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28 Episodes 2019 - 2020
Episode 0
As we approach the half way point in the UK's Christmas election, the Alex Salmond Show summons back our celebrated panel of political pundits to analyze the campaign to date. In the blue corner, we have Peter Oborne, in the yellow, Lembit Opik, in the red, Professor Richard Murphy and from the tartan corner, Ruth Wishart. Our experts tell us who's up, who's down and who is likely to emerge triumphant from the political pantomime.
Episode 1
In this week's Alex Salmond Show, we ask whether the standoff between the Spanish Government and Catalan independence campaigners is going to move from on the streets to online? The Catalan Digital Minister Jordi Puignero claims that the Spanish Government has taken draconian powers to shut down the internet in any part of Spain, at any time. While Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has warned that there won't be Catalan independence - either offline or online.
Episode 2
The Alex Salmond Show talks to the Catalan independence campaigners on the streets of Barcelona and answers the question of why, despite substantial popular support and admiration for the conduct of their cause across Europe, they have had little official backing from other countries - and none at all from the institutions of the European Union. Alex is in discussion with Elisenda Paluzie of the Catalan National Assembly and former UK Ambassador Craig Murray.
Episode 3
In these highlights of international programs, the Alex Salmond Show finds out where the most content society on earth is, why the Maltese prime minister resigned despite that island's soaraway economic success, and why our series on the fate of the RMS Lancastria made a very special gentleman very happy.
Episode 4
The Alex Salmond Show reconvenes its celebrated panel of political pundits to debate the shape of politics to come in the aftermath of the Christmas election. Peter Oborne, Lembit Opik, and Chris Williamson analyze the results and debate the future course of UK politics. Boris Johnson is now master of all he surveys at Westminster, but could problems lie in wait from Europe, Ireland, and Scotland?
Episode 5
The Alex Salmond Show visits Finland, the home of Santa Claus, for its Christmas edition. This time, searching for an answer on why the Finnish education system has a track record of international excellence, despite children spending less time at school and less time on homework. Key Finnish educationalists explain to Alex that there is much more to child development than formal education in the classroom.
Episode 6
The Alex Salmond Show rings in the New Year in Finland, now officially recognized by the United Nations as the happiest country on the planet. Alex asks Alexis Kouros, editor in chief of the Helsinki Times, whether the new governing coalition of five political parties, all led by women, will succeed in continuing the consensus politics which have led to Finnish contentment, or whether the New Year will bring fresh political challenges.
Episode 7
The Alex Salmond Show this week takes a look back at some of the highlights of the auld year in show business and politics, with forecasts of what is to come in 2020. Alex meets his all-time hero, Robert the Bruce, and rockers from the 1970s, while Golden Globe winner Brian Cox claims that his fictional character, Logan Roy from the hit show 'Succession,' would kick the current crop of politicians from "here to next Tuesday."
Episode 8
With homelessness rising The Alex Salmond Show returns to this seemingly intractable social issue and features both direct action from the homeless "SWAT" teams on the streets of London and the university which has moved from social studies to practical help. Both projects can claim success but do they provide a comprehensive answer or are the homeless, like the poor, now ever with us?
Episode 10
Will the UK help the child refugees of Europe? The government says it will fulfil its obligations without legislation but campaigners within and outside parliament argue that they will need to force the issue back to the top of the political agenda. Alex speaks to actress Debbie Arnold, whose mother was saved by kinder transport, and Angus MacNeil, an MP who proposed a child refugee bill in the last parliament.
Episode 11
The Alex Salmond Show looks at this month's Sinn Fein breakthrough in the Irish Republic elections, and asks Professor John Tonge of the University of Liverpool and top political blogger, Slugger O'Toole, what the implications are for the future of Ireland - North and South.
Episode 12
The politics of Scotland and England have never been more divergent, with Scotland pro European and leftwards, while England turns to the populist right of Boris Johnson and the Brexiteers. The Alex Salmond Show interviews author and MP Kenny MacAskill on his new book on the radical politics of Scotland from the Napoleonic period to the rising of 1820, while commentator George Kerevan, who has been both a Labour Councillor and an SNP MP, analyses the radical politics of modern Scotland.
Episode 13
Life after the Taliban. Journalist Yvonne Ridley shot to international fame 20 years ago when she was captured by the Taliban. Now living in Scotland and author of a new book 'The Caledonians', Yvonne talks to Alex about her remarkable life and career.
Episode 14
In the first of a three-part series on the politics of Northern Ireland, the Alex Salmond Show speaks to the region's most published academic, Professor Duncan Morrow, about reconciliation among communities and whether peace can withstand the pressures of Brexit and the changing demographics of Northern Ireland.
Episode 16
In the final part of The Alex Salmond Show's series on the politics of Northern Ireland post Brexit, Alex interviews former SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell on the conversations required to reconcile unionists to a future where Irish nationalism will be in the ascendancy. He also speaks to community campaigner from Border Communities Against Brexit John Sheridan, finding out what lessons have been learned from the successful drive to avoid a land border in the island of Ireland and therefore to protect the peace.
Episode 17
On the 700th anniversary of the declaration of Arbroath, the Alex Salmond Show looks at Scotland's very own independence declaration and discusses with professor Ted Cowan, singer Sheena Wellington and author Billy Kay how this medieval letter from the community of the realm of Scotland has impacted European and world history.
Episode 18
The Alex Salmond Show discusses the economics of the coronavirus crisis with author of 'The Pandemic Century' Dr Mark Honigsbaum and with international economists Dr Stephanie Fabri and Professor David Blanchflower, who chart an economic strategy for world recovery. Dr Honigsbaum explains how the UK government blundered into a "herd immunity" policy in responding to Covid-19, while Professor Blanchflower argues that Western governments were as unprepared for the pandemic of 2020 as they were for the financial crisis of a decade ago.
Episode 19
The Alex Salmond Show speaks to two international experts about combating the coronavirus pandemic. Leading authority on intensive care treatment, Professor Hugh Montgomery of University College London, describes the reality on the front line in the battle against Covid-19 - and sends a message on necessary changes to modern lifestyle, once humanity emerges from the current crisis. And Cambridge University virologist Dr Chris Smith explains the difficulties and assesses the prospects of new drug treatments for Covid-19.
Episode 20
The Alex Salmond Show discusses the consequences of the global pandemic for mental health. In addition to the health crisis and the economic threat, there is a psychological tsunami to come from the combination of fear, anxiety, stress and isolation. TV psychologist Emma Kenny and Dr Lisa Cameron MP warn that the mental health impact will be with us long after the threat to physical health has passed.
Episode 21
The Alex Salmond Show examines with former Faroese Finance Minister Kristina Hafoss MP, and Na h-Eileanan an Iar MP Angus MacNeil, how the tiny Faroe Islands have successfully eradicated the coronavirus by use of tried and tested means of epidemic control. And also discusses with former Scottish Chief Medical Officer, Professor Harry Burns, if the much larger countries, which have struggled thus far to properly control the pandemic, can now do so with a return to testing, tracing and isolation and thus allow a move away from the ruinous lockdown of their economies?
Episode 22
As President Trump and Prime Minister Johnson come under sustained criticism over their handling of the coronavirus crisis, the Alex Salmond Show examines how the media on both sides of the Atlantic are covering the pandemic - with award winning commentators Peter Oborne and Chris Hedges.
Episode 23
The Alex Salmond Show examines the developing economics of the Covid-19 crisis, and asks leading economists Vicky Pryce and George Kerevan whether a prolonged world recession is now inevitable, and what new economic thinking will be needed to meet the challenges of the post-pandemic age?
Episode 24
The continuing drama of Britain's withdrawal from the European Community has been totally overshadowed by the Covid crisis but the ongoing negotiations to find a long term trade deal are not going well. Alex Salmond asks Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski, head of the New Europeans and former Labour MP Roger Casale, and the SNP's Alex Neil MSP, whether by year end it will be "deal or no deal" with Brussels.
Episode 25
Political commentators Steve Richards and Professor Richard Murphy mark the first report card of new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Boris Johnson's stuttering performance on the Covid crisis has presented Starmer with an early political opportunity. But does he have the long-term economic vision to rebuild the Labour Party's position in the post-pandemic age?
Episode 26
The killing of George Floyd has sparked unprecedented protest across the United States and around the world. The Alex Salmond Show explores the human stories behind the demonstrations, with bereaved mother Darlene Cain, whose son was slain by the Baltimore police, with young Chicago activist Taylor Ulmer and Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin, to ask whether the campaign message passed on through the years, of racial equality and an end to police brutality, will make a difference this time round.
Episode 27
People from BAME communities are significantly more at risk from Covid-19 than white people. The UK government has provoked anger by delaying until this week the publication of a key section of a report that presented institutional racism as one explanation for this disparity, and made recommendations for action. Alex Salmond speaks to Dr Minesh Talati, a grieving son suing the UK Health Secretary over the death of his father; House of Lords campaigner for minority communities Baroness Uddin; and Dabirul Choudhury, a sprightly centenarian raising funds for coronavirus victims both in the UK and in Bangladesh.
Episode 28
Episode 29
28 mins