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.

Another success for voting

The interactive voting pads were in action again last night in Dundee at the Big Skills Debate. Surprisingly enough, there were some seeming contradictions between what was said and the results of the vote.

Take a look at the results and listen to the audio clips...it is a fascinating insight how these key issues are being evaluated by the electorate. The full results are available here

Download the_big_skills_debate.pdf

We'd love to hear what you think. It is also worth pointing out that the voting intentions, if they mean anything, seem to be consistent across the debates.

Big Work Debate - Dundee

The last Votepod event took place at Abertay University, Dundee with a stormy discussion on a range of work related topics. With the election campaign in the final stage, an audience of around 120 tackled the panel of politicians about low pay and carers, public service jobs, training and education. 

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 for the debate were

Alex Neil - SNP
John McAllion - SSP
Murdo Fraser - Conservative
Alex Cole-Hamilton - Lib Dem
Shiona Baird - Green
Iain Luke - Labour

AUDIO

Section 1: The evening started off with discussion on carers allowance following this question from Jim Milne of the Anti-Poverty Forum.

Download the file here

Section 2: The focus changed to the employment difficulties faced by disabled people following this point from a lady in a wheelchair.

Download the file here.

Section 3: The debate then moved on to consider how the loss of manufacturing jobs could be halted and new jobs created in Dundee.

Download the file here.

Section 4: Education and training for young people and proposals for Skills academies were the next topic.

Download the file here.

Section 5: The panel were then asked about how Scotland could do more to help the developing world through developing Fair Trade policies.

Download the file here.

Section 6 : The next point was about Trident and the war in Iraq.

Download the file here

Section 7: The final section debated the issue of free school meals for all schoolchildren.

Download the file here.

VIDEO

The panel respond to a question about the minimum wage and how discriminates against young people.

Shiona Baird of the Green Party talks about their policy on reforming the benefits system/

The issue of carers allowances and how to adapt the benefit system propted much discussion

The discussion on carers continues with contributions from Murdo Fraser and Alex Cole-Hamilton

Videos produced by students from Abertay University

The hottest tickets in Dundee

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 '

So now you know

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