Planet Holyrood - The Scottish Politics Show

Scottish Labour have been forced into a pitch for Holyrood 2026 which is essentially “Vote Scottish Labour to reverse UK Labour policy” – a message that could confuse voters, with John Swinney considering bringing back a universal winter fuel payment in his December Budget.

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SNP leadership succession begins as Stephen Flynn goes for Holyrood

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Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon is joined by Sunday Mail Political Editor John Ferguson and Scottish Express Digital Editor Douglas Dickie on the Planet Holyrood podcast to discuss Donald Trump’s victory in the US election and look at the reasons why.

Will this be a lesson for Keir Starmer and the dangers of not delivering on what voters really care about like the economy and immigration?

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Rachel Reeves has announced £40bn worth of tax rises on businesses and the rich to help repair the UK's "broken" public services.

In her first Budget speech, the Chancellor confirmed today she will not increase national insurance, VAT or income tax for working people. But hiked employers’ national insurance contributions by 1.2 percentage points - insisting it was “the right choice to make”.

Will the changes be for the best, or break the country's finances further? Join Paul Hutcheon, Hannah Rodger and Ben Borland in this episode of Planet Holyrood.

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Alex Salmond, Scotland's First Minister between 2007 and 2014, passed away from a heart attack after giving a speech in North Macedonia on Saturday.

He was widely judged to have led a successful SNP Government before winning a landslide Holyrood election in 2011 and securing an independence referendum. He subsequently led a new party, Alba.

Chris McCall, Hannah Rodger and Douglas Dickie discuss the life and achievements of Alex Salmond.

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Anas Sarwar’s refusal to criticise Rachel Reeves over the Winter Fuel Payment cuts risk making him look weak and damages his campaign to be the next First Minister.

On the SNP camp, "he clock is running" to prosecute Nicola Sturgeon's husband in connection with the alleged embezzlement of party funds, a defence advocate has said.

The Daily Record's political editor Paul Hutcheon is joined by the Sunday Mail's Hannah Rodgers and the Scottish Express editor, Ben Borland.

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Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon is joined by Sunday Mail Political Editor John Ferguson and Scottish Express Digital Editor on the Planet Holyrood podcast to discuss the Conservative Party conference and their leadership contest.

Tory leadership contender Kemi Badenoch appeared to criticise statutory maternity pay as she said the Government was doing “too much” in an interview with Times Radio, claiming maternity pay is “excessive” and people should exercise “more personal responsibility”

The panel also debates the many challenges facing new Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay and his first outing at First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament.

Keir Starmer has paid back more than £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality he received since entering Number 10 after a row over ministerial donations - but will the Prime Minister’s repayment take the sting out of the ‘King of Freebies’ row?

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Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon is joined by Sunday Mail Political Editor John Ferguson and Scottish Express Editor Ben Borland on the Planet Holyrood podcast to discuss the hot talking points at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.

This week Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves continue to come under criticism for their negative narrative, claiming ‘things are going to get worse before getting better’ and the cutting of winter fuel payments.

The SNP also dubbed the Prime Minister "the king of freebies" after it emerged he has received more gifts and tickets than any other party leader in recent history.

Anas Sarwar’s chances of becoming First Minister have also been harmed by Downing Street blunders and Treasury control freakery.

And finally, the Scottish Tories will announce their new leader on Friday, with former Sunday Mail journalist Russell Findlay the favourite to take the post.

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Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon is joined by Sunday Mail Editor Lorna Hughes and Scottish Express Digital Editor Douglas Dickie on the Planet Holyrood podcast to discuss the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum ten years on. 

Is Scotland better off after having a referendum or has it just been a lost decade?

Why did Yes lose, was it the economy or did the Daily Record’s controversial ‘The Vow’ front page swing it? 

The panel also debate Alex Salmond’s role in the indyref, particularly his treatment of the media - and if we will ever have indyref 2.

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The Daily Record's Paul Hutcheon speaks to Perth and Kinross-shire MP Pete Wishart, who has written a book from diary entries during the lead-up to the Scottish Independence referendum ten years ago.

Wishart, a Perthshire MP since 2001, looks at media coverage, grassroots movements, speeches and rallies – and a sense that Scotland’s political landscape was set to change forever.

He has previously described the referendum as “most exciting time in my life”, adding it was a “different type of experience” to when he had played with Scots rock band Runrig.

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