Holyrood Sources

By Shortbread MediaNews

Holyrood Sources episodes

September 06, 2024 Cuts or Savings? The Programme for Government
The conversation discusses the recent announcement of £500 million worth of cuts in the Scottish government's budget. Calum and Andy are joined by John Boothman from The Times and The Sunday Times, as well as Mairi Spowage from the Fraser of Allander Institue, and Fergus Mutch - former SNP adviser, and Geoff's boss, to disucss: the numbers and the impact of the cuts. One area of concern is the need for transparency and efficiency in government spending. We also discuss the use of the ScotWind fund and the challenges of eradicating child poverty.

Sponsored by the Scotch Whisky Association's Made to be Measured campaign. Find out more about the campaign at scotch-whisky.org.uk/madetobemeasured

Sponsored by SSE: to verify what you've heard, click sse.com/change

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
48 min
September 04, 2024 Scottish Conservative Leadership Special
The three candidates to be the next leader of the Scottish Conservative party join the podcast to discuss the issues of the campaign. Meghan Gallacher, Murdo Fraser and Russell Findlay talk about the difficulties of the campaign, how they'd form an effective opposition, whether they think they can ever be First Minister, how they feel about the rise of Reform UK in Scotland and what would define their leadership. Calum, Geoff and Andy discuss and debate with them.

Sponsored by the Scotch Whisky Association's Made to be Measured campaign. Find out more about the campaign at www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/madetobemeasured. Sponsored by SSE. To verify what you've heard, click www.sse.com/change.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 15 min
August 31, 2024 SNP Conference: Kate Forbes, Michelle Thomson, John Boothman
Live from the pub at SNP Conference in Edinburgh
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 1 min
August 28, 2024 Sarwar, Swinney and Salmond - How to Win in 2026
Calum, Andy and Geoff are back together to discuss the results of a poll suggesting that the SNP would win the most seats but not have enough support to form the government in the 2026 election. It means the potential for Anas Sarwar to become the first minister of a minority government. Plus Alex Salmond would return to Holyrood, but is the Alba Party doing enough? This episode is sponsored by Port of Aberdeen.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
49 min
August 21, 2024 A Quiet Summer... with Angus Robertson
The Scottish government has announced it will not hold any more meetings with Israeli ambassadors until progress is made in ceasefire talks. The SNP has faced criticism after External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson met Israel’s Deputy Ambassador to the UK. Angus joins Calum and Andy to explain his stance on the conflict, and also what more Scotland needs to do to improve its international standing. Plus, The Spectator's Lucy Dunn and Catriona Stewart unpick the state of the Scottish Conservatives leadership race and what's to come at SNP conference. This episode is sponsored by Port of Aberdeen.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 5 min
August 14, 2024 The Islands Tour: Kirkwall
The Holyrood Sources Island Tour continues at the Orkney Distillery in Kirkwall and Calum, Geoff and Andy are joined by local Liberal Democrat MSP for Orkney, Liam McArthur, Scottish Labour Economy Spokesperson Daniel Johnson and Scottish Government Business Minister Ivan McKee to pick apart the details of immigration, housing, skill retention and so much more. The Islands Tour is powered by SSE. This episode is sponsored by Port of Aberdeen. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/holyroodsources.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 45 min
August 07, 2024 The Politics of Riots, Results and Murdo Fraser Enters The Race
Calum, Andy and Geoff discuss the fallout from rioting across England over the past week, and why there hasn't been any in Scotland. Plus, Murdo Fraser enters the Scottish Conservative leadership race, it's results day, and dressage isn't a real Olympic sport.

This episode is sponsored by Port of Aberdeen.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
37 min
July 31, 2024 Who Should Lead The Scottish Conservatives?
Calum, Geoff and Andy debrief on last week's candid interview with Murdo Fraser and Liz Smith, as well as assess Rachel Reeves's less-than-optimistic speech on the state of the economy this week. Plus, what would a positive SNP conference look like? And would a particular new leader of the Scottish Conservatives get the party out of it's electoral rut - or does something more significant have to change?

This episode is sponsored by Port of Aberdeen. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/holyroodsources. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/holyroodsources. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
31 min
July 24, 2024 The Future of Scottish Conservatives...with Liz Smith and Murdo Fraser
MSPs for Mid Scotland and Fife Liz Smith and Murdo Fraser join Calum and Andy to unpick what the future holds for the Scottish Conservatives, as well as reflect on its past. Potentially the next leader of the party, Murdo Fraser admits it was a mistake to try and split from the UK party in 2011 (which derailed his previous leadership bid), and suggests that he would be open to working with a new party, headed by...Kate Forbes.

Plus, does Holyrood need an upper chamber? And why is Scotland's devolution underperforming, compared to England? And how detrimental might that prove to be? All in today's episode.

This episode is sponsored by Port of Aberdeen. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/holyroodsources.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
44 min
July 17, 2024 The Islands Tour: Stornoway
The Holyrood Sources Island Tour begins at Lews Castle in Stornoway and Calum, Geoff and Andy are joined by new Labour MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Torcuil Crichton to pick apart the details of GB Energy, whether to introduce toll roads in Scotland and how to kickstart the development of the islands and begin the shift away from a Westminster and Holyrood-focussed perception of their management.

The Islands Tour is powered by SSE. This episode is sponsored by Port of Aberdeen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 40 min

About Holyrood Sources

From the publisher's feed

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.…