Motherland

It will come as no surprise to you that we begin with, and spend most of the podcast on, Brexit. The ECJ's ruling on the "Scottish Case" has suddenly sent the media into a frenzy on something that they've been dismissing as fringe nonsense for the past year. Lesley considers the shining light of cooperation across party lines as Labour, SNP, and Green politicians fought the good fight with the support of Jolyon Maugham QC. Just to prove that there is political life beyond Brexit, the Scottish Budget is due this week. Will Derek MacKay be able to reach an agreement with the Greens on the replacement of the Council Tax to get it through Holyrood? Revive, the campaign to reclaim and rejuvenate Scotland's grouse moors, has produced its "Back to Life" report with stunning findings on the social and economic potential for alternative uses of this "wilderness" land. Lesley's appearance on Sunday Morning with Cathy McDonald was terrific stuff ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0001gqp). Her interview leads both of us to reflect, unashamedly, emotionally, on our land, our heritage, our music, and the influence of our mothers. All of the above plus the usual highways and byways chums.