichmusic Video Link: https://youtu.be/U78mgVaM12M

Yes Glasgow South Side held a zoom event with Craig Dalzell,  Head of Policy at Commonweal and also co-author of this remarkable new book "Sorted - a handbook for a better Scotland" Craig gives an overview of the main chapters and then takes Q and A from the audience You can purchase the book Sorted from Commonweal.scot  Music: Motivational Upbeat Corporate by RinkevichMusic https://soundcloud.com/rinkevichmusic Video Link: https://youtu.be/U78mgVaM12M

We thought February might be a quiet month politically - how wrong we were! We start the extraordinary month's round up at the Time for Scotland torchlit march and rally to mark the anniversary of the Brexit debacle, we mull over options for plebiscite referenda, then mid month, the bombshell announcement that Nicola Sturgeon is resigning as FM and leader of the SNP.   Then, following the big announcement we more or less return to normal day job politics, while the SNP leadership contest plays out against a backdrop of Uk media feeding frenzy and interference.    

All you ever wanted to know about ferries but were afraid to ask!  Ignore all the unionist dog whistle politics where the word "ferry" is shorthand with failure and incompetence.  We have to be able to have open and honest discussions about our infrastructure, what it is like right now, how can we overcome any problems and just how good could it be? In this week's podcast, presenters Fiona and Marlene are delighted to welcome guests Mike Robertson and Geordie Sandison from Yes Orkney and Professor of Maritime Business , Alf Baird to help us get to grips with ferries, catamarans, river boats and much, much more! OK, we did get a bit excited towards the end, but that's what happens when you look at the positive future that awaits an independent Scotland. You can see Alf's slide show on our Youtube channel here  Music is Inspired by Kevin MacLeod and Upbeat Corporate by RinkevichMusic https://soundcloud.com/rinkevichmusic Video Link: https://youtu.be/U78mgVaM12M Footage from the Net Zero Committee 31st Jan 2023

Climate Justice show Rising Clyde is our guest podcast this week.  Host Iain Bruce has a conversation with three activists in Glasgow about the state of the various campaigns around the cost of living crisis and how they can combine with the climate justice movement - in the words of one of the activists "connecting the end of the world with the end of the month"! Jess Galloway of Power to the People, Stu Bretherton of Fuel Poverty Action and Chia Harrington from Together Against Debt share their experiences over recent months and discuss the way forward. Scottish Independence Podcasts have covered several of the Power to the People demos, including an interview with leader Frances Curran - find them on our website here 

Nicola Sturgeon caught us all on the hop with her surprise resignation. In this special episode, John Drummond chats with journalist Lesley Riddoch and Believe in Scotland CEO Gordon MacIntyre Kemp about the impact on the Yes movement and where we go from here. Whatever your views on her achievements as a politician and campaigner, nobody can deny that she has put in one hell of a shift as First Minister.  We thank her and we wish her well for the future, whatever it might hold.

If you are in Glasgow at noon on 23rd Feb and you are aghast at the blatant attack on our democratically elected parliament by the Uk Tory administration, then head along to the Pensioners for Independence demo outside of the UK government hub at 1 Atlantic Square. In this bonus Tuesday podcast, Mary McCabe from Pensioners 4 Indy chats to fellow member Marlene Halliday about the background and the purpose of the demo, which is to raise awareness of the existence - and the significance - of the UK's Edinburgh and Glasgow hubs Find our previous podcasts and blogs on our website scottishindypod.scot Theme music is:  Motivational Upbeat Corporate by RinkevichMusic https://soundcloud.com/rinkevichmusic Video Link: https://youtu.be/U78mgVaM12M

Still trying to find a path through our constitutional woes, this week's podcast is an episode from the TNT show in which host John Drummond chats with Professor Sionaidh Douglas-Scott, Anniversary Chair in Law at Queen Mary University of London.  The discussion ranges from current state of the British constitution to some interesting parallels between Scotland's current struggles and the situation that brought about American independence. You can watch the video version of this episode, and all other TNT shows on Independence Live's Youtube channel. Check out our website for previous  episodes of Scottish Independence Podcasts and also our regular blog.

Bonus Tuesday episode! Podcast version of the latest press briefing from FM Nicola Sturgeon where she answers journalists questions on topics of their choosing.  Topics covered include: alcohol advertising consultation deposit return scheme GRA bill sec 35 challenge teachers strike council budgets FMs tax returns recent opinion polls maternity health services in the NE Liz Truss returning to politics National care service bill You can watch the video version of the press briefing on the Scotgov website and twitter.

Our monthly round up of topical clips from the world of Scottish politics and culture.  Host Fiona is joined by guest presenter and Scottish Independence Podcast team mate James to discuss the goings on at Holyrood and Westminster where the assault on Scottish democracy continues.   Please check out our website https://podcasts.independencelive.net for previous podcast episodes and our regular blog.   "Contains information licensed under the Scottish Parliament Copyright Licence"

Women for Independence's latest AGM tackled the topic of the cost of living crisis, its impact on women and how Scotland could address the situation differently now and as an independent country. This podcast brings you two of the speeches from the event. The first speaker is Sue Lyons who is involved in the Highland third sector.  She is an activist, a PhD student and a political blogger.  She is a passionate advocate for the disadvantaged in our society and has robust views on the political changes needed to make this a fairer country for everyone. The second speaker is Dr Angela O'Hagan of the Scottish Women's Budget Group.  Angela will cover the cost of living crisis and gender budgeting in Scotland.  She has wide ranging experience of working and lecturing in equalities and public policy. You can find out more about Women for Independence from their website www.wfi.scot Music: Motivational Upbeat Corporate by RinkevichMusic https://soundcloud.com/rinkevichmusic Video Link: https://youtu.be/U78mgVaM12M

This bonus Tuesday episode comes from an "ask me anything" press briefing held by the First Minister yesterday. Topics range from the cost of living crisis, public sector pay deals, bullying in schools to Alister Jack's continuing assault on Scottish democracy.   This kind of direct broadcast from the FM proved very popular during the Covid pandemic and it will be interesting to see if it becomes an established part of  the Scottish Government's communication strategy.   Music: Motivational Upbeat Corporate by RinkevichMusic https://soundcloud.com/rinkevichmusic Video Link: https://youtu.be/U78mgVaM12M

The Supreme Court decision confirmed that the UK is NOT a voluntary union.  So how do we leave?  That is the topic under discussion in this episode. We are grateful to Yes Glasgow South Side for sharing their zoom Q+A event with Professor Aileen McHarg, prof of public law at Durham University.  In this podcast episode we have taken selected questions from that event and spliced them together with clips from the Westminster Opposition Day debate which was also on the topic of what next for Scotland's future. The outcome, at this point, is not clear.  But these two events do provide some clarity on the legal and political barriers we have to overcome, as well as giving some hints as to how we might achieve that. Music: " Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod and Motivational Upbeat Corporate by RinkevichMusic https://soundcloud.com/rinkevichmusic Video Link: https://youtu.be/U78mgVaM12M