Holyrood Sources

By Shortbread MediaNews

Holyrood Sources episodes

October 28 The Budget: What Does it Mean for Scotland?
On a special episode of the Holyrood Sources podcast, recorded in the afternoon of Wednesday the 28th October, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver break down John Healey's first ever Budget... what does it mean for Scotland... did it all feel a bit underwhelming?

Stephen Boyd, Director of the IPPR Scotland joins the podcast to add his perspective.

Later. Geoff, Andy and Calum discuss the Sunday Times report that suggests that the Scottish Government continues to pay salaries worth a total of £27 million of public sector workers whose role's no longer exist....

And ,are free schoolbags a good idea... or are they a waste of money that could be spent on other aspects of education?
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44 min
October 21 Jackdaw Approved, BBC Scotland Channel scrapped and John Swinney's Conference Speech.
The UK government has approved extraction from the Jackdaw gas field near Aberdeen What does this mean for Scotland's economy and the future of North Sea oil and gas?

In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver breakdown the big political stories in Scotland this week, .We speak with Prof. John Underhill, Director for Energy Transition at the University of Aberdeen about what this decision actually means for UK gas supply, scope 3 emissions, domestic jobs, and the new North Sea Energy Wealth Fund. Will Rosebank be next?

As Amanda Bland resigns from Reform UK, rendering Labour the second-largest party in Holyrood.. Is Reform's Scottish insurgency already falling apart?

Did John Swinney deliver the detail Scotland needed in his conference speech, or was it high on rhetoric and low on public service reform?

The BBC Scotland channel is moving online-only, as part of the corporations latest round of cost-cutting measures. What does this mean for Scottish broadcast media, regional journalism, and public service broadcasting?
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57 min
October 17 Live from the pub at SNP Conference
Calum and Geoff are live from the pub at SNP conference. They take the temperature of the party ahead of John Swinney's speech this weekend and are joined by party representatives, pollsters and experts to diagnose the health of the SNP going into 2027.
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1 hr
October 14 Is The SNP's Independence Strategy Broken? and Andy Burnham visits Scotland
This week on Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver preview the SNP conference with The Scotsman's Rachel Amery. For the first time ever, John Swinney leads a conference with a mandate as First Minister... how will he shape the event as his own? Will the focus be on independence or we will see deeper policy on other issues in Scottish Politics. What will the talk be on energy? and how strange is it Gillian Mackay, the co-leader of the Scottish Greens is set to make an appearance?

Andy Burnham is also set to visit Scotland on Friday, what will his visit entail? Will we see an announcement on local government reform, and how will it differ to the Scottish Government's proposal from a few weeks ago?
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43 min
October 07 Will the Conservatives take power AWAY from Holyrood?
On today's episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver dive into the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham.

We are joined by Rachael Hamilton MSP, Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, to react to Kemi Badenoch’s proposed review of the Scotland Act and reported plans to curtail Holyrood's powers—including over education. We discuss "true conservative values," energy bills, public sector reform, and whether the UK Tory vision aligns with Scottish voters.

Plus, the team breaks down Nicola Sturgeon’s claims of Labour's "glaring contradictions" on referendums, Andy Burnham's political standing, and the soaring UK welfare bill.
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45 min
October 04 Bonus Episode: 24 Hours at Labour Conference
On this special episode of the Sources Podcasts, we're taking you to Liverpool for 24 hours at Labour Party Conference 2026. Hear the secrets of Political Christmas with Politico's Megan McElroy, More In Common's Louis O'Geran, Labour MP Jonathan Hinder, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, former Andy Burnham advisor Kevin McKeever and more.

Presented by Joe Hawkins.

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📧 Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected]
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25 min
October 02 What Great British Grid Means for Aberdeen | Holyrood Sources x Energy Voice
Welcome to another energy special episode of the Holyrood Sources podcast in partnership with Energy Voice.

Calum, Geoff and Andy are joined by Ryan Duff and Floyd March: Aberdeen Features Lead and North West Correspondent at Energy Voice. The group discuss the impact Great British Energy and the newly announced Great British Grid across Scotland, why its energy sector faces competition from other parts of the UK and how Miatta Fahnbulleh differs from Ed Miliband as Energy Secretary.

🔔 Subscribe to Holyrood Sources for weekly inside analysis on Scottish politics!
📧 Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected]
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28 min
September 30 The PM Speaks... Will Scotland Listen?
Is Andy Burnham’s vision for the UK realistic, or is he setting Labour up for a major fall ahead of the upcoming budget? On this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein, and Andy Maciver review Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s first speech to the Labour Party Conference. From hints on rejoining the EU and scrapping the pension triple lock to fund a National Care Service, to what this all means for Scotland and John Swinney, we break down the style, substance, and political tactics. Later, Glasgow South West Labour MP Dr. Zubir Ahmed joins us straight from conference to share his take on Burnham’s speech. Plus, Scotland 2050 founder Barry Cunning shares his thoughts on Grangemouth and the long-term future of Scottish politics. 📩 SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: Email us at [email protected] 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more insider analysis on Scottish and UK politics!
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36 min
September 23 Local Council Overhaul & Michael Marra's Chance of Labour Victory
In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver unpack the Scottish Government's local government proposal that could see Scotland's 32 councils reduced to just 6... Professor Michael Keating joins the show to discuss the convoluted history of local government reform in Scotland and what changes now could mean for you.

Following his election win over Joe Fagan, will Michael Marra lead Scottish Labour to electoral success, or is his political fate tied to Westminster?

And Geoff Aberdein recounts his meeting with King Charles in Aberdeen this week... he explores a stark contrast between green energy ambitions, North Sea job losses, and political double-speak on domestic energy vs. imports.
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51 min
September 16 Is the End of the UK Inevitable? Inside the First Ministers’ Cardiff Summit
Are the days of the United Kingdom numbered, or was the recent Cardiff summit between First Ministers just political theatre?

Calum Macdonald and Andy Maciver are joined by SNP National Secretary Alex Kerr MSP to discuss the summit and ask whether it puts Scotland (and Wales and Northern Ireland) any closer to independence.

They also discuss Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s recent comments at PMQs and whether Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland share a viable constitutional roadmap to independence.

Later, Andy and Calum discuss the possibility of a unionist party pact, amid reports that Scottish Labour are considering trying to form an alliance to lock out the SNP.
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45 min

About Holyrood Sources

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The Holyrood Sources podcast analyses Scottish politics through the experiences of those who have lived and breathed it as Special Advisers to the Scottish Government, SNP and opposition parties.…