Latest news with #Riddoch
The National
6 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Lesley Riddoch slams Labour benefits cuts on Question Time
Appearing on Thursday's programme in St Andrews, the journalist and broadcaster said that society has become more "precarious" and "adversarial" as she hit back at Labour's "unnecessary" plans to make it harder for people with disabilities to access benefits. Riddoch appeared on the programme alongside Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Scottish Conservative MP Andrew Bowie and Reform UK councillor Thomas Kerr. READ MORE: 'Bizarre': Question Time called out as Reform councillor joins Scottish panel Shortly after the programme was broadcast, the UK Government announced it had partially U-turned on its proposals in a bid to win over more than 100 Labour rebels who were set to block the bill from passing. In a late-night letter to MPs, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall confirmed that people who currently receive the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) disability benefit would be exempt from planned cuts to eligibility, while all current recipients of the Universal Credit health element – and any new applicants meeting the "severe conditions criteria" – will have their incomes protected in real terms. However, new claimants from November 2026 will still be subject to these changes in eligibility requirements, leading critics to condemn the decision as creating a "two-tier" welfare system. During a segment of the programme debating why Labour is cutting welfare and increasing defence spending, Riddoch told the Question Time audience: "There's been a 25% increase in the number of people committing suicide, dying of alcohol, of, of drugs since before Covid. "This is not like a snowflake generation. This is serious, serious mental health issues which I think are also related to a dog-eat-dog adversarial society where people are in precarious renting situations, precarious jobs. Everything's precarious that for my generation was not. "So you put that all together and you get, if you're unfortunate enough to be on Universal Credit, £100 a week. I'd like to see people managing on this. "For sure, this all needs to be looked at again, but in terms of the kind of benefits that Britain gives compared to other countries across Europe, we're still bumping along at the bottom." Riddoch added: "This seems to me to be a completely unnecessary attack on people who have got no capacity to come back and argue about this. "It's demeaning to end up being allocated points according to whether or not you can basically wash your undercarriage or not, because that's what it's coming down to. READ MORE: John Swinney rejects Reform UK coalition but leaves door open for Scottish Labour "I cannot believe that anybody who stood in any way as a socialist could possibly be looking at this as a viable solution to anything." Meanwhile, Somerville hit out at the Scottish Labour leader's continued support for the welfare cuts, even with one third of Scottish Labour MPs expressing their opposition. Addressing Sarwar directly, she said: "You can try and make this up as you go along, but you have for months, for months talked about your support for Keir Starmer on this issue. "Labour's own policies, which Anas in the past has defended, has meant that 250,000 people will get put into poverty, a Labour Government pushing 50,000 children into poverty. "That's why we've taken the decision not to do this in Scotland, because let's be very clear – this has nothing to do with helping people into work. "Adult Disability Payment, or PIP as it is in the rest of the UK, is a benefit that's there to ensure that the additional costs you have from being disabled or having a long term condition are assisted with. That's what it's about. "And actually, what the disabled people's organisations say, is if you cut that you're going to hamper people from getting to work. "The irony is we're going to have a Labour Government cutting money from disabled people, and what will happen? They'll struggle more to get into work, the pressure will build on our NHS, pressure will build on social care. "This will not deliver £5 billion worth of savings, even if (Keir) Starmer, with Anas's support, goes ahead with it." READ MORE: Scottish Labour lose by-election as minority administration under threat When asked by host Fiona Bruce if she was "happy" to see the welfare bill also increasing north of the Border, Somerville said: "Well what we've said up in Scotland all along is you have to have a robust social security system, but it is an important safety net for people." Bruce interrupted: "Ok, but that's not answering the question. Would you like to see reforms and cuts to the size of the welfare bill here in Scotland?" Somerville responded: "Well, with respect, it is answering that question, because we have to have a system that supports people who need it, so I will not support cuts if it takes away from the vulnerable. "I am happy that we have a Government that has the backs of disabled people, unlike Labour."
Sky News AU
25-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
'Monumental wine': Wynns John Riddoch Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is the elite of Cab Savs hailing from prominent South Australian vineyard
Does Australian cabernet sauvignon get any better than this? Pic Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Wynns John Riddoch Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 ($175) is a monumental wine saturated with the taste of cherries, plum and cassis. It comes from Wynns Coonawarra Estate's fabled terra rossa region, a 20-kilometre strip that has some of the most prized vineyards in Australia. It's close to the Victorian border and has a maritime influence. The rich red soil and cool southerly climate is optimal for growing intensely flavoured grapes, explained Sue Hodder, chief winemaker. The best cabernets have a distinctive red cherry character with hints of dried mint (and sometimes spearmint) adding to its complexity and elegance, she said. The latest John Riddoch shows an enticing savoury element with tobacco and chocolate notes. Yet it has a gentle mouthfeel for a wine of such intensity. The wine honours the achievements of John Riddoch who arrived in Australia from Scotland in 1851. He was born at Turrif in Aberdeenshire. He was a shopkeeper, a gold digger, a philanthropist, a parliamentarian, a wool grower, a property investor and fruit producer, as Master of Wine Andrew Caillard tells us in his magnificent, three-volume Australian wine history, The Australian Ark. Riddoch was known as the Squire of Penola who moved to the Coonawarra region in 1861. Caillard described him as gentlemanly. He even hosted a visit by Prince George, later King George V, to his Yallum Park mansion. The community entertained the royals with wheelbarrow races. Fast forward to 1951 and property fell into the ownership of Samuel Wynn and son David. But the Riddoch name persists. Ms Hodder said the John Riddoch cabernet came from fruit from the Johnson's Block planted in 1954 from genetic material that pre-dates the European phylloxera outbreak. 'Fruit from Johnson's Block has been part of Wynns' flagship wine, the John Riddoch cabernet, for the majority of vintages since its first release in 1982,' she said. The John Riddoch leads a stellar lineup of wines from the Wynns 2025 luxury collection. And there is a surprise newcomer this year. Introducing Wynns Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2024 ($80). It is a medium-bodied wine with a commanding amalgam of juicy strawberry, mulberry and red cherry flavours. Ms Hodder said it has taken about 10 years to get the vineyard in the right condition to deliver the quality needed for a new single vineyard offering. She said the grapes came from the McKillop Vineyard in the northern part of Coonawarra. 'A shorter maceration period, coupled with maturation in neutral 3000L French oak vats, has allowed the distinct character of cabernet franc to shine through,' she said. She spoke of the 'alluring fragrance' with notes of purple verbena flower, fresh raspberries, musk and a hint of graphite. The set also includes Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 ($45) one of the nation's favourite 'everyday wines'. The black label is one of the one of the most keenly collected wines in the country because of its reputation for ageing gracefully and displaying excellent varietal characteristics. 'The wine is produced from only the top quality 20 to 25 percent of Cabernet Sauvignon fruit grown in our terra rossa vineyards,' Ms Hodder said. It shows the aromatics of blackberry and white sage accentuated by subtle lavender notes followed by a palate of red cherry and plum, leading to deeper, contrasting notes of moss and earth. The set also includes Wynns Michael Shiraz 2022 ($150), Wynns Single Vineyard Childs Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 ($80) and Wynns Black Label Messenger Chardonnay 2024 ($45).
Rhyl Journal
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Totally Tina tribute show set to take to the stage in Rhyl
Totally Tina, the long-running show led by tribute artist Justine Riddoch, will play at the Pavilion Theatre on Friday, July 18. The performance promises a night of high-energy music, glittering costumes, and powerhouse vocals. The show has toured across the UK and Europe, including appearances at the Cover Festival in Davos, Switzerland (Image: JandroMarch) Ms Riddoch said: "I am thrilled by the success of this production – we have come so far. "Having been told on many occasions that I sounded like Tina, I decided to take the plunge and then spent hours familiarising myself with her life story and scrutinising video footage to watch mannerisms and body movements. "We always add our own personality to the show each year; the element of surprise keeps things fresh, but my ultimate aim is to remain faithful to a Tina Turner live concert, paying tribute to her career, and bring the best version of this amazing woman – her voice, her passion, and even her legs – to her many fans. "That's why we love it when people tell us that they go away feeling as though they have seen the real thing." The show includes classic hits such as Proud Mary, Nutbush City Limits, and What's Love Got to Do With It (Image: JandroMarch) The show includes classic hits such as Proud Mary, Nutbush City Limits, and What's Love Got to Do With It, as well as new additions like Jumpin' Jack Flash. The cast features a full live band, backing singers, and dancers in sequins, feathers, and stilettos. Ms Riddoch, who previously appeared on Stars In Their Eyes as Anastacia, has been performing professionally for 30 years. She has been fronting Totally Tina for 14 years, earning National Tribute Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award. READ MORE: Rhyl: Former Blossom & Bloom hub re-opens as café named after late mother Plans for football stands at leisure centre approved by councillors The show has toured across the UK and Europe, including appearances at the Cover Festival in Davos, Switzerland. Ms Riddoch said: "We love what we do, and we're lucky enough to have an incredibly loyal army of fans here and overseas. "We look forward to meeting many more new fans this year." Doors open at 7pm, with the show starting at 7.30pm. For more information, visit:
The National
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Lesley Riddoch launches crowdfunder for Finland documentary
The film has already secured funding of £5000, with Riddoch hoping to raise the final £8000 to make the project a reality. Finland has been ranked the world's happiest country for eight years in a row, with Riddoch and young Scots filmmaker Gavin Hanigan, who is based in Helsinki, hoping to look at the parallels the country has with Scotland. Riddoch has previously made documentaries about Norway, Faroes, Iceland, Estonia and Denmark. READ MORE: UK providing 'political cover' for US and Israel after Iran attack The Denmark documentary now has 1.7 million views online. The documentary would be made available on YouTube. Within just a few days of being live, the crowdfunder has raised just over £750. In the crowdfunder, Riddoch explains: 'Do we know enough about the world's most successful societies? I don't think so. 'The Nordics are the happiest, most sustainable, most equal, democratic, literate societies on earth, yet remain remarkable mostly for their high beer prices. What a travesty. (Image: Lesley Riddoch) 'So, I've spent more than a decade running the policy group Nordic Horizons, writing book and paper articles, making podcasts and films to let countries in the doldrums (like the UK) see how we might get onto a Nordic path.' She adds that there are 'huge parallels' between Scotland and Finland. 'Finland quietly excels in education - something Scotland was once renowned for,' Riddoch wrote. 'The Finns like the Scots sometimes lack confidence, but their way of life is more equal, digital, cooperative, equal and relaxed than almost anywhere else on earth. Scotland rightly prides itself on having the lowest levels of child poverty in the UK at 22 per cent – the figure in Finland is 3.7 per cent.' READ MORE: Douglas Alexander refuses to set out route to Scottish independence Riddoch adds: 'So in the dog-eat-dog, adversarial days of Donald Trump, I'd guess the world might want to know more about the happy, equal, educated and slightly awkward Finns. 'This documentary is already part funded. If we can raise another £8000 we can make it happen, start filming in September 2025, show the film around Scotland and put it online for everyone by Christmas with gigs around Scotland if Yes groups fancy.' Riddoch told The National: 'The current situation with Russia highlights Finland's enduring problem of having to coexist with an occasionally belligerent, acquisitive former colonial power as the nearest neighbour. 'Anyone who has read the history of Finnish resistance during World War II will realise that a country with half its population volunteering to join an army that became the only one to ever repel the Red Army, will be no pushover. 'Today Finns like Gavin live with bunkers in the cellars of their houses and grab bags ready at the instruction of their government in case of attack. 'And yet their lives are relaxed, orderly, and chilled.' Those who choose to donate to the crowdfunder can get an early access film preview link and other benefits. You can contribute to the crowdfunder for the documentary here.
The National
10-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Lesley Riddoch explores need to upgrade rural grid network in new film
The National columnist and filmmaker released her latest documentary, Applecross - Energy Rich, Power Poor: Why Scotland's green revolution isn't working for local people, where she visited the north west peninsula in Wester Ross to highlight the energy struggles the rural community in Applecross is facing. Applecross is famous for its spectacular views as it overlooks Skye and is the highest mountain pass in Britain, separating it from the rest of the Highlands, and is home to 250 residents. Despite being surrounded by energy-rich sources, seven in 10 of its residents live in fuel poverty, Applecross lacks amenities like public electric charging points, and even the only inn doesn't have capabilities to run electric showers, due to an inadequate grid connection. READ MORE: Palestine Comedy Club to be brought to Edinburgh Festival Fringe One of the main points Riddoch makes is the community has had to become self-sustaining with its own energy, which includes its community hydro project, Apple Juice, due to the 'feeble piece of grid' which services the area. However, the community hydro project is unable to export any of the surplus energy it generates – meaning it is also losing out on vital income for community projects. 'It's [Applecross] the highest mountain pass in Britain, it's obviously got huge drops for hydro-energy, and it's a natural for lots of hydro-energy, and wind, the whole of the north of Scotland is windy too,' Riddoch explained. 'Anywhere else in the countries that I've been making films about for some time, that amount of natural resource, you would be laughing, because you would have a local, truly local council, and they would own the energy resource and be supplying it to their people for pretty much next to nothing. 'Whereas these folk are just at the other end of everything, having to wait for SSE to decide whether or not they're important enough to put in the grid improvement that was promised to be in place and operating in 2019.' Riddoch explains in the film that the Apple Juice hydroelectric project, which has been running for around a decade, should have 'transformed the lives' of the local community, but simply hasn't due to the grid. It's not just the local community that has faced problems with the grid, with a nearby commercial hydro project having to wait five years before it saw the upgrades needed to export electricity into the grid properly, with around 60% of its output wasted, Riddoch explained. New businesses are also unable to start up properly due to the lack of access to phase three energy, which they would require but is unavailable to them – the Applecross brewery is used as an example as it is based 10 miles south east of the village. (Image: Lesley Riddoch) The 30-minute film was released last Wednesday and has since been viewed thousands of times online. On Monday, the Scottish Government approved the planning application for the replacement of the existing overhead line between Fort Augustus and Skye. SSEN's 'Skye reinforcement' project will aim to replace the existing, single circuit overhead line, which is reaching the end of its operational life, according to the energy firm. SSEN added that the line needs to be strengthened to maintain electricity to homes and businesses in Skye and the Western Isles, as well as renewable energy developments which are set to rely on the new line to carry electricity into the national grid. A spokesperson for SSEN Transmission and SSEN Distribution confirmed that Applecross will benefit from the 'Skye reinforcement' project. They said: 'Additional capacity for Applecross will come onstream on completion of SSEN Transmission's proposed Fort Augustus to Skye reinforcement project. 'This has just been granted planning consent from the Scottish Government following the submission of a Section 37 planning application in 2022.' Megan MacInnes, the development manager with the Applecross Community Company who stars in Riddoch's film, said the delays in the upgrading of the grid has resulted in decades of lost income, but believes the film has helped to raise awareness on the issue. (Image: free) 'We are relieved to hear that planning permission has been granted for this upgrade to the national grid,' she said. 'It is probably just a coincidence, but maybe the film we recently made with Lesley Riddoch 'Applecross – Energy Rich Power Poor' – has raised awareness of the challenges we face? The delays so far with this grid upgrade have meant a decade of lost income from our community-owned hydro project, AppleJuice – money which could have been reinvested locally. 'We just hope this means the export cap will soon be lifted so that community energy projects, like ours, can reach their full potential.' Ariane Burgess, the SNP MSP for Highlands and Islands, added it was a relief that the network upgrade has been approved but warned it is still years away from completion. She said: 'The community should be supported to make more use of the clean, green energy it generates locally via battery storage and EV chargers, for example. 'Across Scotland, we must update our grid to unlock the full potential of our community-owned renewables - both to provide energy security in an uncertain world and boost the resilience of rural communities.' Riddoch concludes in her film that Scotland is surrounded by many great examples from other countries on how it can thrive with renewable energy infrastructure and highlights the admirable self-reliance of the Applecross community. 'The community company is amazing,' Riddoch said. 'We've seen all these things that are taken for granted everywhere else, which are provided by that little development trust and if income comes to it, it stays here. 'It creates infrastructure, it makes up for all the state, the council and everybody else is not providing here and it can't even get a second turbine into a tiny project. 'It can't even export all the energy from its tiny hydro because of that constrained, inadequate grid.'
