Podlitical

The Lib Dem spokesperson for Scotland and Women & Equalities on GRR, Rwanda, and more. The MP for Edinburgh West joins Podlitical to discuss the Scottish Liberal Democrat strategy at the next General Election, why she "wasn't surprised" about a court decision to uphold the UK government's block on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, and why she thinks "divisive" policies such as the Rwanda asylum plans aren't what the electorate want.

PM Rishi Sunak faces revolt over Rwanda plans, and Scotland faces a budget black hole. In Westminster, the Prime Minister said his patience was "worn thin" on trying to pass a bill to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, telling Conservative MPs to get behind the plans after immigration minister Robert Jenrick resigned, and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces questions at the Covid Inquiry. In Holyrood, the Scottish Government plans to hold a special cabinet meeting ahead of the upcoming Scottish budget, where it faces a £1bn shortfall, which it blames on Chancellor Hunt's Autumn Statement announcements.

The Conservative MP and Minister for Nuclear & Networks sits down with Podlitical. Andrew Bowie speaks about moving away from the "toxic debate" around Brexit, and discusses his government's Rwanda asylum plans including why he thinks former Home Secretary Suella Braverman should "think about the consequences" of their words. Bowie reacts to the allegations that the Sellafield nuclear site was hacked by groups linked to foreign states, which the Office for Nuclear Regulation denies, and explains why he wants to see more nuclear energy in Scotland.

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The team share thoughts on former Labour chancellor Lord Darling, who has died aged 70. From steering the UK through the 2008 global financial crisis, to his work on the Better Together campaign during the 2014 Scottish Independence referendum, the team look back on the former Edinburgh MP's long career, and the tributes that have poured in from fellow politicians across the spectrum.

The SNP Westminster leader and MP for Aberdeen South sits down with the Podlitical team, discussing his year in post so far, his relationship with former Westminster leader Ian Blackford, the challenges the SNP has faced over the last 12 months, and more. Flynn talks about the recent news of Scottish Health Secretary Michael Matheson's iPad bill, and the criticism he faced following Remembrance Sunday, as he also shares his thoughts on how the level of online abuse faced by politicians is "off the scale", and the difficulties of juggling his career and his family.

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The Matheson iPad saga continues and Chancellor Hunt delivers the Autumn Statement. The team discuss the latest developments of Scottish Health Minister Michael Matheson's £11k iPad roaming bill, with the Scottish Conservatives threatening a vote of no confidence, but not yet following through in Parliament. In Westminster, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has delivered the Autumn Statement, announcing tax cuts and more, with the fast-forwarding of his announced 2p National Insurance cut to January fuelling speculation around the timings of the next General Election.

Ash Regan, former cabinet minister and now sole Alba MSP in Holyrood, talks to Podlitical. Speaking to Phil Sim, the MSP for Edinburgh Eastern discusses the reasons she had for quitting her cabinet post in Nicola Sturgeon's government, her unsuccessful leadership bid, and why she moved to the Alba party. Regan talks about the comments made by First Minister Humza Yousaf after she left, as well as her feelings around Gender Recognition Reform, and why she thinks the SNP need to have a "serious think" about their position on independence.

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Suella Braverman is sacked, and ex-PM David Cameron returns to government. Following a row over a Times article by the then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman ahead of the Armistice Day weekend, Monday saw her sacking and the shock return of David Cameron to frontline politics. The team react to the surprising turn of events, discussing if this is the end of Prime Minister Sunak's troubles with Braverman, or if he risks splits on the right of the party. What message does the Prime Minister want to send by bringing in Cameron, and what does having the man who was Prime Minister during the Independence and Brexit referendums back in power mean for Scottish politics?

Headaches for the UK and Scottish Governments around WhatsApp, roaming iPads, and marches. In Holyrood, opposition parties claim First Minister Humza Yousaf misled parliament over government WhatsApp messages sent during the pandemic, which the FM has denied. This was followed with the news that Scottish Health Secretary Michael Matheson racked up an £11,000 roaming bill on an iPad he took to Morocco, charges he claims were caused while doing constituency work using an outdated SIM card. Meanwhile in Westminster, Number 10 disowns an article written by Home Secretary Suella Braverman accusing the police of bias around its handling of protests, ahead of the planned Pro-Palestinian march this weekend, with some Tories calling for her to be sacked by Prime Minister Sunak. The team talk through a tricky week for leaders in Holyrood and Westminster.

The Lib Dem peer and former Deputy First Minister shares thoughts from his career. Lord Wallace talks to Lucy Whyte and Kirsten Campbell about the early days of Scottish Parliament, his conversations with First Minister Donald Dewar and Prime Minister Tony Blair, and his role as acting First Minister. Wallace shares his thoughts Brexit and Independence, as well as the UK Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition of 2010, and why he thinks political parties have a problem with offering things that aren't possible.

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