From a trans prisoner row to tax troubles, it's been another busy week in politics. In Holyrood, just as the dust settles from the hotly debated Gender Recognition Reform bill, a new row over a transgender rapist has broken out, and tensions grow between the Scottish Government and councils over funding for teachers. Meanwhile in Westminster, legacy crises from the Boris Johnson era put pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as his cabinet meet in Chequers, with Conservative party chairman Nadhim Zahawi facing calls to resign over a tax penalty he received when Chancellor, and the ghost of Partygate threatens to re-appear.

Podlitical takes an in-depth look at the impact of delays in the Scottish Courts. A huge backlog of cases has left some of the most vulnerable women in Scotland waiting to have domestic and sexual abuse cases heard. We hear directly from those affected, those working on the frontline of the problem and we consider some of the solutions. If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast you can visit www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

What is a Section 35 order, and why has it sparked a row about devolution and democracy? The UK Government has triggered Section 35 of The Scotland Act to formally block the Scottish Government's Gender Recognition Reform legislation from reaching royal assent. As First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says the row will "inevitably" end up in court, Professor Nicola McEwen from the Centre on Constitutional Change joins the team to discuss the ramifications of this action on the constitutional debate. Why is the veto of Scottish laws by the UK Government so controversial, why are some worried about the future of Westminster powers over Scottish legislation, and what happens next?

An NHS in crisis and ongoing strikes spell trouble for the Scottish and UK Governments. The team discuss why the political temperature is still high heading into 2023 after the parliamentary recesses, and why it's not looking like it will calm down any time soon. As Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon are set to meet in Scotland with the backdrop of strikes, NHS pressures, and the cost of living crisis, what does the year ahead hold for politics in the UK?

After several days of intense debate, the Gender Recognition Reform bill passes. From the early mornings to the late nights, the team discuss this week in Scottish Parliament, as MSPs debated and voted on amendments to the Gender Recognition Reform Bill into the early hours, enabling the Scottish Government to get the legislation passed before the Christmas recess. As this week saw protests outside Holyrood, the team asks why has the bill been so controversial in Scotland, what have been the big flashpoints, and what might come next now it has passed?

What does the Scottish Government's budget mean for taxes, welfare, and independence? The team are joined by Emma Congreve from the Fraser of Allander Institute of the University of Strathclyde to take a deep dive into acting finance secretary John Swinney's budget. As tax divergence grows between Scotland and the rest of the UK, has this so-called 'left leaning' budget served to further highlight the differences between the Scottish and the Westminster Government, and what has been the political reaction?

Internal tensions continue as Stephen Flynn takes over as SNP Westminster group leader, with senior figure Pete Wishart resigning from the front bench, saying he was "bemused" as to why Flynn had sought to replace Ian Blackford in the role. Ex-PM Gordon Brown also revealed a package of proposed political reforms, claiming the Labour plan would make the UK work for Scotland, but the SNP described the measures as "underwhelming". Political science Professor Ailsa Henderson of the University of Edinburgh joins the team to discuss the latest polling on independence after the Supreme Court verdict, as well as the reaction to the Brown report.

Ian Blackford has announced he will stand down as leader of the SNP Westminster group, but why now, and what does this tell us about divisions within the SNP? The team discuss the news, who might take over, as well as the thorny issues in PMQs and FMQs from housing stock to a National Care Service. Are party leaders placing policy 'tanks on lawns' ahead of the next General Election, and what does it tell us about the potential future 'battlefields' of politics?

What's next for the pro-independence movement after the Supreme Court ruling? Judges at the Supreme Court have ruled that the Scottish government cannot hold an independence referendum without the UK government's consent. The team discusses the implications of the ruling for the Scottish and Westminster Governments, what 'war-gaming' is happening, and how using the next general election as a 'de facto' referendum may or may not work. Is this a decisive moment for Scotland's constitutional question, and what does chess have to do with it?

Chancellor Hunt lays out tax rises and spending cuts to try to fill the budget black hole, from freezing income tax thresholds to cutting back help with energy bills. In his first Autumn Statement, the Chancellor acknowledged the UK was in a recession, and announced support for the most vulnerable, including rises in line with inflation of the state pension, benefits, and tax credits. Alongside other measures such as an expanded windfall tax on energy company profits, what does the Autumn Statement mean for Scotland, will it be effective at balancing the books while supporting those in need, or is it, as Labour have said, a "pickpocketing" of the public?