It seems everyone spotted @lesleyriddoch on last week’s ‘Question Time’. It was a lively programme for a number of reasons as Lesley will explain. There was a fair amount of ‘background’ to the line up. There were also a number of audiences.

And, it’s finally happened. Or did it. Lesley came off the fence. Should we expect to see her joining the ‘Yes’ Campaign any time soon? It would appear not, if you listened carefully to what she said and wrote.

Equally, a 40 minute journey to Eigg turns into an adventure and an opportunity for new discoveries. Late for a ferry but in time for a rib and a birthday – the current status of Eigg is an encouraging one.

Well the luck of the Irish seems to follow me – even though I was born in Wolverhampton! I got to Eigg for its 16th anniversary celebrations despite missing the Cal mac ferry by 3 minutes (aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh) – I'd looked at the Sunday not Saturday timetable. But sometimes it's good to make mistakes and depend on friends and strangers – good will's always round us but we'll never know if if we're too well organised. Many thanks to the Eigg jungle drum system featuring Camille and Eilidh (I think) who contacted someone travelling with the mad Glenuig rib owner Fradz (sp?) who called me out of the blue to say - get here now! There was a torrential downpour so we all changed into waterproof trousers etc -- but as you can see from the pix once we got to Eigg the sun was out fulltime, as usual. Fab ceilidh with Ja'Ma'Tha (pron Yamaha geddit?) Breabach and Bombskare – I missed their song about last week's Question Time rammy though cos I was off being interviewed in the "simmer dim" amongst infernal (but strangely non-biting) midges by Paul Murton and the Grand Tours of Scotland team about island life and the buyout.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/lesley-riddoch-uncertainty-is-a-starting-point-too-1-2968882

Lots of enquiries regarding my Question Time comment about 1/29 Londoners being dollar millionaires. The stats are from analysts Wealth Insight in this fascinating Guardian article – scroll down to third page. It also makes the point Aberdeen is a much smaller Scottish (hotspot). The point is – do we want a regional policy as other countries do to share wealth and development? Do we want devolved structures so non hotspots can devise legislation that fits their circumstances instead of being fried by one catch all policy intended to cope with housing pressure in the south-east like the bedroom tax (and Im not saying it's an effective policy for London either btw)? More from economist Margaret Cuthbert on dysfunctional nature of UK economy and dangers of the overheated south in a new report here

Today's Sunday Post column in full

So did you enjoy your appearance on Question Time? Well, I'm not sure "enjoy" would be the right word. I was one of a "lively" six-person panel on the BBC's political debate show on Thursday night. The hour long programme was recorded in Edinburgh's Corn Exchange before a sparky audience of 16 and 17 year olds voting for the first time in British history in next year's independence referendum.

To get an easy question out of the way – no, they don't tell you what subjects will be aired beforehand. So last week was like revising for exams with an ever-changing, never-ending stream of breaking news stories. It gave me sympathy for students -- and even politicians. At the event, behind the scenes it was easy to spot the six panellists. We were the ones who weren't nibbling the tasty sandwiches, canapés and choccies before going on. Even those men of steel --Nigel Farage and Gorgeous George Galloway, were pacing up and down, conferring with partners and minders or going out for a smoke. Tension was in the air -- for good reason.

The Scottish Greens had formally objected to the UKIP and Respect leaders being on the panel when neither have Scottish MSPs or councillors – while the Greens and Lib Dems were excluded despite having both. On an ordinary week or ordinary year that might be excusable in the name of entertainment. But days before the Aberdeen Donside by-election when the Representation of the People Act requires political balance from broadcasters – and a year before Scots vote on the country's constitutional future? Hmm.

Now I know, a popular programme like Question Time relies on getting everyone out of their comfort zone and edgy confrontational characters like George and Nigel are good at doing that. But the big difficulty that faces the Beeb for the next 500 days was laid bare on Thursday night. Scottish and English political realities are profoundly different. At least two very different audiences are watching Question Time. One is the large English audience. It voted Tory at the last general election, 25% backed UKIP in the last local elections and half would leave the EU if they could.

The second audience is Scottish. It voted SNP at the last Scottish election and Labour at the last General Election, 0.28% backed UKIP in local elections and 53% would stay in the EU.

One has an independence referendum to get its head round in 500 days flat. The other doesn't.

These are two radically different beasts. Question Time broadcasts across the whole of the UK and selects content, contributors and questions to keep that predominantly English audience watching. That's not being nippy – it's a numerical reality. And if that majority audience feels excluded, riled or bored -- it switches off. That's why the Question Time panel didn't remotely reflect Scottish political life – even at this sensitive moment for democracy and balance.

But what of it? George Galloway in full flight is eminently watchable and the energy needed to interrupt him probably brings out the best (and worst) in fellow panellists and indeed himself. But is it fair to give more airtime to non-local, "shock jock" panellists than the Scots who help run Scotland – and have chosen to stay and live here? Thursday's appearance apparently made Farage the most regular contributor to Question Time since 2009. Why? The BBC is about to appoint a head of Referendum coverage – perhaps they can ask without getting their lugs skelped.

Derry/Londonderry is the UK’s City of Culture this year, Lesley paid a visit and wrote about the change which the city is enjoying. The Kirkcaldy Galleries have hosted a series of events as they re-open after renovation; we talk about what happens when celebrity Fifers  meet in the guise of Ian Rankin and Jack Vettriano. And finally, in this week’s @lesleyriddoch podcast, the US and UK have been snooping and Edward Snowden wants you to know all about it. The pod team remain divided.

Each year since the buy-out in 1997, the Isle of Eigg has celebrated its achievements and this is no different; Eigg is a determined, enterprising community.  June 12th is not only 16^th anniversary of the buy-out but also marks five successful years running of Eigg's world-leading electricity system. Community-inspired and community-run our scheme uniquely combines power from the three renewable resources of solar, wind and hydroelectric generators into a stable controlled grid that supplies all who live, work and holiday on our Island. Life changing and life enhancing the system has encouraged growth and development in new directions and, after five years, the benefits of community ownership continue to accrue.  At a ceremony to mark John Booth's retirement as Director and voluntary Project Manager from Eigg Electric, Eddie Scott, Chair of the Resident's Association, said: "The electricity scheme has been central in uniting the community and we simply could not have taken it forward without John's pragmatic and dogged determination. We owe him a great deal."

In 1986, when petrol was a mere £1.89 a gallon (£0.41/litre), John Chester (above) moved to Eigg as the Islands ranger with the Scottish Wildlife Trust.  His first progress report notes that he spent that first year living in 'Woodman's Bothy', a 6' by 10' shed with no running water. Sadly Woodman's Bothy was destroyed in a recent gale, but John Chester still stalks the island, recording everything that flowers or flies in his annual Birds of Eigg reports.  Isle of Eigg Heritage has now published these reports, incorporating  Eigg bird records from as far back as the 1700's, in his first book.  The Birds of Eigg, a compendium that demonstrates his remorseless attention to detail and breadth of ambition. If it were just that, it would be enough, but those who have known John over the years have added their tuppence-worth in tribute to the man and his obsession, and the book is richer and more humorous for this.  Better still, all the profits from the book go towards keeping this essential wildlife work going.  In congratulating him, Colin Carr, said: "John Bird is synonymous with Eigg, a tireless ambassador reaching visitors and volunteers alike; we are very proud of him and that his work is now available in this book." Chair of the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust, John Hutchison, said: "We have come a very long way since 1997.  At that time we had an uncertain future and a dispirited, shrinking population.  Now we have 40% increase in the population & a healthy school roll.  The community continues to work enthusiastically in taking the Island forwards."   Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust is a partnership between Isle of Eigg Residents Association, Highland Council & Scottish Wildlife Trust.  "Birds of Eigg" can be purchased at www.isleofeigg.net The book has been published with assistance from Scottish Wildlife Trust & Scottish Ornithologists Club

It's a brave stand by Ed Snowden to "out" American social media companies like Google and Facebook and their apparent willingness to hand the American National Security Agency pretty well unimpeded access to our personal data. The former CIA employee and contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA) told the Guardian and Washington Post that "PRISM," an NSA programme, tapped directly into the servers of nine internet firms including Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo to track online communication, although US intelligence officials say it does not target American citizens. Another NSA programme collects data about phone calls. President Obama says this does not mean authorities listen to Americans' phone calls – that would need further approval by a special intelligence court. All of which suggests Prism is most useful for information offered by non-American citizens to American based companies – people like us basically.All the internet companies deny giving the US government access to their servers. Snowden predicts the CIA and other agencies will now be onto him and hopes Hong Kong will protect him against extradition. But though his revelations have helped us understand how easily "protected" data can be intercepted by the American government – and then potentially handed on to "friendly" security agencies like GCHQ in Britain -- I wonder if Ed's put his neck on the line career-wise for no very constructive purpose. And I mean that – I simply wonder aloud.

So why is the American government doing it and does it matter to everyday British Google and Facebook users? Should we tell the American National Security Agency and (perhaps) GCHQ, "Knock yourselves out" and read every boring, mundane unusable exchange. Or should we be very worried at the way two multinational social media companies – and private defence contractors like Booz Allen Hamilton -- can intercept "private" information and hand it on to American government agencies and perhaps beyond, tempting other governments like our own to evade their own national laws on privacy. We all know Google et al have evaded "local" British taxes. Now it seems they may be evading our laws on privacy too and encouraging our governments to do the same.

"There's been a tremendous surge in contractor reliance, post-9/11," said Steve Aftergood, an intelligence watcher at the Federation of American Scientists. "Contractors are asked to perform tasks from intelligence analysis to prisoner interrogation to you name it." And this even though a congressional enquiry found contractors cost around twice as much as in-house intelligence operatives.

Europe has long had a more relaxed view of internet use. The EU stopped Microsoft embedding their browser into their operating system in Europe which could have stopped users buying anything but other Microsoft products. The EU has different more relaxed rules about Intellectual property – which is why so many internet software systems are patented in the US. Apparently the EU is currently funding the development of search engines that don't work with Prism. And Linux – open based software system – is European. The EU also brought in laws in 1998 to protect employees who expose the wrongdoings of their employers. The Public Interest Disclosure Act is designed to protect whistleblowers – though as with much that the EU does, it's been found wide of the mark several times since then. Perhaps – like the anti-Starbucks campaign after its tax revelations – there will be a push in Britain to use non US-based internet systems. Or perhaps the internet is larger than Google, Facebook or the NSA and what matters more is to extend access to the internet across society and to find ways to monetise internet content raising quality before newspapers sites currently providing "free" content for search engines like google crash completely? Two final thoughts. Strange that google can't stop access to child porn sites because of client confidentiality but can hand over vast amounts of data without our permission to a government. And from now on if you forget a computer password maybe the government can help (even though William Hague tells us nothing unlawful has taken place). Thoughts welcome.

Lord George Robertson warns about the Balkanisation of Europe in the light of a separate Scotland. After an energetic independence debate at Adam Smith College and the publication of an Edinburgh University survey of 14-17 years old; there seems to be a unspoken need for more information. But what does that mean? Worked examples , for instance?

The High Streets are not doing so well. Too many supermarkets and not enough cyclists? Especially in Edinburgh – home of @innertube and the forthcoming Festival of Cycling ? And finally, in context of recent high profile crime cases; can more be done about pornography? More than ‘safe search’? We think so. So does @UK_Feminista .

All these topics are explored in this week’s @lesleyriddoch podcast where you will be guaranteed a warm welcome.

Today's Sunday Post column If the Queen of Shops can't fix our High Streets, who can? Ten of the twelve "Portas Pilot" towns that won cash and access to TV retail guru Mary Portas last year have seen a fall in shop numbers. Her bright ideas included market stalls, cheap parking, "town teams" and a National Market Day. But BBC research shows shopping in the "lucky ten" English towns has bombed. So what went wrong? Were the ideas bad, the shops tatty and the town centres too far gone? Or have austerity and the internet combined to sink perfectly good High Streets? Well, two thirds of fruit and vegetable shops and one third of butchers have closed in Scotland since 1998 and the Competition Commission estimates £7 of every £10 spent on groceries now goes into a supermarket till. A big shopping shift is going on. Surveys show town centre spending everywhere is down by 10% in the last 5 years while out of town and internet shopping has doubled. At that rate there'll be no High Street left by the time our children draw their pensions.

Doubtless we all feel sad that the busy, varied High Streets of our youth are now lined with charity shops, sun-tan parlours, betting emporiums and corner stores. But sadness (and guilt) will not coax us away from the two for one offers, greater choice, longer opening hours and free parking that come with supermarkets. Even though half the money spent in locally based shops keeps circulating within towns and villages while the bulk of supermarket income leaves to pay distant shareholders and national or multi-national suppliers. Scotland has more supermarket floor space per head of the population than anywhere in Britain and probably Europe. According to retail market experts CACI, Dundee tops the over-provision league table and nine of the ten most "over-provided" postcodes in the UK are Scottish. Rates bills are ten times cheaper out of town. And though small high street businesses get rates relief in Scotland, some big internet firms pay next to nothing. We need a level playing field on taxation – fast. But it's not just an economic argument. The best town centres are memorable, distinctive, different and eye-catching places. Supermarkets are samey and featureless places where standardisation seems to be the pinnacle of human achievement. The more we spend time indoors on computers, the more we need real, vibrant places to mingle and meet. So why not follow the successful regeneration efforts of Book Town Wigtown or Craft Town West Kilbride. In the Ayrshire toon, arts folk took over a dozen empty shops and locals are now revamping quarries and old kirks. Why not have Old Folks homes on the High Street – watching the hubbub of daily life stops older folk feeling isolated. The snag is that towns aren't run by townspeople. "Local" councils are far bigger and more remote. Sure, Chambers of Commerce, Development Trusts, community councils and Transition Towns are all trying to breathe new life into old streets. But they don't have statutory clout. Councils are offloading buildings. But they often remain owners -- so community groups can't finance a new start. We all know there are as many good ideas in Scotland as there are empty shop fronts -- and bored kids. Why can't we connect them all up? Local community control over local regeneration is the answer. And to get that we need Alex Salmond not Mary Portas on the case.