Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Political Party podcast. This one featuring

SNP MP Tommy Sheppard. This was recorded in October 2015 just before the Tony Blair episode

one was. So this is sort of skipping back in time a bit. Tommy is an absolute legend. He's

known in comedy circles. He set up a very famous comedy club called The Stand in Edinburgh

that then moved to Glasgow and to Newcastle and I've played all three of those comedy clubs.

He's got absolutely fantastic and the testament to his talent. Before he did that, he was

deputy general secretary of the Scottish Labour Party. So it's been on a phenomenal journey

from politics in the Labour sense in Scottish Labour politics as it was at the time and the

way it was at the time, more to the point, then setting up the centre prize through a

love of stand up comedy and then leaving the Labour Party. Really have to become

deeply disillusioned with it. Joining the SNP, standing in Edinburgh where his first comedy club

stands and getting elected in the election, you may have seen one of various things. He's

very good on the radio and on the tally and he's certainly a very thoughtful man. A lovely

fellow, naturally very funny. He's certainly one of the best communicators the SNP has. One

of the nicest MPs and Parliament. I've met him during the Edinburgh Festival in Aston

to come on the show and therefore he did. He's absolutely wonderful and puts the case

in his own way that he's very gentle and almost poetic and whatever your feelings about

the independence referendum in Scotland and whether we have another one and the tone

in which it was sometimes conducted. Tom Lee Shepherd is a very welcome antidote to a lot

of the divisiveness that has sadly prevailed on both sides. He's a wonderful fellow. It's

an absolute pleasure to listen to him and I hope you enjoy.

Thank you very much. Thank you. Is this thing on? Is that working? Can you hear me loud and

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