Holyrood Sources

Is Scotland facing a political stalemate? In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein, and Andy Maciver, with just ONE WEEK to go until polling day, explore the possible outcomes of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

Is it certain that John Swinney will return to Bute House?, or could Anas Sarwar, even Malcolm Offord, relying on Reform’s hidden vote somehow seize power? 

They also dive into the "Scunner factor"— continuing their thoughts on voter apathy from last week, could this lead to a record-low turnout? 

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The Holyrood Sources team is back to break down a week of political name-calling, tactical blunders, and Westminster turmoil.

In this episode, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (former Chief of Staff to the First Minister), and Andy Maciver (former Director of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives) dive into the "immature" state of the current election campaign. From Anas Sarwar and Graham Simpson’s public spats to John Swinney’s decision to skip the BBC Question Time leaders' debate, the team asks: where are the big ideas?

We also analyse the "terminal" situation for Sir Keir Starmer at Westminster. With Ollie Robbins sacked and Cabinet ministers struggling to defend the Prime Minister, is Starmer being held "hostage" by his own colleagues until May 7th?

In this episode:

The "Pathetic" Campaign: Why the focus on deals and name-calling is failing Scottish voters.

SNP’s Food Price Cap: Is the cap on food prices a "gimmick" or a strategic masterstroke?

The Starmer Crisis: Analysing the dismissal of Olly Robbins and the silence of the Labour Cabinet.

John Swinney’s Debate Absence: Is the First Minister "running scared" or making a tactical calculation?

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🌐 Website: holyroodsources.com

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In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein, and Andy Maciver dive into the most heated moment of the campaign so far: the Channel 4 leaders' debate. We break down the explosive exchange between Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar and Reform UK’s Malcolm Offord, and ask if the alleged "backroom deal" has any basis in reality.

In this episode:

• The Debate Fallout: Was the Sarwar-Offord clash a turning point or just "petulent nonsense"?
• Polling Deep Dive: We analyse the latest YouGov MRP poll—is an SNP majority of 67 seats actually possible?
• Manifesto Week: Breaking down the key pledges from Scottish Labour and the Scottish Greens.
• The "Battle Bus" Myth: Geoff reveals why you rarely see leaders actually traveling on their branded buses.
• Listener Questions: From the UK’s counter-argument for independence to the journey of a barrel of North Sea oil.

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In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein, and Andy Maciver take you inside the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary election. We analyse the newest IPSOS Scottish Political Monitor results with Mark McGeoghegan, exploring why the Reform UK vote is the ultimate "spoiler" for Labour and the Conservatives.

Calum, Geoff and Andy also reflect on Holyrood Sources: The Interviews, which you can listen back to or watch on YouTube now! We look at the u-turn that made the political headlines and ask which of the party leaders stood out on the night. The guys also tackle the big policy and election headlines of the week:

• Energy: The Treasury’s refusal to scrap the windfall tax despite a £17.5B investment offer.
• Manifestos: Russell Findlay’s vision for the Scottish Tories.
• Infrastructure: John Swinney’s £10M island business fund vs. the ongoing CalMac ferry crisis.

Connect with us:

📧 Email: [email protected]

📱 WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507

🎙️ Subscribe for weekly inside tracks on Scottish politics.

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In this final installment of our Leaders Special, we sit down with the leader of Reform UK in Scotland, Malcolm Offord.

As Reform surges in the polls, Offord addresses the "racist scaremongering" accusations from the Scottish Greens, explains why the party is targeting disillusioned voters, and outlines their plan to scrap Net Zero subsidies in favor of North Sea gas.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why 80% of Reform UK candidates have never been in politics.
• The "Scotland is at Breaking Point" campaign and the Glasgow asylum seeker debate.
• Malcolm Offord’s response to Patrick Harvey and the "racist" allegations.
• The future of North Sea oil and gas vs. offshore wind subsidies.
• Can Reform UK win constituency seats in the Scottish Parliament?
• Offord’s past "bad joke" and his transition from the Conservative Party to Reform.

Subscribe to Holyrood Sources for deep dives into the heart of Scottish politics.

#ScotlandElection #ReformUK #MalcolmOfford #ScottishPolitics #NigelFarage #Holyrood #NetZero #Immigration

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Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton joins Holyrood Sources: The Interviews in Edinburgh to tackle the "Ferry Fiasco," the NHS crisis, and the future of the Union.

Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver discuss with him:

The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry fiasco.

Does Scottish politics have a central belt bias?

What does it mean to be a Liberal Democrat today?

Why he would resign before supporting Swinney or Reform.

Sponsored by: The Scotch Whisky Association’s "Made to be Measured" campaign.

Subscribe for more interviews with Scotland's party leaders!

**

The Holyrood Sources podcast brings the best analysis of Scottish politics with those who have lived it as Special Advisers, and those who are current and former politicians and political party leaders.

Join Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (Former Chief of Staff to First Minister Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (Former Director of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives).

Subscribe now

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/holyrood-sources/id1673972192

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Fj3emmRONEr8aSkhcMgoH?si=789c7874034340c6

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In this Holyrood Sources special, the team sit down with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar ahead of the upcoming election.

Sarwar outlines a "boldly different" vision for Scotland, addressing the growing crisis in the NHS, the decline in Scottish education, and the future of clean nuclear energy. He responds to tough questions on the Grangemouth refinery, the procurement of buses from China over Scottish firms, and his public call for Keir Starmer to resign.

Is Scottish Labour truly different from the SNP? Can Anas Sarwar move from opposition to Bute House?

In this episode:

NHS Emergency: The plan to ramp up operations and let "money follow the patient."

Education Crisis: Addressing the 19% drop in ASN teachers and banning mobile phones in classrooms.

Industry & Jobs: The fallout at Alexander Dennis and the future of North Sea energy.

The Starmer Dynamic: Why Sarwar stood by his call for the PM to step down.

Subscribe for more interviews with Scotland’s political leaders.

#ScottishPolitics #AnasSarwar #ScottishLabour #SNP #Holyrood #ScotlandElection #NHSScotland #KeirStarmer

**

The Holyrood Sources podcast brings the best analysis of Scottish politics with those who have lived it as Special Advisers, and those who are current and former politicians and political party leaders.

Join Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (Former Chief of Staff to First Minister Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (Former Director of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives).

Subscribe now

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/holyrood-sources/id1673972192

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Fj3emmRONEr8aSkhcMgoH?si=789c7874034340c6

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has Russell Findlay conceded defeat already? What can his party offer going into the election?

In this special edition of 'The Interviews' from Holyrood Sources, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives Russell Findlay speaks to Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver in Edinburgh. "common-sense" vision for the 2026 election. From the rise of Reform UK to the 14-year legacy of the UK party.

In this episode:

The Reform Threat: Why Findlay calls Reform UK "soft on the Union."

Alternative Government: Why the Tories are focusing on stopping an SNP majority rather than the First Minister's office.

The "Badenoch Factor": How the relationship with Kemi Badenoch is changing the Scottish campaign.

Working with the SNP: Would the Tories ever vote with John Swinney?

Sponsored by: The Scotch Whisky Association’s "Made to be Measured" campaign.

**

The Holyrood Sources podcast brings the best analysis of Scottish politics with those who have lived it as Special Advisers, and those who are current and former politicians and political party leaders.

Join Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (Former Chief of Staff to First Minister Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (Former Director of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives).

Subscribe now

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/holyrood-sources/id1673972192

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Fj3emmRONEr8aSkhcMgoH?si=789c7874034340c6

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Ross Greer, MSP and co-leader of the Scottish Greens, to discuss the party's future following their stint in government with the SNP.

We dive deep into the heated debate surrounding North Sea oil and gas: Is it pragmatic to use our own hydrocarbons, or is opening new fields like Rosebank a "dead-end" for the planet? Greer challenges the capitalist model, argues for a "well-being economy," and explains why the Greens believe a pro-independence majority is about more than just the SNP.

Key Topics Covered:

The Green record in government: Free bus travel and rail fares.

The "Scientific Reality": Why 2030 is the tipping point for climate feedback loops.

Carbon Capture: A "dead-end technology" or a vital bridge?

The Independence Strategy: Why "show, don't tell" is the path to 60% support.

Criticism of global leaders and the Green campaigning style.

Sponsored by the Scotch Whisky Association.

**

The Holyrood Sources podcast brings the best analysis of Scottish politics with those who have lived it as Special Advisers, and those who are current and former politicians and political party leaders.

Join Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (Former Chief of Staff to First Minister Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (Former Director of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives).

Subscribe now

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/holyrood-sources/id1673972192

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Fj3emmRONEr8aSkhcMgoH?si=789c7874034340c6

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is John Swinney the right person to lead Scotland after May 7th? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

In this special edition of 'The Interviews' from Holyrood Sources, First Minister John Swinney sits down with Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein, and Andy Maciver at an undisclosed location in Edinburgh. From the "logjam" of Scottish independence to the future of North Sea oil and gas (Jackdaw and Rosebank), no stone is left unturned.

In this episode:

The "Job Interview": Swinney reflects on his first two years as First Minister and why he's "loving it."

Energy & Economy: A deep dive into the climate compatibility test and the shift in geopolitical energy security.

Infrastructure Failures: Why is the Sheriffhall roundabout still a bottleneck after 18 years?

The Independence Mandate: What happens if the SNP fails to secure a majority on May 7th?

🎙️ About Holyrood Sources: Bringing you inside the room of Scottish politics with the people who were actually there.

Sponsored by: The Scotch Whisky Association’s "Made to be Measured" campaign.

Subscribe for more interviews with Scotland's party leaders!

#ScotlandElection2026 #JohnSwinney #SNP #ScottishPolitics #HolyroodSources #Independence

**

The Holyrood Sources podcast brings the best analysis of Scottish politics with those who have lived it as Special Advisers, and those who are current and former politicians and political party leaders.

Join Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (Former Chief of Staff to First Minister Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (Former Director of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives).

Subscribe now

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/holyrood-sources/id1673972192

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Fj3emmRONEr8aSkhcMgoH?si=789c7874034340c6

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.