My chosen form of regular exercise is to walk and while doing so, tune into one of the many growing talk stations available through my pocket DAB radio. Having noticed a new station appearing on the dial recently, I decided to give it a try. However, what I heard and experienced was both disorientating and downright confusing. At first I thought I had picked up a 'local' transmission, you know like the old early days of citizen band radio, where the lack of any regulation allowed users to spout whatever they deemed appropriate. Then I wondered if maybe the broadcaster was somehow confused or under the influence of some medical substance, such was the vitriol being espoused.

Anything, however remotely progressive, was considered part of a liberal elitist plot and this plot was being pushed by the MSM. Further listening changed my perception – I was now under the impression that I had stumbled onto some Brass Eye-type clever satirical show, the one where you sometimes don't twig until you are well into it.

The format ,apart from boundless pejorative words and phrases being aimed at any news story that did not fit with the presenter's narrow worldview, was that they would introduce a talking point for 'debate'. The three-person panel would then proffer their view on the subject, but here is the thing, the talking heads were made up of two members firmly in the camp of the presenter, with the remaining one left to argue the contrary position. A three-on-one pile on, with the presenter constantly butting in to support those on their side of the argument, whilst belittling the sole individual on the other side. It was as if Alan Partridge had not yet been written.

On my regular trips by train, I have noticed that the Edinburgh–Glasgow fast train now occasionally stops at Lenzie, a place I know little of or at least would not, were it not for one of my favourite radio programmes, the wonderful Fags, Mags and Bags (FMB). FMB lifts the lid on the day to day experiences of a group of Lenzien denizens as they go about their ordinary lives. These colourful characters with their host of idiosyncrasies have firmly put the Glasgow satellite town on the map, with their own particular take on life, especially in promotion of the town through its various initiatives. I mean how else would I have ever heard about the The Lenzie House of Wax?

Someone recently suggested to me that the tales from Lenzie are actually fiction and the regulars depicted visiting and working in the shop are portrayed by actors. I did have my suspicions but they definitely feel so much more believable than those on GB News.

Frank Eardley



Robert Livingston has some interesting comments about referendums in SR (22 February 2023). However, my main point was the dangers and problems following from politicians ignoring the voters' decision on Brexit.

This last week, Scotland has been thrown into (comparative) turmoil following the political establishment instituting a change – on gender recognition – which proved unacceptable to the majority of voters.

John Scott



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