Little April Showers
From The Lesley Riddoch Podcast by Lesley Riddoch and Fraser Thompson
April 7, 2026 · 1h 0m · Episode 922
About this episode
Lesley Riddoch and Fraser Thompson discuss various crises, including international tensions, local fuel shortages, and the Scottish election campaign.
How many crises can unfold over a single bank holiday weekend? This week, Lesley Riddoch and Fraser Thompson try to make sense of a surreal and frightening international backdrop as Donald Trump issues terrifying new threats against Iran. Closer to home, Lesley shares her experiences travelling around the Northwest of Scotland filming about the clearances in Strathnaver and she highlights the very real local anxiety over petrol shortages and the impact of the NC500 "boy racers" sooking up all the fuel. We look again at CalMac ferries. The MV Lord of the Isles might be back in service, but a new tender for her replacement has been published with zero "social value" criteria baked into the scoring—meaning local companies won't get extra points over foreign competitors. We discuss the unions' anger and the structural split between CMAL and CalMac. We look at the Scottish election campaign. With discussions around whether to vote SNP with both votes, we examine the tactical voting dilemma, the Lib Dems snapping at the heels of the SNP in the Highlands, and the urgent need for a bold 'Highland manifesto'. Plus, a look at the struggles of Reform UK and a plea for some real…
People in this episode
Hosts: Lesley Riddoch, Fraser Thompson
Topics covered
- international relations
- fuel shortages
- ferry procurement
- Scottish politics
- local community issues
Keywords
- Donald Trump
- Iran
- petrol shortages
- NC500
- CalMac
- Scottish election
- SNP
- Highland manifesto
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: CalMac, CMAL, SNP, Lib Dems, Reform UK
Places: Northwest of Scotland, Strathnaver
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