Scottish Votepods.com

Photos of everything

Over at our associate Scottish Votepods Unplugged there are photos of all of the Debates.

If you want to see images form the events then please take a look. Indeed, if you have a better shot that you would like to share then please send it to us for consideration.

Yours aye.

Big Island Debate - Skye

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.

The file can be downloaded here.

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.

Download the file here.

This part of the evening finished with a question on recycling, land fill and how it could be improved on the islands.

Download the file here.

Section 3: Skye is, of course, one of the heartland areas of Gaelic and the ongoing development of the language was the next topic to be raised.

The file can be downloaded here

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

Download the file here

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.

Download the file here

Section 6: The final question of the evening asked the politicians what difference there would be should they be in government after the election.

Download the file here

VIDEO

The panel debate the merits of various forms of renewable energy generation within island communities.

The panel were then questioned as to whether they still saw a place for nuclear power.

MORE TO FOLLOW

Big Island Debate to be Broadcast Live

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

Desperately Seeking Labour Candidates

The organisers of three  Scottish Votepod election debates are appealing for anyone able to represent Labour policy in the forthcoming Holyrood elections to come forward.

The Big Wellbeing Debate at the AK Bell Library in Perth on Monday 16th April at 7pm has been arranged for several months and has leading candidates from all the other major parties. But Labour Party HQ in Glasgow has been unable to field a Labour candidate to attend. The Big Work Debate at Abertay University in Dundee on April 30th and the Big Islands Debate in Portree on Skye on April 26th are also currently minus official Labour representatives.

In fact of the five Votepod Debates being held north of Stirling, Labour have opted not to send any serving MSPs.

Broadcaster Lesley Riddoch is part of the volunteer team of ex NCR and BBC colleagues behind the Votepod debate series.  The Big Lottery, BT and Joseph Rowntree Trust backed events also feature music from artists like Capercaillie, Sheena Wellington and the Hazey Janes and the use of electronic voting pads.

Ms Riddoch said she was disappointed Labour couldn’t get any of their existing MSPs to pitch up north of the central belt and said organisers would be delighted to hear from any enthusiastic and articulate members of the Labour party with expertise in Mental Health, Work and Skills or Island issues by email.

Help Shape the Debate - Post a Comment

While we want as many people as possible to attend the events, we realise that not everybody will be able to go. So if you've got a question you want to ask or an issue that you would like Lesley to raise, please let us know. We'll do our best to include them at the event.

You can contribute here or by clicking on the comments tab at the bottom of each individual entry on this site. If you prefer, you can e-mail us directly.

Don't just sit there - get involved and Shape the Debate.

The Scottish Podcast Events

Here is the list of events with date and location.

For ticket requests contact us or where listed below the local organiser. Not all events require tickets.

Further details of participants, musicians, timing and arrangements for tickets etc will be announced as and when they are confirmed.

• March 19th The Big Student Debate – McEwan Hall, Edinburgh University. Starts at 12 Noon.
No tickets required. Stand-up comedy from Janey Godley. Organised by Edinburgh University Students Association.

• April 12th The Seniors Big Debate, 2.00pm Albert Halls, Stirling. Music from Sheena Wellington. Organised by West of Scotland Seniors Forum.

• April 16th The Big Wellbeing Debate –  AK Bell Theatre, Perth. Starts 7.30. Ticket arrangements to follow. Music from St. Andrew of the Woolen Mill (including Michael Marra and Kevin Murray). This event is organised by the Perth Association for Mental Health.

• April 17th The Big Green Debate - The Hub, Edinburgh. Starts 7.30. No tickets - entry first come, first served. Musical entertainment from Capercaille. The event is organised by the EveryOne campaign

• April 19th The Big Energy Debate - Caird Hall, Dundee. Solar Cities Scotland is hosting this debate on the evening of Thursday 19th April 2007. There will be an energy fair and music from the Hazey Janes. Tickets are free but limited. Email the local organiser.

• April 20th  The Big Cairngorm Debate - MacDonald Aviemore Centre. Doors open 7.00 for 7.30pm start. Music from Babelfish. The event will be advertised locally and tickets are required. Organised by The Inner Wheel of Spey Valley  there will be a small charge, proceeds going to charity. Please email local organiser.

• April 23rd, The Big Grey Power Debate -  Banqueting Hall, City Chambers, Glasgow. 2.00pm. Music from Sheena Wellington. No tickets required. Organised by the Scottish Pensioners Forum.

• April 25th The Big Neighbourhood Debate – 7.00pm, Ocean Terminal, Leith. 

• April 26th The Big Island Debate – 7.00pm, Aros Centre,  Music from Babalfish.

• April 30th  The Big Work Debate – 7.00pm, Main Lecture Theatre, Abertay University,  Dundee. Music from Sheena Wellington. Free tickets by emailing the organisers Dundee Voluntary Action or phone 0138 2221545