Podlitical

2024 feels a bit 2014 as Scotland marks 10 years since the independence referendum. The team look ahead to what the future of the independence debate might be in Scotland, as well as talking about the news of the week, including reports that there are splits at the top of Labour over chief of staff Sue Gray being paid more than the Prime Minister, and criticism over the scale of gifts and freebies that the PM Keir Starmer has received, now topping over £100,000. Also, the Commonwealth games are coming to Glasgow, what does it mean for the city and for Scotland, and can it live up to the hype?

Co-leader of the Scottish Greens Lorna Slater sits down with Podlitical, talking about her journey to Scotland, and ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, shares her memories of the referendum and how she got engaged in Scottish politics. Lorna Slater shares how she feels having autism is an advantage in the job, how her experience with the Deposit Return Scheme left her with a "deep cynicism" of the UK Government, plus the collapse of the Bute House agreement, and how Humza Yousaf's resignation was about "brutal" parliamentary math. As the next Holyrood election begins to be considered, Slater discusses how it's "hard to imagine" supporting the Scottish Government's next budget without the "green stuff".

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Scotland's only oil refinery is set to close, and the winter fuel payments row continues. Petroineos have confirmed Grangemouth will close next year, putting at threat hundreds of jobs at the UK's oldest refinery, with First Minister John Swinney saying he was "deeply disappointed" at the news. The First Minister also faces the prospect of a stand-off over the Scottish Government's next budget, after the Government were defeated in a Holyrood vote over free school meals. Labour also saw its first defeat in the Commons, but successfully won its vote on its plans to remove winter fuel payments from 10 million pensioners in England and Wales. Where does a week of belt-tightening and bleak warnings leave the two Governments? The Podlitical team discuss this and more.

Podlitical is back as parliaments return from recess bearing bad news for public spending. The new Labour government are pointing the finger at the previous successive Conservative governments for a "£22bn black hole" in the public purse, while drawing fire for their announced scrapping of winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners. Meanwhile, on the week of the Programme for Government, the SNP Scottish Government have announced £500m of cuts too, citing public sector pay deals and "prolonged" austerity from Westminster as part of the problem. The team try to cut through the blame-game to find out what these cuts and potential rejigging of priorities mean for Scotland and the UK, as the UK and Scottish Tory leadership contests continue, and all parties eye up the 2026 Holyrood election.

Finger pointing begins as Labour claim they found a "black hole" in public finances. On Monday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced changes to the Winter Fuel Payment and later said the new government would have to raise taxes due to the discovery of a £22bn "black hole" in the public finances from the last Government, which former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt strongly denies. Is this political theatre or was it a genuine surprise to the incoming government and related public finance bodies like the OBR? Is this austerity, as some opposition parties have claimed, or are the government actually spending more than previously? And what does this mean for the money coming to Scotland? Before Podlitical breaks for recess, the team untangle this week's news, and look ahead to what we can expect in September and beyond when the Parliaments return.

The Podlitical team talk GB Energy, the two-child cap, PMQs, and pies. Following the suspensions of seven rebel Labour MPs for voting against the government on an SNP amendment to scrap the two-child benefit cap, the team discuss how the row unfolded, and what this means in terms of the optics that Prime Minister Starmer wants to project. As the new Prime Minister faced his first PMQs, with former PM Sunak as opposition leader, what was the mood like in the Commons, and what does it tell us about things to come? Also, do we have any clearer idea of who might be the next UK and Scottish Tory leaders, and could the SNP technically annex the moon right now?

What does the King's Speech tell us about the new Labour government's priorities? Beyond the ceremony and pomp of the day, the team discuss the policies and priorities of the new government, including the future of devolution, what might impact devolved areas (and what won't), and what's been left out. How did the speech sit with opposition parties like the SNP? Also, Prime Minister Starmer meets with European leaders as he looks to "reset" the UK's relationship with Europe, and names begin to emerge for potential Scottish Conservative leader candidates.

With the election aftershocks settling, what does the "new normal" in politics look like? As MPs finish being sworn in after several days, the shape of the House of Commons sees an emboldened Labour and a much diminished Conservatives and SNP. With Ian Murray MP announced as the new Scotland secretary, what does this new office-holder and new political landscape have in store for Scotland - from Grangemouth & GB Energy to giveaways - and how might the next two years play out between Labour and the SNP as they embark on a potentially very long campaign in the lead up to the 2026 Holyrood election.

The new intake of MPs are sworn in as Labour begins governing. What do we know about the new Labour-majority House of Commons, and the initial priorities of the Labour government? As Keir Starmer addresses the Commons for the first time as Prime Minister, the team discuss the shape of the parties following the general election, what signs we have on how Labour look to govern in the UK, what it might mean for Scotland, and what the relationship might be like with the SNP-led Scottish Government.

Labour sees a landslide general election victory, what's next for Scotland? While Keir Starmer's Labour celebrated massive gains, and the Lib Dems saw a comeback, it was a punishing night for the Tories and the SNP. As the parties reflect on the results, and Labour prepares for Government, the team discuss the big moments of the night, and ask what the election tells us about the political landscape now, and what does the result mean for Scotland as it looks to the 2026 Holyrood elections?