Last Thursday's debate in Leith is reviewed on the website of You Scotland. The author Alan Smart clearly enjoyed the evening saying
'...the overall quality of debate and contribution from the floor first class, informed but rarely angry, just as good hustings should be. And all genuinely good. Nice venue, nice people, good music , some half time poetic satire, and great sandwiches! More please Votepod'07 '.
We're glad he enjoyed it.
If you want to catch the last of our events, The Big Work Debate in Dundee at 7.00pm tonight - check out ticket availability here.
There was a full house at the Aros Centre in Portree on Skye for the Big Island Debate. The issues under discussion included energy, wind farms, political leadership and the future of the Gaelic language.
The debate has been broken down into managable sections that you can listen and view directly on this page. You can also view videos on the Scottish VotePod Channel on You Tube, subscribe to the audio podcasts on iTunes or directly download the audio files. Our audio clips allow you to listen to the discussion in detail, while the videos will feature shorter highlight clips.
The panelists were
Anne MacLeod - Solidarity Dr Stephen McCabe - Local GP Jamie McGrigor - Scottish Conservative Party John Farquhar Munro - Scottish Liberal Democrats Donnie Nicolson - Scottish Socialist Party Michael Russell - Scottish National Party Eleanor Scott - Scottish Green Party Rhoda Grant – Scottish Labour Party
AUDIO
Section 1: The audience was particularly interested in discussing wind farms and the impact they are having both locally and nationally. This question from the floor started the debate.
Section 2: The debate over energy continued with a range of questions from the floor including best practice elsewhere, the role of Scottish Natural Heritage and the lack of political leadership delaying decisions.
Section 4: Difficulties in providing health and other professional services comparable to other areas, is an issue of major concern to island communities. The father of a young autistic adult talked about his experience
Section 5: In common with other rural areas housing is a major issue on Skye. Provision of water supplies, affordability and the impact of 2nd homes were all raised.
Ocean Terminal, a symbol of the ongoing regeneration of Leith, was the venue for the Big Neighbourhood Debate. The issues under discussion affect many similar parts of Scotland and included affordable housing, regeneration of communities, youth unemployment and training.
As usual, we have broken the debate down into managable sections that you can listen and view directly on this page. You can also view videos on the Scottish VotePod Channel on You Tube, subscribe to the audio podcasts on iTunes or directly download the audio files. Our audio clips allow you to listen to the discussion in detail, while the videos will feature shorter highlight clips.
The panel were Labour - Malcolm Chisolm Conservative - Iain Whyte SNP - Davie Hutchieson Lib Dems - Siobhan Mathers Green - Stuart Callicon
Watch Lesley Riddoch introduce the panel
AUDIO
Section 1: All around Leith there are major new housing developments. However for many local people the properties are too expensive. The debate started off with this question from a young local woman, Danielle.
Section 2: The debate over housing widened out to discuss the impact new builds
have had on reducing the amount of parks, recreational and other green
spaces in the city.
Section 3: The second half of the debate started off with discussion on the impact the regeneration of Leith is having on the traditional working class nature of the area. It then moves on to the lack of support local people get for their own regeneration projects.
Section 4: The issue of the stench from the sewage works at Seafield, raised considerable passion amongst bothe the panel and this member ofthe audience.
The Big Island Debate taking place in Skye this Thursday will also be broadcast live on Cuillin FM and Two Lochs Radio. The community stations will join Scottish Votepods at the Aros Centre, Portree on Thursday 26th April. And, of course, there'll be audio and video highlights available on this website.
There are still some tickets available for the event so if you want to attend the debate reserve a ticket by calling Aros on 01478 613750. The tickets are free.
Lesley Riddoch will be in the Chair, and there will be music from Babelfish - Jo Bingham (flute, whistle); Iain Copeland (drums, percussion); Adam Sutherland (fiddle); John Somerville (accordion); Andy Thorburn (keyboards)
The final list of panellists is as follows: Anne MacLeod - Solidarity Dr Stephen McCabe - Local GP Jamie McGrigor - Scottish Conservative Party John Farquhar Munro - Scottish Liberal Democrats Donnie Nicolson - Scottish Socialist Party Michael Russell - Scottish National Party Eleanor Scott - Scottish Green Party Rhoda Grant – Scottish Labour Party
The Victorian splendour of the Banqueting Hall of Glasgow City Chambers played host to over 200 pensioners in the latest Votepod Debate. In a very lively event, Grey Power was on show tin tackling a panel of leading politicians on the Council Tax, law and order and the provision of care and health services to the elderly.
As usual, we have broken the debate down into managable sections that you can listen and view directly on this page. You can also view videos on the Scottish VotePod Channel on You Tube, subscribe to the audio podcasts on iTunes or directly download the audio files. Our audio clips allow you to listen to the discussion in detail, while the videos will feature shorter highlight clips.
On the panel were
Labour - Rhona Brankin Lib Dems - Robert Brown SNP - Sandra White Conservative - Bill Aitken Solidarity - Tommy Sheridan SSP - Colin Fox Scottish Senior Citizens Party - John Swinburne.
AUDIO
Section 1: The afternoon started with a topic of considerable concern to pensioners - the Council Tax.
Section 2: A very lively and extensive discussion took place around the theme of law and order. Policing, anti-social behaviour, youth crime and lack of support for voluntary work and community facilities brought a lot of passionate points and questions from the audience.
Section 3: In the final section of a fiery hustings, the panel were tackled on
funding for health care, dementia, care in the community and hospital
car parking.
If you're in the Glasgow area, why not come along to the Grey Power debate in the City Chambers, George Square at 2.00pm today. Lesley Riddoch will be chairing the latest of the Votepod events and there's a top line up of politicians there to answer your questions. On the panel are Labour - Rhona Brankin Lib Dems - Robert Brown SNP - Sandra White Conservative - Bill Aitken Green - Robin Harper Solidarity - Tommy Sheridan SSP - Colin Fox Scottish Senior Citizens Party - John Swinburne.
If that isn't enough there'll be music from Sheena Wellington who sang at the opening of the Scottish Parliament. The debate is taking place in the Banqueting Hall of Glasgow City Chambers, so there's the added bonus of seeing round the Victorian splendour of this magnificent building.
We have now completed 6 Big Debates and everyone has been kind enough to thank us for our efforts. That's great and we appreciate it. However, we would like to hear your personal story. If you were an organiser, a participant, a member of the audience or even a panelist, what did you think ? If you have watched the video clips on YouTube or listened via iTunes, what was it like for you ? Did the event work for you ? Are you feeling more connected to the issues ? Do you think this method of engagement works ? Lots of people have expressed opinions - let's have a debate about the Big Debates. After we all need to connect. Right.
At the start of the second half of a fantastic Cairngorm debate last night, Lesley Riddoch had casually mentioned that the first half would be posted and available on line before the whole debate ended. "So your friends and relatives in New Zealand can hear you", she added. A number of people afterwards said this was fantastic and they were sure others would be listening. All this poses a set of interesting questions. We know we have a dedicated following in Scotland, the UK and EU. However, given there are an estimated 50 million Scots who reside outside Scotland, we would be interested to hear from them. What do they make of the debates ? What do they think of the issues we have addressed, how have the politicians performed ? Scots aboard must have views and we would like to hear them. Post a comment here or send us an email at scottishvotepods@yahoo.co.uk We will report back on the furtherest flung Scot we hear from. In keeping in the spirit of the debates, we may have to hold an international audience vote on the eve of the election !
The Big Cairngorm Debate in Aviemore took place at the new MacDonald Highland Resort, one of the developments built to boost the area. Over 200 people tackled a panel of politicians on a range of election issues including, National Parks, the environment and housing.
As usual, we have broken the debate down into managable sections that you can listen and view directly on this page. You can also view videos on the Scottish VotePod Channel on You Tube, subscribe to the audio podcasts on iTunes or directly download the audio files. Our audio clips allow you to listen to the discussion in detail, while the videos will feature shorter highlight clips.
On the panel were
Danny Alexander Liberal Democrat Fergus Ewing Scottish National Party Mary Scanlon Conservative Party Eleanor Scott Green Party Linda Stewart Labour Party
AUDIO
Section 1: The most pressing issue in the Cairngorms is the affordability of housing for local, particularly young, people. The first question came from Ian Brodie of the Scottish Enterprise Party
Section 3: The next question raised issues of access to the plateau of Cairngorm from the funicular railway that takes tourists and others up the mountain.
Section 5: The proposals for many more wind farms in the Highlands and the running of giant pylons through the National Park provoked passionate debate amongst both politicians and audience.
Here are clips of some of the audience putting their points and questions to the panel.
The Cairngorm audience were pretty vocal in wanting to discuss housing. These extended clip give you an idea of how the panelists took this tough subject on.
After Fergus Ewing and Linda Stewart, it was the turn of Danny Alexander and Mary Scanlon to offer their views on providing affordable housing for local people.
You have been asking about tickets for the Big Work Debate in Dundee...so here's the skinny....tickets for the Big Work Debate in Dundee are going fast. Collect your free ticket early to avoid disappointment, from:
Abertay University foyer
reception desk of Dundee Voluntary Action, Number Ten, 10 Constitution Road.
If you can't manage to collect tickets, please contact Andrew Scott, Dundee Voluntary Action, tel: 01382 305743 or email: andrewscott@number10.org '
Last Thursday's debate in Leith is reviewed on the website of You Scotland. The author Alan Smart clearly enjoyed the evening saying
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