Podcasts about snp mps

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? ★ Support this podcast ★

Should Parliament simply overturn the convictions of postmasters caught up in the Post Office Horizon scandal? That's what the Government proposes to do through the Post Office (Horizon system) Offences Bill. But quashing of convictions is normally a matter for the courts. Some MPs have misgivings about setting a constitutional precedent as well as practical concerns about how the Bill will be implemented. We talk to the Chair of the Justice Select Committee, Sir Bob Neill MP.Meanwhile, SNP MPs are furious that UK Ministers have declined to extend the provisions of the Bill to postmasters convicted north of the border. So why does the Bill apply to all other parts of the UK but not to Scotland? Does this tell us anything about the politics of devolution?As Westminster braces for the local election results we discuss what to look out for – not just winners and losers but turnout and the size of the party swing - and the implications particularly for Rishi Sunak.Following Conservative MP Dan Poulter's defection to Labour we ask what does it take to cross the floor of the House of Commons? Is it an act of conscience or the act of a cynical turncoat? How often does it happen?And we answer listener's questions. Hypothetically, what would happen if a Prime Minister's party retained a parliamentary majority at the general election, but the Prime Minister lost their seat?

BUY YOUR TICKETS FOR OUR 25 YEARS OF DEVOLUTION SPECIALFor the full lineup and for tickets, click: https://holyroodsources.com/liveThis week Calum, Andy and Geoff discuss the big question for the SNP: what is the electoral strategy? Plus should SNP MPs walk out of Westminster? As murmurings of a Boris Johnson return to politics make waves around Westminster and beyond, could Nicola Sturgeon follow suit and come back? And how do you get the NHS in Scotland back in working order again? All in today's episode. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/holyroodsources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Regular presenter Fiona is joined by guest presenter Lynne Dougan for a round up of interesting snippets from August 2023.  Themes covered are: 00:00:33 - Glasgow UCI championships 00:09:58 - Bibby Stockholm scandal  and the "othering" of asylum seekers by the right wing press 00:21:15 - Hugh Grant takes down the UK press 00:22:07 - Junior doctors pay settlement - BBC vs STV versions 00:27:23 - It's GERS week with Richard Murphy 00:30:33 - SNP MPs standing down, Mairi Black owns Oliver Dowden 00:33:20 - EU or EFTA?  Views from Philippa Whitford, Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp and Keir Starmer 00:38:28 - energy policy and economic strategy, Humza Yousaf, Ian Blackford and Gordon M-K 00:56:40 - Corrie Wilson on uniting Scotland 01:03:00 - Dust If You Must (RIP Irene Hamilton) 01:04:26 - upcoming events 01:06:11 - sign off   Ian Blackford's paper "Roadmap for a Scottish Green Industrial Strategy" can be downloaded from his website    The Scottish Independence Podcasts team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts.  Remember to like and subscribe! Contact Us: indypodcasters@gmail.com  Visit our website https://scottishindypod.scot for blogposts, newsletter signup and more episodes Check out our Youtube channel @scottishindypodExtra for more of our video footage and clips    

Calum Macdonald, Andy Maciver and Geoff Aberdein are joined by Stephen Flynn - the SNP's Westminster leader. We start by discussing the Labour Shadow Cabinet's defence of the two-child cap policy and the claim that Britain has no money. Stephen Flynn, as a Scottish nationalist, emphasises the need for clarity in their vision for Scotland, particularly in terms of economic growth and harnessing renewable resources.As more SNP MPs announce their intention to stand down at the next election, the discussion then shifts towards the impact of social media on politics, with Stephen highlighting the role it plays in spreading toxic and negative comments towards politicians. Stephen goes on to share thoughts on recent resignations in politics, reflecting on why good people are leaving and the difficulties in attracting them. Transitioning from oil and gas to alternative energies also features - Stephen supports the idea of a just transition and a green industrial revolution. Plus, will Stephen Flynn ever make the move to Holyrood as an MSP? Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/holyroodsources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the marathon political catch- up last week we have more of a meander through various topics this episode.We reflect on Mhairi Black's announcement that she, along with currently six other SNP MPs, won't be standing for re-election,the toxicity and the allure of Westminster and its bubble.Much is being made of tensions,even splits,in the SNP but all is not well in the Labour Party. It looks like left leaning candidates are not being selected and there's disquiet over shifts in policy over public ownership, green policies, and an acceptance of Tory fiscal policy. Despite the acceptance by Anas Sarwar of UK Labour's " No" will there be a Holyrood rebellion supporting the Scottish Government's decriminalisation of drug possession and use proposals?Lesley reflects on her Scottish "Thrive" tour and her soggy Highland bike holiday.Pat,meanwhile,manages to shoehorn Scottish independence into his house move. Both wax lyrical on the great Saint Andrew and the Woollen Mill. Follow the links below to vanish into the world o Dundee rap.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWOFK7M0QBMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c4l_T3KRNo&t=1shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T14t0Be4moULesley completes the cultural exchange with an introduction to Gaelic poet Duncan Ban Macintyre and his epic nature poem In Praise of Ben Dorain"Honour over every benhas Ben Dorain;of all I have seen beneath the sun,I adore her:long, unbroken moor,storehouse of deer.Upland that is clearlyworth talking ofcoppices of boughs,woodland where grass grows,elegant are thosewhose abode it is.The hind with the taper-head sniffing so keenly,with sensitive sharp nostrilexploring the wind:short-tailed and long-shankedon mountainous summitshe stays in her fastnesslest gun-fire deceive her;although when she hurriesshe utters no wheezes.The hind's in the forestas she ought to be,where she grazes on sweet grass,clean, fine-bladed,heath-rush and deer-grass,herbs full of substanceto put fat and tallowupon her loins.The hind is in this little glen,and no unskilled foolcould stalk her if he did not know ofmaking contact with her quietly;guarding against her warily,drawing near before she stirs,cautiously, most toilsomely,lest she should sense him.Honour over every benhas Ben Dorain;of all I have seen beneath the sun,I adore her:long, unbroken moor,storehouse of deer.Upland that is clearlyworth talking ofcoppices of boughs,woodland where grass grows,elegant are thosewhose abode it is."To find out more go tohttps://www.ardanaiseig.com/duncan-bans-monument/Oh, and there's a surprise ending. Nae pauchlin and fast forwardin tae the finish noo. ★ Support this podcast ★

Today on The Day After, (18:21) Headlines: Blackford denies being pushed out by SNP MPs, US intelligence says fighting set to slow for winter months (21:19) What You Saying? Are we, as Black people, too entitled? (01:33:15) Headlines: Police watchdog head Michael Lockwood resigns amid investigation, Iran to disband morality police due to ongoing protests, Indonesia raises alert to highest level as volcano erupts on Java island (01:37:06) Word on Road: Pa Salieu sentenced to 33 months in prison, Raheem Sterling has left the World Cup due to family home breakin, Keke Palmer announces she's expecting her first child on SNL, Influencer Bella aka Only Bells is engaged (01:44:26) The People's Journal: (01:50:47) The Rotation: (02:19:14) Headlines: Britain braces for snow and ice as temperatures plummet, South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa considers future amid corruption scandal, Nigerian student apologises to Nigeria's first lady over tweet (02:25:56) The Reaction: World Cup fixtures, World Cup results, England defeat Senegal to progress to World Cup quarter finals, Ghana lose to Uruguay, Giroud becomes France's all-time record goal scorer, Fury defeats Chisora by stoppage in trilogy (02:49:08) Done Out 'Ere: (03:08:59) Outro --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thedayaftertnb/message

Stuart and Eamonn are joined by journalist, Ruth Wishart. This week - Boris Johnson's ‘Saville slur', angry backlash to a Jimmy Carr joke, the Raith Rovers fallout and a listener question about SNP MPs. To listen to the full hour-long episode, and for a full list of recommendations, join the Talk Media Club (99p per week + VAT): patreon.com/talkmedia After I've joined the club, how do I listen? Download the Patreon app (iOS/Android) and login with your account details. For more information about Talk Media, go to: www.thebiglight.com/talkmedia

 The horrifying  Scottish drug deaths statistics are the main thrust of this week's podcast bringing into sharp focus the necessity of the Scottish government to challenge the reserved powers Westminster holds over this area.It's now time, we believe, for Holyrood to take control and enact progressive policies to tackle the root problems and defy the Tory government to stop them.There's a bizarre current paradox facing the Scottish islands,depopulation but lots of folk wanting to move there to live. The Scottish government is proposing that 100 folk get £50000 each to resolve this conundrum. Is this enough, or,as we suspect,just another headline grabbing sticking plaster that ignores the real issues?Last week we asked just what was the point of the Lib Dems. This week the talk of the steamie has been,what's the point of SNP MPs being at Westminster? We examine the ideas floating around not only their role in London,but what part they could play in Scotland if the SNP developed a practical independence strategy.All Under One Banner organised a demo in Dundee last Saturday which was underwhelming in its turnout. What's the future for any other AUOB events, which proved spectactularly successful in the past, and is there a need for a new broader Yes street campaigning orgnaisation?

Hello and welcome to the Alcohol Alert, brought to you by The Institute of Alcohol Studies.In this edition:IAS seminar on Alcohol and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development GoalsExtensive OECD publication details the investment case for alcohol control policies 🎵 Podcast feature 🎵New minimum unit pricing studies in Scotland bolster the argument for its implementation 🎵 Podcast feature 🎵Confusion over WHO global alcohol action plan 🎵 Podcast feature 🎵Brain imaging study suggests there is no safe level of alcohol consumption for brain health Study highlights the prevalence of alcohol advertising in the Rugby Six Nations Parliament debates labelling and the Misuse of Drugs ActWe hope you enjoy our roundup of stories below: please feel free to share. Thank you.Alcohol and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development GoalsIAS sustainability series, seminar 1. Seminar speakers: Chair: Kristina Sperkova, Movendi InternationalDudley Tarlton, United Nations Development ProgrammeProfessor Jeff Collin, University of EdinburghAadielah Maker Diedericks, South African Alcohol Policy AllianceThe Institute of Alcohol Studies hosted the first seminar in its four-part series on alcohol and sustainability, 10 June 2021. The seminar focused on the impact of alcohol on the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the opportunities for improved alcohol policy arising from the Goals.Goal 3.5 explicitly targets alcohol, with the commitment to ‘Strengthen the prevention of treatment of substance abuse, including…harmful use of alcohol’. Beyond that, alcohol has been identified as an obstacle to achieving 14 of the 17 SDGs, which can be seen as social, environmental, and economic. Social goals such as ending poverty, hunger, achieving gender equality and maintaining peace and justice, are all affected by alcohol harm. Kristina Sperkova, President of Movendi International, highlighted that alcohol pushes people into poverty and keeps many there, and consumes spending that would otherwise be used on education and food. There are many studies that demonstrate the link between alcohol use and violence, particularly between young men and relating to domestic violence. Ms Sperkova detailed the high environmental cost of alcohol production. Land required to grow crops for alcohol reduces biodiversity. Huge amounts of water are used for alcohol production, with 870 litres of water needed to produce one litre of wine. She pointed out that alcohol is often produced in places that have scarce water supplies, to serve the desires of higher income countries that have an abundance of water.The economic burden of alcohol use across the world is enormous, with high-income countries seeing annual losses of between 1.4% and 1.7% of GDP due to alcohol harm. Much of this is due to the loss of productivity. In England in 2015, 167,000 working years were lost due to alcohol. It was suggested that more effective alcohol control policies would not only reduce the harm but would also help finance sustainable development. The investment case Dudley Tarlton, Programme Specialist at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), introduced the work UNDP is doing in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), to present the case for improving and implementing effective alcohol policies, with economic rationale being the main driver.WHO’s SAFER initiative details the five most cost-effective interventions to reduce harm. Mr Tarlton stated that these five interventions would give a 5.8% return on investment.  Modelling by UNDP across 12 countries including Russia, Turkey, and Ethiopia, shows that investing in WHO’s recommended prevention measures would generate 19 billion USD over the next 15 years – mainly due to productivity gain – and 865,000 deaths would be averted. UNDP is also looking into investment cases relating to alcohol-attributable deaths from causes such as liver cirrhosis, road injuries, tuberculosis, and HIV. They are drafting toolkits for countries to take up these policies and could be instrumental in getting revenue to help close covid-related fiscal gaps. As lower socioeconomic groups would disproportionately benefit from the health benefits of increased alcohol taxes, Mr Tarlton highlighted that part of Goal 10 on reducing health inequalities would be targeted by such taxes. The obstacle of the alcohol industryProfessor Jeff Collin, Edinburgh University, posited how the alcohol industry has positioned itself as aligned with the SDGs and as engines of development. The International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) has a toolkit for governments on how to build partnerships with the alcohol industry. Diageo’s ‘Business Avengers’ coalition highlights their role in aiming to achieve the SDGs. Namibian Breweries (NBL) has listed out which SDGs it is helping, including SDG 3: “NBL has a responsibility to minimise harmful alcohol consumption.”Prof Collin explained that the industry is using the commitment of governments and organisations to SDG 17 – ‘Partnerships for the Goals’ – to push their own strategic agenda, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Pre-pandemic, Diageo collaborated with CARE to address barriers to gender inclusion in the alcohol giant’s supply chain. Following the outbreak of the pandemic, Diageo supported CARE’s emergency response, giving clean water supplies, hygiene kits, and food. According to Prof Collin’s work, the alcohol industry is using corporate social investment (CSI) and philanthropy to shape policy and pursue partnerships, to further its strategic interests. This is especially true in its targeting of women in developing countries, who are seen as a key emerging market. Pernod Ricard India launched an initiative around women entrepreneurs, which aptly shows the two faces of alcohol philanthropy, with the company’s CMO Kartik Mohindra stating: “It is quintessential for brands to create products that appeal to them [women]. And if they don’t have more women in senior leadership roles, they are not likely to have the significant insights needed to tap into the highly sensitive minds of their ever-growing numbers of female consumers.”In Southern Africa – as Aadielah Maker Diedericks of the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) discussed – there are particularly striking examples of industry-government partnerships and conflicts of interest, with civil society in the region perceiving Big Alcohol’s involvement in the region as a form of neo-colonisation. Ms Diedericks explained that policy makers are often on the boards of alcohol companies in the region, that governments hold shares in the industry, and the industry’s agenda is often successfully pushed through. Very few Southern African countries are taking on issues of marketing, pricing, and availability, instead focusing on road safety and underage drinking. Both Prof Collin and Ms Diedericks said that SDG 17 has confused countries, with governments thinking the only relationship with the alcohol industry is one of partnership, ignoring potential conflicts of interest. South Africa case studySouth Africa has seen intense lobbying by the industry in recent months, with Ms Diedericks saying that they are using the narrative of job promotion to demonstrate their value. This is despite R246billion being spent on alcohol harm compared to R97billion in revenue. The industry has campaigned extensively around the idea of economic loss associated with alcohol control policies, using dubious research to back up their claims. This comes at a time of high unemployment rate in South Africa and therefore gets a lot of media attention. Ms Diedericks described the relationship between industry and South Africa’s government as “abusive” due to the industry threatening disinvestment in the country if there were controls to alcohol availability. What next? The speakers argued that the SDGs need to be used better as a rallying point for alcohol control measures. SDG 17 in particular should be used to develop policy coherence and that the building of coordinated approaches across other unhealthy commodities, such as junk food, should be considered. There needs to be clear rationale for why enacting alcohol control policies would help achieve the SDGs, and taxation has a lot to offer towards sustainable financing. Please watch the full seminar below, or click here for a 30minute edited version. Join us in September for seminar two in our four-part series. New OECD report models economic effect of alcohol policies  🎵 Podcast feature 🎵The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published a book entitled ‘Preventing Harmful Alcohol Use’, 19 May 2021. It analyses the cost of alcohol consumption in 52 countries (OECD, EU and G20 countries), due to reduced life expectancy, increased healthcare costs, decreased productivity, and lower GDP. As with the IAS seminar on alcohol and sustainability, this report provides clear economic rationale for why countries should consider implementing alcohol control policies. The report looks at trends and patterns in alcohol consumption in the 52 countries, as well as looking at the regional differences across Europe. The following statistics and modelling relate to the 52 countries, unless otherwise stated. Health and economic burden of alcoholHealth care costs for alcohol as percentage of total health care expenditureChildren’s education and bullyingPolicies for reducing consumption The report looked at which alcohol control policies countries currently implement and those that they should consider. It mentions the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy and Global Action Plan in reducing the harmful use of alcohol, referring to these as the best practice policy responses. The report states that:“policies to reduce the harmful consumption of alcohol and associated harms cannot be addressed through one policy intervention – rather, a suite of interventions is needed within a comprehensive strategy”. This will “require a multi-sectoral approach, including health, law enforcement and social services sectors”.How would policies affect health and the economy?  Simulation modelling shows varying degrees of impact of alcohol control policies across the countries. Across the 48 countries analysed by OECD it was found that savings in healthcare costs are greater than the costs of running interventions.How has minimum unit pricing affected Scotland and Wales so far? 🎵 Podcast feature 🎵Since Scotland implemented minimum unit pricing for alcohol (MUP) in May 2018 and Wales in March 2020, initial studies have shown a substantial shift in alcohol purchases and consumption. On 28 May 2021, The Lancet published a study, by Professor Peter Anderson and colleagues, that analysed the purchasing habits of over 35,000 British households, in order to assess the impact of MUP in Scotland and Wales. Purchases in northern England were compared with Scottish purchases, and western England purchases with Wales. The measured changes associated with MUP were: price paid per gram of alcohol, grams of alcohol purchased, and amount of money spent on alcohol.The results of the study were:In Scotland the price per gram saw a 7.6% increase and a purchase decrease of 7.7%In Wales the price increased by 8.2% and purchasing decreased by 8.6%The biggest changes were in households that generally bought the most alcohol. Little change was seen in households that bought small amounts of alcohol and those with low incomesFollowing The Lancet report, on 17 June 2021 Public Health Scotland released its report Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy. The report looked at alcohol purchasing, affordability and consumption in Scotland in 2020. The report found that:The report also shows a reduction in alcohol-specific deaths in Scotland from 2018-2019, with the rate for men being the lowest since 1996. However, rates are still higher in Scotland than in both England and Wales. Alison Douglas of Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS) said:“We're really pleased to see that as a nation we are drinking less for the third year running and that alcohol consumption is at a 25-year low - this is a good indication that minimum unit pricing is having the intended effect. But given nearly a quarter of Scots are still regularly drinking over the chief medical officers' low-risk drinking guidelines, we can't afford to take our eye off the ball where preventing alcohol harm is concerned.” AFS has called on the government to raise the level at which MUP is set from 50p to 65p per unit, arguing that inflation has made it less effective since the legislation was passed eight years ago. Following the success Scotland has seen, Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, Chair of the Alcohol Harm Commission, and Dr Katherine Severi, Chief executive of IAS, called on the UK Government to introduce MUP in England. They argued that there is now sufficient evidence of MUP’s effectiveness and that it is now more urgent than ever due to increases in high-risk drinking and alcohol-specific deaths in England. Public Health Scotland released an interim report at the end of June, which suggests that there is little evidence that MUP has led to people substituting cheap alcohol with other substances or illicit alcohol. Confusion over WHO’s global action plan on alcohol 🎵 Podcast feature 🎵In mid-June, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the first draft of its ‘Global alcohol action plan 2022-2030’. The action plan’s aim is to aid in the implementation of WHO’s Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, which in turn aims to reduce morbidity and mortality due to harmful alcohol use and the ensuing social consequences. The strategy aims to “promote and support local, regional and global actions”, giving guidance and support on policy options, national circumstances, religious and cultural contexts, public health priorities, as well as resources and capabilities. In response to the draft action plan, media across the UK focused on a statement included that said:“Appropriate attention should be given to prevention of the initiation of drinking among children and adolescents, prevention of drinking among pregnant women and women of childbearing age.”Most news reports lambasted the wording that women of childbearing age should be prevented from drinking. Two prominent commentators quoted in press reports were Christopher Snowdon of the Institute of Economic Affairs, and Matt Lambert of the Portman Group, who said it was “unscientific, patronising and absurd” and “sexist and paternalistic” respectively. Responding to the media furore, Professor Niamh Fitzgerald, University of Stirling, spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour: “It is striking that the commentators in the reports are from the alcohol industry. It is clearly an attempt to discredit WHO…before a WHO forum next week [week-commencing 21 June], which is looking at empowering governments against industry marketing. This is a first draft and that mention, which is ill-advised, doesn’t appear in the actions, so we shouldn’t worry that WHO is trying to stop women of childbearing age from drinking.”Dr Sadie Boniface, the Institute of Alcohol Studies’ Head of Research, said “It is a shame that this one phrase in the report has hoovered up attention. This is the launch of an ambitious plan to address alcohol harm, and alcohol is the top risk factor globally for mortality among 15–49 year olds.”According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Dag Rekve, Alcohol Policy Advisor at WHO, said:“It was just meant as the period where you are potentially carrying children and this is not generalising to all women in that age. It can be interpreted that we are saying that women of childbearing age should not drink alcohol and is a completely wrong interpretation and we will make sure that it’s not interpreted like that. If the media also can pick up on the incredible harm from alcohol in the world in the same way they picked up on this poorly formulated phrase, then perhaps we could really achieve something.”No safe level of alcohol for brain health A yet to be peer-reviewed study suggests that all levels of drinking are associated with adverse effects on the brain.Researchers at Oxford University, led by Dr Anya Topiwala, used brain imaging data from 25,000 participants of the UK Biobank study and looked at the relationship between this and moderate alcohol consumption. The results found that higher consumption of alcohol was associated with lower grey matter density and that alcohol made a larger contribution than any other modifiable risk factor, including smoking. Negative associations were also found between alcohol and white matter integrity. Particular damage was seen to the anterior corpus callosum, which connects the frontal lobes of the left and right hemispheres of the brain and ensures both sides of the brain can communicate with each other. Dr Topiwala, said “There’s no threshold drinking for harm – any alcohol is worse. Pretty much the whole brain seems to be affected – not just specific areas, as previously thought.”In response to the study, Dr Sadie Boniface, IAS Head of Research, said:“While we can’t yet say for sure whether there is ‘no safe level’ of alcohol regarding brain health at the moment, it has been known for decades that heavy drinking is bad for brain health. We also shouldn’t forget alcohol affects all parts of the body and there are multiple health risks. For example, it is already known there is ‘no safe level’ of alcohol consumption for the seven types of cancer caused by alcohol, as identified by the UK Chief Medical Officers.”The authors highlighted that one of the limitations of the study was the use of the Biobank data: that the sample is healthier, better educated, less deprived, and with less ethnic diversity than the general population. Dr Rebecca Dewey of the University of Nottingham responded to this, saying that “Therefore some caution is needed, but the extremely large sample size makes it pretty compelling”. The study argues that current drinking guidelines could be amended to reflect the evidence about brain health rather than solely about cardiovascular disease and cancer risk. Professor Paul M. Matthews, Head of the Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, supported this suggestion. Alcohol, rugby and adolescent drinking A study by Dr Alex Barker and colleagues that looked at the prevalence of Guinness advertising in the 2019 Rugby Six Nations Championship, found the following across the 15 games:Two weeks after this study was published it was announced that the National Football League (NFL) in the US was to get its first spirits sponsor, with Diageo signing a multiyear deal. Until four years ago advertising of spirits was banned in the NFL, with beer advertising dominating. Why is this important? Dr Barker’s research states that exposure to alcohol advertising is associated with adolescent initiation of drinking and heavier drinking among existing young drinkers. It goes on to explain that the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK does not regulate footage of imagery from sporting events and although this should be covered by Ofcom it is not. Sports sponsorship is self-regulated by the Portman Group, whose code states that it “seeks to ensure that alcohol is promoted in a socially responsible manner and only to those over 18” and that “drinks companies must use their reasonable endeavours to obtain data on the expected participants, audience or spectator profile to ensure that at least the aggregate of 75% are aged over 18”. The study authors point out that even if 75% of the audience are adults, as sporting programmes are very popular with children they are still being exposed to regular alcohol advertising. If the remaining 25% are children, with huge sporting events there will still be millions of children seeing such advertising. The England versus Croatia Euros 2020 game had a UK audience of 11.6 million, which would potentially mean 2.9 million children seeing alcohol advertising during that game alone – a number acceptable under the self-regulatory rules.  The researchers argue that this weak regulatory approach should be reviewed and “Restrictions on, and enforcement of, alcohol advertising during sporting events are needed to protect children and adolescents from this avenue of alcohol advertising.” They go on to say that future studies should look at if this increased exposure leads to increased sales for alcohol brands. The conversation around advertising of unhealthy commodities in sport has picked up in June, due to the actions of footballers at the European Football Championship.Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo removed bottles of Coca-Cola from a press conference and held up a bottle of water declaring “Agua. Coca-Cola, ugh”. A few days later Paul Pogba removed a bottle of Heineken from his conference. This led to the launching of a Muslim athletes’ charter, which seeks to "challenge organisations" to make progress in supporting Muslim sportsmen and women. There are 10 points in the charter, such as “non-consumption of alcohol, including during celebrations, the provision of appropriate places to pray, halal food, and being allowed to fast in Ramadan”. UEFA, the governing body of the Euros, then threatened to fine teams if players continued to snub sponsors. England’s manager Gareth Southgate came out in support of sponsors, saying “the impact of their money at all levels helps sport to function, particularly grassroots sport…we are mindful in our country of obesity and health but everything can be done in moderation”.What happened in Parliament? Obesity strategyThe House of Commons debated the implementation of the 2020 Obesity Strategy on 27 May. Minister Jo Churchill (Department of Health and Social Care) brought up the topic of alcohol labelling. She highlighted the number of calories some people in the UK consume via alcohol: “each year around 3.4 million adults consume an additional day’s worth of calories each week from alcohol”. She went on to state that the Government will be publishing a consultation shortly on the introduction of mandatory calorie labelling on pre-packed alcohol and alcohol sold in the on-trade sector. Churchill said that the main aim was to ensure people were fully informed so that they can make educated choices on what they consume. Labour MP Dan Carden’s contribution focused solely on alcohol labelling. He brought attention to the fact that non-alcoholic drinks have to display far more nutritional information than alcoholic drinks. He also pushed the UK government for a national alcohol strategy, as “We had the highest rate of deaths from alcohol on record this year. Alcohol-specific deaths are at an all-time high at a moment when drug and alcohol services are underfunded and mental health services are overstretched.” During the debate, Alex Norris MP (Labour) and Jim Shannon MP (Democratic Unionist Party) agreed that there needs to be a stronger alcohol strategy. Carden also spoke of the importance of bringing together strategies to combat obesity, drugs, gambling and alcohol.Food and drink regulationsThe House of Lords debated the Food and Drink Regulations 2021 on 19 May. Baroness Finlay of Llandaff discussed alcohol labelling, saying that people had the right to information in order to take control of their health and make informed choices. She argued that alcoholic drink labelling should form part of an obesity strategy and a comprehensive alcohol strategy. “If the role of food labelling is to inform, to empower people to protect themselves from harm and to allow regulation to support that duty to protect our citizens from harm, updating the labelling becomes a moral imperative.”Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle of the Green Party agreed with Baroness Finlay that alcohol labelling is currently inadequate.Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist (Conservative) responded to Baroness Finlay “The Department of Health is planning to issue a consultation on calorie labelling for alcohol in the near future with a view to making it a requirement from perhaps 2024.”Misuse of Drugs ActThe Commons debated the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act on 17 June. MPs agreed that the UK’s current drug policy is not working. Labour MP Jeff Smith argued that it should be liberalised to reduce harm, advocating the legalising of cannabis. He stated that alcohol is more harmful than many illegal drugs and yet it is legal. “We mitigate the harm from alcohol use by legalising it, regulating it, making sure that it is not poisonous and making it safe, and we can invest the tax raised from its sale in the NHS and public messaging.”Labour, Conservative and SNP MPs agreed with Smith, with Allan Dorans of the SNP saying that “Advice, support and education should be provided in the same way as they are for other health issues, including alcohol and tobacco.” The UK Alcohol Alert (incorporating Alliance News) is designed and produced by The Institute of Alcohol Studies. Please click the image below to visit our website and find out more about us and what we do, or the ‘Contact us’ button. Thank you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit instalcstud.substack.com

Showing Elevated Stress Press Briefing After a UK4 COBRA meeting a 3 tier alert system seems likely to align with Scotland. Covid will become endemic, coach travel is a transmission risk, the hacks are still obsessed with a cafe V restaurant distinction, don’t make Xmas plans yet BUT if you take your medicine now Santa Nicola might bring you a present. Asked about Salmond inquiry questions on TV and displaying ‘elevated stress’ the FM said ‘I can't control TV questions’. George Kerevan’s article in the National about Salmond leading a pro-indy unity party gets short shrift especially from Jimmy who is also unhappy about the treatment of the hospitality business. The BBC gets attacked by 4 SNP MPs plus Peter A Bell and the National prints another impressive front page.

In this edition of the podcast we welcome Les Huckfield as our special guest.Les, a former Labour MP, government minister,and MEP is now a supporter of Scottish independence. As well as finding out why he made that political journey we use his expertise and insight into Westminster to ask him to disentangle the Tory power surge spin ,what lies behind  the power grab, and try and discover just what the Scottish government and SNP MPs can do to counteract it. However we begin with our instant reactions to the release, finally, of the Russia Report. All the media have been trailing the alleged Russian interference into the independence referendum in 2014. We examine that element, but there's definitely a lot more to the report than that. Along the way we chat Triumph motor cycles,compare academic qualifications(I don't do well) and pay tribute to the late, great Jack Charlton.

Boris Johnson’s finger is hovering over the Unlock button. How can the Government reopen the economy without allowing the virus a second wind? What if the different Nations of the UK want very different approaches? Why Nicola Sturgeon is the most experienced leader on pandemics in Britain… and maybe Britain’s most experienced leader full stop. Guests Torcuil Crichton, Westminster Editor of the Daily Record, and IfG Fellow Nicholas Timmins of the King’s Fund join Bronwen Maddox, Jill Rutter and Akash Paun to discuss a women of truth for Britain’s health and economy. “Parliament has gone from Plague Ship to Ghost Ship… And of course SNP MPs would be happy not to be in Westminster at all.” – Torcuil Crichton“For decades the Scots have defined their health service as ‘Not England’.” – Nick Timmins“Fear rules everything. Nobody wants to be the politician who gets this wrong.” – Torcuil CrichtonPresented by Bronwen Maddox. Audio production by Alex Rees. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The lads discuss Ruth Wishart's article in the National today, our SNP MPs too comfortable at Westminster and where does the yes movement go in regard to a second independence supporting party standing on the list.

Jimmy, Stewart and Norrie ask if the Westminster elite are trying to cut out any comment from the first Minister or maybe it's just from all SNP MPs and MSPs. They then move on to discuss the last three polls showing a lead for the Scottish independence side.

Today’s Aye Right Radio podcast with Norrie Stewart Stewart Lochhead and Jimmy Hutton covering Nigel Farage’s Brexit parties 300 candidates, where will they be? The Scottish Tories start throwing about dead cats and do our SNP MPs have to have twice as much knowledge about the Parliaments south and north of the border as their English counterparts.

The Women’s World Cup in France was an unprecedented success in terms of media coverage and popular interest but Lesley questions just what the legacy, if any, will be for the women’s game in Scotland. Lesley was one of the distinguished panel, which sat in Edinburgh, courtesy of the Electoral Reform Society, to answer questions from the press and public on the potential role of Citizens Assemblies in determining Scotland’s democratic future. How did it go? Today sees the introduction of the clunkily named Northern Ireland Executive Formation Bill in Westminster. The absence of the Northern Ireland assembly has provided the opportunity for two Labour MPs, Conor McGinn and Stella Creasey, to introduce amendments to bring the province into line with GB legislation on same sex marriage and abortion. We consider what position SNP MPs should take on these devolved matters.

Yet again it's another morning after the Westminster night before and Lesley and I attempt to unpick the Gordian knot of indicative votes on Brexit. I won't try and unravel what we cover in this episode in detail but we range across who voted for what; the arcane and archaic House of Commons voting procedures; whether the SNP MPs should simply up sticks and come home; and as usual what all this means for Scottish independence. You also find out why I was angry and Lesley wasn't, plus an update on meh beein aff on the seek. Enjoy

It's the morning after the night before and as the light at the end of the Brexit tunnel looks increasingly like the No Deal express thundering down the track we try and make sense of it all. Lesley wonders just where Theresa May can now go to get some sort of parliamentary consensus and is this time for the Commons to step in and create that temporary cross-party coalition. As Nicola Sturgeon flies down to London to meet with Ian Blackford and the SNP MPs we inevitably speculate on where this crisis of the British state takes the campaign for Scottish independence. Along the way we discuss the Northern Irish backstop, Section 30 orders, and compare the Prime Minister to those Weebles who wobble but don't fall down (one for the kids there).

We're back! Yup after a two-week break, during which time nothing politically significant at all has happened, the podcast has returned. Please read that last sentence with a note of irony, of course. As you might be aware our absence was down to my better half's close encounters with the NHS and that's where we begin. Lesley recently went to see Nae Pasaran, the movie about the Scottish workers who defied Pinochet's fascist dictatorship in Chile. What lessons can we draw from this amazing true story for today? We, unashamedly, spend the rest of our time focusing on whether independence is the cause that dare not speak its name amongst the SNP leadership, the role of SNP MPs at Westminster, and the role of Holyrood.  As well as all that, and there's a lot of all that, we muse on tablet, visits to Skye and Belfast, and David Mundell ecdysiast.

On the day that Ian Blackford led a walk out of SNP MPs at PMQs in protest at the Westminster Brexit power grab Lesley spoke with Katrin Oddsdóttir, who features in Lesley's latest film in the Nation series.  Katrin was one of 25 members of the Constitution Council of Iceland, which drafted a new constitution for the country in 2011. Katrin has been a political activist from early age, but became known in Iceland after delivering a radical political speech at mass protests in 2009 while still a law student. She now works as a human rights lawyer. This week's recording is courtesy of the inimitable Al of Phantom Power. Cheers chum.

Matt Chorley braves his fourth and final conference of the season this time with the SNP in Glasgow. He asks, have we reached, 'peak Nat', is Brexit making the case for independence harder, and with leaving the union not mentioned throughout conference, how do the SNP continue to motivate party members? The questions are put to Hamish Macdonell, Times Scottish political editor, Times columnist Alex Massie, and SNP MPs including Kirsty Blackman, Stewart McDonald and Stephen Gethins. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With parliament dissolved and the Queen firing the starting gun on the campaign to elect a new one James Millar catches up with a few departing MPs to reflect on the last few years in politics. Plus Westminster watcher extraordinaire Tony Grew joins him to sum up the 2015-17 parliament which he correctly predicted two years ago would be "nasty, brutish and short." And there's a solution to global warming.

Well, if Scotland was under any illusions about its place in the "Mother of Parliaments", they were shattered during the past week's bizarre debate on the triggering of Brexit under Theresa May's Tory Government. That's certainly the view of the SNP MPs who attempted to file 50 varied amendments to the government's Bill, itself presented only after Mrs May was forced to do so by the Supreme Court. The Government response was - to say the least - hostile. Glasgow North MP Patrick Grady came into the Newsnet Radio studio to recount his week in Parliament, and the impressions he gained, to our regular podcast host, Derek Bateman. This was a week where Scottish interests on Europe were cast aside by a Government bent on a so-called "hard Brexit", and unwilling to make exceptions for Scotland. The question for Scottish MPs now is: What next?

On this week's show, Colin & James talk the ongoing corruption investigation at FIFA, the newly released Kung Fury, SNP MPs told off for clapping and Forbes' Most Influential Women. Music comes from The Strips!

This time I spoke with Kathleen Caskie on the theme that we're hearing a lot lately, namely that it is somehow illegitimate that SNP MPs (or Plaid for that matter) should be involved in government business in Westminster.