Podlitical

There’s talk of us being at the start of a third wave as we hit a "bump in the road". BBC Scotland Health Correspondent Lisa Summers joins the team to share whether the "cautious optimism" she felt at the start of the vaccine rollout is still there. Nicola Sturgeon has “paused” plans for lockdown easing in some parts of the country. Meanwhile, Portugal has been removed from the UK’s green list of countries with hopes of summer holidays dashed. The team pick up on the varying approaches to lockdown easing. And as we edge towards June 21, England’s final stage of their roadmap, is Scotland’s moving away from an ‘elimination’ strategy? And when can we officially declare the pandemic over?

In Westminster, Ex-Chief Advisor Dominic Cummings makes bombshell claims, and in Holyrood deals are weighed. Phil and Nick are joined by BBC Scotland political editor Glenn Campbell and BBC News political correspondent Alex Forsyth to discuss the allegations levelled against the UK Government by the Prime Ministers' former chief advisor, who alleged that "tens of thousands of people died, who didn't need to die" during the Coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile in Holyrood, the SNP and the Scottish Greens are in talks about a formal deal, but what impact might this potential "co-operation agreement" have on the political landscape of Scotland?

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has unveiled her new, slimmed down cabinet team, one that she says is "a serious government for the serious times we face as a nation". With only one minister - Kate Forbes - keeping her old position, and only one junior minister promoted into the full cabinet, what does this reshuffle mean for the next few years of the Scottish Government? BBC Scotland politics editor Glenn Campbell joins the team to analyse the moves made, and which ministers may be facing difficult tasks ahead.

The team talk procedure and pomp as the MSPs of the 6th Scottish Parliament are sworn in, and a new presiding officer is voted for. BBC political journalist Kirsten Campbell joins the team from Holyrood to discuss the events of the day; including why no party seems to want to put forward a new presiding officer, what the SNP plans for their first 100 days in Government, as well as whether or not the First Minister is given a very important purse.

The SNP secured its victory in the Holyrood election, but a constitutional clash looms as the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tells Prime Minister Boris Johnson the question of a second independence referendum is "when, not if". What does the result of the Holyrood election mean for the next few years of Scottish politics? The team reflect on the outcome and the biggest issues facing the Scottish and UK Governments, including the constitutional question, the pandemic and recovery, as well as the state of the other parties.

There's just one day to go until voters head to the polls in the Holyrood election. As political rhetoric ramps up in the final hours of the campaign and parties try to sell themselves to the voting public, the team discusses the final week ahead of the election - including which seats are worth watching, and whether or not voters have been swayed to change their votes by promises from the parties.

Politicians insist that the Holyrood election on 6 May could be one of the most important in Scotland's history. But on average, almost half of the electorate don't actually vote in these polls. Who are the silent Scots who don't take part in the democratic process, and what's holding them back? Political correspondent, Phil Sim, meets the ‘silent Scots’.

The Prime Minister faces questions over the funding of the No. 10 flat refurbishment. Chris Mason joins the team to discuss the allegations facing PM Boris Johnson, and what kind of impact it may or may not have on the Holyrood election next week. Following the allegations he said he would rather see "bodies pile high" than take the country into a third lockdown, and the Labour leader Keir Starmer accusing the government of being "mired in sleaze", will this flat fiasco damage the Prime Minister's reputation, or is it too complex to cut through to the public?

Scottish parties are pledging to tackle climate change, but is it a vote winner? Lucy and Phil are joined by Environmental Politics expert Darrick Evensen to discuss what parties are promising in their manifestos ahead of the Holyrood election next week. How much does the general public care about environmental policies, especially during a pandemic, and to what level are people willing to change their lives to save the planet?

The team talks Scottish party manifestos and frozen treats as the sun shines, including what the public mood around the election seems to be, and the impact turnout may have on the results. With two weeks to go until polling day, the manifestos from all five major parties are out, and the team discuss what promises are being made to the electorate, as well as the respective independence and unionist strategies going forward.