There are currently two bills on Assisted Dying - Kim Leadbeater MP introduced a Bill to the UK Parliament in October and Liam McArthur introduced a bill to March in the Scottish Parliament.

Liam joins Bernard and Alex to discuss this sensitive subject, the legislation and its ramifications. If you'd like to find out more or this issue affects you the there are a number of campaign organisations.

VARYING DEGREES OF SUPPORT

Dignity in Dying: A leading UK organization campaigning for the right to die with dignity. Twitter: @DignityinDying

Humanists UK: A charity supporting assisted dying, emphasizing autonomy and compassion. Twitter: @Humanists_UK

My Death, My Decision: A grassroots movement advocating for a compassionate law on assisted dying. Twitter: @MyDeathMyDecision

Assisted Dying Coalition: A group of like-minded organizations seeking to legalize assisted dying for the terminally ill or incurably suffering. Twitter: @AssistedDyingUK

Exit International: A not-for-profit organization based in Scotland providing information about voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide. Twitter: @ExitInternational

All-Party Parliamentary Group for Choice at the End of Life: A cross-party group of members of the British Parliament and Peers supporting better end-of-life options, including assisted dying. Twitter: @APPGEndofLife

VARYING DEGREES OF OPPOSITION

Care Not Killing: An alliance comprising faith-based and pro-life organizations, Care Not Killing advocates for improved palliative care and opposes any changes to current laws prohibiting euthanasia and assisted suicide. Twitter: @CNKAlliance

Christian Action, Research and Education (CARE): A Christian charity that campaigns against assisted dying, emphasizing the sanctity of life and the potential risks to vulnerable individuals. Twitter: @careorguk

Disability Rights UK: A leading organization representing disabled people, it has expressed concerns that legalizing assisted dying could pressure disabled individuals into ending their lives prematurely. Twitter: @DisRightsUK

Our Duty of Care: A group of healthcare professionals opposing assisted suicide and euthanasia, focusing on ethical considerations and the potential impact on the doctor-patient relationship. Twitter: @OurDutyofCare

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• Scots are paying too much tax for failing services
• Her admiration of the SNP's Kate Forbes
• Her belief that the NHS is broken
• Why she'd like to be Health and Social Care Minister if Labour are elected in Scotland.
• Her early life in Hong Kong and her Portuguese family
• Why Margaret Thatcher motivated her to get into politics.
• Her fear of Labour complacency in the run up to the 2026 election

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Bernard and Alex are back considering:

SNP Registration of candidacy - Stephen Flynn, Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf have all thrown their hats in the ring. Can Flynn really be an MP and MSP despite party attitudes and are Sturgeon and Yousaf's intentions even real?

PLUS

Neil Gray - Does anyone believe the story of why ministerial trips were taken to watch Aberdeen football matches and does his explanation make matters worse?

US Elections - What Trump's victory means.

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Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie reaction and analysis of the first budget statement from Rachel Reeves - the first woman Chancellor to deliver a budget in British history.

Is it a "workerist", old-Labour budget that the likes of Harold Wilson, James Callaghan and Denis Healey would be happy with? Bernard and Alex discuss.

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Catherine MacLeod, former Political Editor of The Herald and Special Adviser (SPAD) to UK Chancellor, Alistair Darling, joins Bernard and Alex to preview Rachel Reeves first budget of the new Labour Government.

• Catherine's insights into how the Treasury and Chancellor prepare for a budget.
• PONSONBY - "This is the real day one of the new Labour government."
• MASSIE - "The most keenly anticipated budget since Geoffrey Howe's first budget"
• MACLEOD - "I think Rachel Reeves has boxed herself in"

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Poet and writer Jenny Lindsay tells her story:

• Being cancelled and "hounded" for being gender critical
• Her new book telling the story of her experience - "Hounded: Women, Harms and the Gender Wars"
• She says that gender is an open goal for politicians who should apologize to women and admit they got it wrong.

Jenny's book is available here:

https://amzn.eu/d/7gTBdKO

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PART 2 of a 2 part exploration of the life and times of Alex Salmond who died at the weekend at the age of 69.

Bernard and Alex pick up the story in 2011 through the zenith of his career at the 2014 Independence Referendum and onto the challenges of legal battles and the Alba Party in his post-SNP world. The programme concludes with a summary of what his legacy might be.

Bernard Ponsonby knew Alex Salmond professionally and personally for 35 years. they worked and spent time together over the past few months. Alex Massie has covered Alex Salmond closely throughout his career and despite their differences, revealed in part 1 that Salmond's team once courted Massie to be his speechwriter.

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Part 1 of a 2 part special reflecting on the life of "the most consequential Scottish politician of our time", Alex Salmond, who died at the weekend at the age of 69. It's a sincere attempt to capture in some depth the complexity and calibre of the man, his highs and lows.

Bernard Ponsonby knew Alex Salmond professionally and personally for 35 years. they worked and spent time together over the past few months. Alex Massie has covered Alex Salmond closely throughout his career and despite their differences, reveals that Salmond's team once courted Massie to be his speechwriter.

• Personal reflections from both Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie.
• The rise of Alex Salmond - from the SNP's '79 Group
• Salmond's strategic ability to see the end game and retrofit his strategy to make it happen.
• His ability to read the political temperature of the country and adapt to it.
• Salmond's rebranding of the SNP and nationalism to make an electoral success.

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