Lesley Riddoch

Great discussions after Finland film screenings in Arran, Largs & Prestwick.
Next screenings with Q&A this week;
Robert Burns Film Theatre, Dumfries, Friday 7pm
Beacon Centre, Greenock, Sat 2pm
Then Montrose, Edinburgh, Stonehaven, Ullapool, Stirling. Booking details - lesleyriddoch.com/events

Scotland's Missing Forests/ Too Many Deer - double bill of films at Larick Centre Tayport April 12th 2pm with myself, filmmaker Steve Rawson and ecologists Derek Pretswell & Ron Greer for Q&A. Worried about Barren Scotland - this is for you lesleyriddoch.com/events

Great discussion in Vikingyar Centre Largs yesterday. Still tickets for Finland screening in Prestwick tonight. lesleyriddoch.com/events

YouTube video by Lesley Riddoch The Scotswoman - Celebrating 30 Years - How women took over a 178-year-old newspaper

The Scotsman newspaper was first published 200+ years ago but on March 8th 1995 its female staff took over & the Scotswoman was published - a one day wonder. A wee film to celebrate International Women’s Day. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u4E...

On ferry for Arran and screening of Finland film in Whiting Bay Hall 7.30 tonight. Great sailing weather & after earlier cancellations the ferry is on time. Huzzah. Still tix for tonight & Prestwick Sunday. Largs sold out. lesleyriddoch.com/events

Largs screening of Finland film on Saturday is sold out. But still tickets for Arran and Prestwick. More details. lesleyriddoch.com/events

Just watched Riot Women on BBC. Menopausal women start a rock band while dealing with their mum’s’ dementia. It's feckin brilliant dark humour with a fabulous line up. Main character to wimpy guy. ‘I'm menopausal & invisible. And you thought the Clash were angry.’

Pete Hegseth’s barely contained excitement about the death America is inflicting is utterly disgusting.

Can UK stay outside new Iran war? Is American or Israel driving the action? Will a semi wartime footing help Keir Starmer forget Labour‘s by-election drubbing? Are the victorious Greens in for nasty tactics & how does this play out in Scotland? Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast

If the world feels a bit dark this morning find BBC Sounds online/smart speaker and ask it to play Out of Doors. Mark Stephen & Rachel Stewart are funny, thoughtful & endlessly interested in Scotland's natural world. It'll lift your spirits. Or get up next Sat at 6am!

Finland film screening plus Q&A in Dundee tomorrow (Saturday 2pm); Tarland (Sunday 2pm). Next week Aberfeldy (Thurs), Arran (Fri) Largs (Sat) Prestwick (Sunday). Hoping it doesn't hail/storm/snow too much.
Details lesleyriddoch.com/events

Still tickets for Finland film screening plus Q&A in Dunfermline tomorrow (Thurs 6.30pm); Dundee (Saturday 2pm); Tarland (Sunday 2pm). Details lesleyriddoch.com/events

Legal rammies on Mandelson, Andrew, Lord Advocate & Alba.
Does the dual role of Lord Advocate do Scotland any favours?
Transforming Scotland: what community wealth building means.
Can SNP sustain its big poll lead- can Labour win Thurs by-election?
Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast

I was at a funeral yesterday in Falkirk - not enough time to record before Fraser has to pick up the kids! We are waiting to hear Keir Starmer in PMQs today so will record at 1 and it'll be up by 3pm. Honest.

In Finland, teachers run schools without paperwork, oversight, supervision or micro-management from on high. How is that possible?
Simple. 'They are professionals. We trust them.'
Result. World's best education.
Next Finland screenings - Dundee & Tarland lesleyriddoch.com/events

YouTube video by Lesley Riddoch Estonia From Soviet State To Digital Superpower

Amidst threats from Putin & disinterest from Trump, Estonians celebrate their Independence Day & keep developing as Europe's digital tiger. How did they get here in 35 short years? A wee film www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqLJ...

Off to funeral today so podcast will be recorded and posted tomorrow (Weds).

Who Owns Scotland 2025 - Land Matters SCOTLAND’S CONCENTRATED PATTERN OF LANDOWNERSHIP CONTINUES TO GET WORSE Today I publish Who Owns Scotland 2025, the second annual report on landownership in Scotland. The first (Who Owns Scotland 2024...

Half of rural Scotland was owned by just ...
118 landowners 1874.
440 landowners 2012.
408 landowners 2025.
Why are we going backwards again?
Excellent work by Andy Wightman
andywightman.scot/2026/02/who-...

Nice one ⁦‪⁦‪YesMusselburgh‬⁩.
Next Finland screenings:
Dunfermline Thursday 26 Feb:
Dundee Saturday 28 Feb;
Tarland Sunday March 1.
10 other venues before film goes online.
New event Orkney May 25 coming soon. lesleyriddoch.com/events

Another great turnout in Glasgow for Finland film. Tx Gordon & Marcus from ⁦‪@believeinscot‬⁩ for organising. Musselburgh sold out on Thursday. Next week Dunfermline & Dundee plus 10 other screenings from Dumfries to Ullapool, Edin & Arran. Details lesleyriddoch.com/events

Musselburgh screening of Finland tomorrow night (Thurs) sold out. But there's a Cameo screening in Edin March 22nd & still seats for Glasgow tonight (Weds) 7pm Adelaide Church. Plus 12 other events. Details lesleyriddoch.com/events

It’s got best education, food security, top ten income equality, more saunas & cooperative memberships than saunas. No wonder Finns are worlds happiest people 8 years running. How have they done it? Film plus Q&A Glasgow this Weds: Musselburgh Thurs. Info lesleyriddoch.com/events

Cheerio stranger. See you the morra 🙏

It's a massive victory - for solidarity with Gaza, democracy in UK & sheer tenacity. Some brave folk dared to defy the craziest, most indefensible ban on the truth. Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza & West Bank. No govt or person with conscience should suppress or deny it.

Finland; the happiest country - chuffed to announce new screenings in Dumfries, Stirling and Arran. Next week Glasgow and Musselburgh. All details here. lesleyriddoch.com/events

Lesley Riddoch: Two Labour tribes go to war but who stands to benefit TWO Tribes have gone to war. That 1980s hit has been rumbling through my heid since Anas Sarwar launched his broadsword against erstwhile colleague…

Despite its freshly polished nameplate Scottish Labour is still a branch office. Maybe different if Sarwar had completed his Starmer attack & announced a new Scottish party that dares to back indy/indyref2. But two tribes have gone to war & there are no winners
www.thenational.scot/politics/258...

Is Scottish Labour led by Anas Sarwar or Keir Starmer? A moot point until the two worlds collided so publicly yesterday. How will the Holyrood election campaign go - run by Starmerite Douglas Alexander to elect Starmer-sceptic Sarwar? Whit a guddle. Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast

Great @EdenCourt event with Finland film last night. Great to have filmmaker, local lad & Helsinki resident Gavin Hanigan back from Finland for the Q&A. More screenings next week Glasgow/Musselburgh & then 12 others. lesleyriddoch.com/events

Inverness screening of Finland film sold out tonight. Huzzah. Looking forward to meeting folk & Q&A with filmmaker & local lad Gavin Hanigan who’s come back from Helsinki specially. More screenings next week Glasgow/Musselburgh &12 other venues. lesleyriddoch.com/events

Keir Starmer is obstacle to Scottish Labour winning this May says Anas Sarwar (in so many words). ‘My first loyalty is to Scotland.’ Too many mistakes - he’s a distraction.’ Hmm. Sounds like Anas is trying to seize agenda & get excuses in early ahead of likely election defeat.