The Go Radio Politics Show with Bernard Ponsonby

Go Radio Politics Show: March 29th, 2026.

This is a catch-up version of Bernard Ponsonby's live, weekly Sunday show on Go Radio. 

Bernard Ponsonby hosts a fiery three‑way debate between Douglas Lumsden (Scottish Conservatives), Kieron Higgins (Scottish Labour) and Alex Kerr (SNP). With Holyrood dissolved ahead of the 7 May vote, the panel wrestles with the big question: does it really matter who wins?

The conversation ranges from Scotland’s £5bn projected budget shortfall to the future of the NHS, child poverty, ferries, education, and the defining constitutional question — independence. Sparks fly as the guests clash over mandates, public service failures, and whether voters are simply fed up with all parties.

“Does it actually matter who wins?” — The opening challenge

Bernard frames the stakes: a £5bn black hole, voter cynicism, and long‑standing failures in poverty and housing.

Alex Kerr argues Scotland is the only part of the UK where child poverty is falling due to the Scottish Child Payment.

“The only place in the UK where child poverty is falling is Scotland.”

Conservatives: ‘Record bad’

Douglas Lumsden attacks the SNP on ferries, NHS waiting lists and education.

Labour: ‘Fix the mess, get the basics right’

Kieron Higgins highlights potholes, NHS access, school violence and a decade of decline.

The mandate meltdown

A chaotic exchange as Bernard repeatedly asks: What constitutes a mandate for independence? Neither Labour nor the Conservatives give a straight answer — a standout moment of the episode.

Why would anyone go into politics?

All three guests open up about abuse, burnout and the emotional toll on families.

Misogyny in Scottish politics

A rare moment of cross‑party agreement as all three acknowledge the scale of misogynistic abuse.

The Malcolm Offord controversy

The panel debates whether an eight‑year‑old joke makes Offord unfit for office — and whether outrage is amplified by election season.

Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok 

For more Go Studio Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD...

Go Radio Politics Show: March 22nd, 2026.

This is a catch-up version of Bernard Ponsonby's live, weekly Sunday show on Go Radio. 

Bernard dives straight into the political and economic turbulence shaping Scotland and the wider world.

From spiralling energy bills to the legacy of Nicola Sturgeon, the conversation brings together Willie Rennie (Former Leader of Lib Dems), Paul McLennan (SNP MSP) and Jenny Young (Scottish Labour Candidate) for a lively, sometimes fiery, hour of analysis, disagreement, and surprising consensus.

The Middle East Crisis & The Return of the Cost‑of‑Living Storm

The show opens with a deep look at global instability — especially the unpredictable signals coming from a Trump‑led White House — and how oil price spikes could trigger a new wave of inflation, shattered interest‑rate hopes, and mounting pressure on households already stretched to their limits.

Party Manifestos: Meaningful Roadmaps or Political Fairy Tales?

Reform UK Scotland’s manifesto launch sparks a bigger debate:

Nicola Sturgeon’s Final Bow — Legacy, Leadership & Lessons

With Nicola Sturgeon delivering her final speech as an MSP, the panel weigh in on:

Her undeniable communication talent and crisis leadership during COVID

Her influence on women in politics

The contested record on education, climate, housing and poverty

Her leadership style — inspirational to some, aloof to others

Whether she’ll ever truly step away from politics.

A Rare Moment of Consensus

In a surprisingly unified ending, the panel agree that:

The next Holyrood Parliament will face a brutal fiscal reality

Politicians must be honest about tough choices ahead

Scotland desperately needs a healthier political culture — though Sturgeon’s own role in shaping (and sometimes sharpening) that culture doesn’t escape debate

Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok 

For more Go Studio Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD...

Go Radio Politics Show: March 15th, 2026.

This is a catch-up version of Bernard Ponsonby's live, weekly Sunday show on Go Radio. 

Bernard Ponsonby leads a panel of political heavyweights through three of the most contentious topics dominating Scottish and UK politics right now.

Assisted Dying: Scotland’s Tipping Point?

With a knife‑edge vote looming, Rona MacKay (SNP,) Brian Whittle (Conservatives), Katherine Sangster (Labour) and Brian Monteith (Reform UK) dissect Scotland’s Assisted Dying Bill — its safeguards, moral dilemmas, political pressures, and whether palliative care is ready for such a historic shift.

Key highlights:

Glasgow Fire & Scotland’s Built Heritage Crisis

Following the devastating Union Street fire, the panel takes on the growing crisis around Scotland’s architectural heritage.

Key highlights:

The Mandelson Papers & Starmer’s Judgement Under Fire

The newly released documents surrounding Peter Mandelson’s appointment ignite a fiery debate on Keir Starmer’s decision‑making.

Key highlights:

Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok 

Watch the replay on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/dCNaT1-6BVw?si=Cxkg-aDM7k2SNide 

For more Go Studio Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD...

Go Radio Politics Show: March 8th, 2026.

This is a catch-up version of Bernard Ponsonby's live, weekly Sunday show on Go Radio. 

Bernard Ponsonby leads the panel — Patrick Harvie, Scottish Greens, Alyn Smith SNP and Scottish labour's Vonnie Sandlan — through the week’s most politically charged stories.

From a Middle East crisis reshaping global alliances to sobering UK economic forecasts and a fiercely debated asylum overhaul, this episode delivers tension, insight and the kind of unfiltered political candour listeners crave.

The Middle East in Flames — Is the World Safer or More Dangerous Now?

A U.S.–Israel attack on Iran has sent shockwaves across the globe.

The panel dissect:The assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, Missiles hitting Gulf states, Soaring energy prices and market panic and whether the rules‑based international order is collapsing

The UK’s Bleak Economic Outlook — Has Labour’s Growth Plan Already Stalled?

Growth forecasts are grim, and inflation won’t hit target until 2027.

Key debates include: Is Labour “managing decline”?Are higher taxes now inevitable? How will soaring energy prices and Middle East instability hit the UK economy? Is the Scottish Government making the most of its funding boost?

The £10,000 Asylum Return Offer — Compassion or Madness?

The government’s tough new asylum measures take centre stage.

The panel unpack: The controversial £10k payment to failed asylum seekers Extending the route to Indefinite Leave to Remain Claims of hypocrisy within Labour’s position and concerns of rising far‑right rhetoric and its political consequences

The realities on the doorstep in Glasgow and beyond

Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok 

For more Go Studio Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD...

Go Radio Politics Show: March 1st, 2026.

This is a catch-up version of Bernard Ponsonby's live, weekly Sunday show on Go Radio. 

Bernard Ponsonby and a lively panel — Malcolm Offord (Reform UK Scotland), David Linden (SNP), and later Annie Wells (Scottish Conservatives) — unpack the Green Party’s historic by‑election win in Gorton & Denton, an upset that has political insiders asking whether the dominance of Labour and the Conservatives is beginning to crumble.

The Gorton & Denton Earthquake

Greens secure their first ever by‑election win — and by a wide margin.

Labour pushed to third, Reform UK surges, and the Conservatives collapse.

Debate on whether this is a mid‑term protest or a true political realignment.

Fragmentation of UK politics now mirrors what Scotland has experienced for years.

Are Scots Being Taxed Unfairly?

Over one million Scots expected to become higher‑rate taxpayers due to fiscal drag.

SNP stance: “You can’t have Scandinavian services with American tax rates.”

Reform UK argues Scotland has a 55% state share of GDP and needs a “wealth economy.”

Heated exchanges over tax bands, public spending, quangos, and who really pays.

Nurses, teachers, and police now classed as “broad-shouldered taxpayers.”

Holyrood Poll Shock — Is the Election Already Decided?

New polling suggests:

SNP: 60–67 seats

Reform UK Scotland: 19–25 seats

Labour: struggling

Tories: fewer than 10 seats

Reform UK claims they can stop the SNP; Conservatives argue Reform will hand power to the SNP.

SNP insists nothing is guaranteed — “polls are not votes in the box.”

The future of independence returns to centre stage.

The Unionist Vote Problem

Multiple unionist parties + Reform UK surge = risk of splitting the anti‑SNP vote.

Strategic dilemmas: Who is best placed to challenge the SNP in each constituency?

Reform accused of being “Tory rebranding,” Conservatives accused of having only one policy.

Council Tax, Local Services & A City That Needs a ‘Spruce Up’

Glasgow facing steep council tax rises amid financial pressures.

Debate over whether increases are fair during a cost‑of‑living squeeze.

Rows over cleansing services, funding shortfalls, and local autonomy.

Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok 

For more Go Studio Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD...

Go Radio Politics Show: February 22nd, 2026.

This is a catch-up version of Bernard Ponsonby's live, weekly Sunday show on Go Radio. 

The Lord Advocate in the Political Crosshairs

Why a confidential note to the First Minister triggered accusations of impropriety.

Should the dual role of chief legal adviser and head of prosecutions finally be split?

Panelists clash over conflicts of interest, political optics, and public confidence.

Scotland’s Finances: Reality Check or Armageddon Hype?

The Institute for Fiscal Studies warns of tightening budgets — is the crisis real?

The panel debates whether free tuition, free bus passes, and flagship services remain sustainable.

Where past reforms have worked… and where they’ve stalled for 15 years.

Public Services: Spending More, Getting Less?

Are Scotland’s “free” policies inadvertently subsidising the middle class?

Why outcomes in education and health aren’t matching investment.

The Christie Commission’s ghosts return to haunt Holyrood.

Council Tax Rise: Cost‑of‑Living Pain or Necessary Reality?

With rises above inflation across the country, are councils simply passing the buck?

Chronic underfunding, ring‑fencing battles, and the future of local democracy.

Is it finally time to scrap or overhaul council tax?

Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok 

For more Go Studio Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD...

Go Radio Politics Show: February 15th, 2026.

This is a catch-up version of Bernard Ponsonby's live, weekly Sunday show on Go Radio. 

Bernard is joined by:

In this episode of The Go Radio Politics Show, Bernard Ponsonby is joined by Alison Thewliss and Paul Sweeney for a gripping hour that cuts through the noise on Scotland’s most urgent political flashpoints.

Anas Sarwar’s ‘Extraordinary Intervention’

Why did the Scottish Labour leader publicly call for the Prime Minister to resign—just 81 days before the Scottish election?

Was it brave strategy or political self-destruction?

Alison and Paul spar over chaos vs. courage, party loyalty, and the real impact on voters outside the “political bubble.”

The Battle for Voters & the Rise of Reform UK

How shifting loyalties, voter cynicism, and a fracturing political landscape could make this the most disproportionate Scottish election result in devolution history.

Why Reform UK threatens Labour more than the SNP—and whether Sarwar is aiming at the wrong enemy.

Scotland’s Deepening Housing Crisis

Nearly 200,000 households waiting for homes.

Soaring homelessness, rising temporary accommodation use, and a bleak pipeline for affordable builds.

A blunt debate over whether the Scottish Government has treated housing as a priority—or whether decades of political drift have created a generational social crisis.

Planning Paralysis & Pension Funds: Missed Opportunities

Why Glasgow’s planning system drives developers “to despair.”

How multi‑billion‑pound pension funds could supercharge housing development—but aren’t being used.

What innovative financial models could unlock thousands of homes.

Justice, Sentencing & Public Outrage

The tragic case of Keith Rawlinson sparks a deep dive into sentencing leniency—especially for culpable homicide and dangerous driving.

Are Scotland’s laws out of sync with public expectations?

Should Parliament intervene—or is that a dangerous line to cross?

Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok 

For more Go Studio Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD...

Go Radio Politics Show: February 8th, 2026.

This is a catch-up version of Bernard Ponsonby's live, weekly Sunday show on Go Radio. 

Bernard is joined by:

In this episode of The Go Radio Politics Show with Bernard Ponsonby, the panel dives into one of the most tumultuous political weeks in recent UK history.

With the Prime Minister fighting for survival amid the unprecedented Peter Mandelson–Epstein scandal, the conversation quickly expands into a wider interrogation of political judgement, morality, and the erosion of public trust.

The PM on the Brink

Keir Starmer faces internal revolt as the fallout from appointing Mandelson—despite vetting warnings about ties to Epstein—sparks fury within Labour ranks.

Guests debate whether Starmer can survive and what the scandal reveals about loyalty, judgement, and the broken political culture at Westminster.

Rotten to the Core? — Systemic Accountability & Unelected Power

Tommy Sheridan calls the British system “rotten,” attacking the influence of unelected power brokers like Morgan McSweeney.

John Cooper argues the truth will surface as the police investigation unfolds.

The panel considers whether this marks a historic turning point for the Labour Party — or even the Union.

What About the Monarchy? Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor’s Fallout

With new revelations about Epstein, questions resurface about Prince Andrew’s conduct and the monarchy’s moral authority.

Is the monarchy remarkably resilient, or is public patience wearing thin?

Prostitution Law: Did Holyrood Miss a Moment?

Heated debate over the rejection of Ash Regan’s bill to criminalise the purchase of sex.

Is this a failure to protect vulnerable women, or was more scrutiny needed?

A deeper look at online exploitation, enforceability, and political willpower.

£40–60 Billion to Fix Westminster?

Parliament needs massive refurbishment; MPs face impossible optics.

The panel weighs symbolism, practicality, public backlash, and whether the Palace of Westminster is even fit for modern democracy.

Should the Commons move? Replace the building entirely? Turn it into a museum? 

Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok 

For more Go Studio Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD...

Go Radio Politics Show: February 1st, 2026.

This is a catch-up version of Bernard Ponsonby's live, weekly Sunday show on Go Radio. 

Scottish politics roars back as Bernard Ponsonby returns with a packed panel and a poll that could reshape Holyrood.

In an episode the conversation dives straight into the political tremors shaking Scotland ahead of the upcoming election.

Bernard is joined by:

Paul Sweeney (Scottish Labour)

Douglas Lumsden (Scottish Conservatives)

Thomas Kerr (Reform UK Scotland)

Alex Kerr (SNP)

Together, they unpack the latest YouGov poll, the surge of Reform UK in Scotland, the fight for economic credibility, and the relentless turbulence threatening party leaders in Westminster.

Episode Highlights

A Poll Rocks the Landscape

The episode opens with a blockbuster YouGov poll:

SNP still out in front—but 14 points down from 2021.

Reform UK surges to 20%, disrupting the old order.

Labour and Conservatives slump.

A projected pro‑independence majority re‑emerges at Holyrood.

The panel debates:

Can the SNP really be “home and dry”?

Are Labour and the Tories simply waiting for a miracle?

Is Reform’s rise a protest, a movement—or the start of something bigger?

Can Reform UK’s Tax Cuts Add Up?

Thomas Kerr unveils Reform UK Scotland’s flagship tax proposal:

Immediate 1p income‑tax cut, rising to 3p by term end.

£2–4 billion cost, but few details on savings.

The exchange is lively and reveals the tension between message politics and mathematical reality.

The Tax Debate That Won’t Die

SNP and Labour defend Scotland’s progressive tax model, arguing:

Most Scots pay less.

Public services benefit.

Fiscal drag is a necessary tool.

Reform and the Conservatives fire back:

Economic Growth: The Missing Ingredient

Bernard pushes each guest to outline a real strategy for boosting Scotland’s stagnant economic growth.

Labour call for major capital investment and industrial strategy.

Conservatives champion oil, gas, and competitive tax structures.

The SNP highlight Scotland’s relative UK outperformance and blame Brexit constraints.

Reform UK double down on their low‑tax, growth‑led model.

Westminster Turmoil & The Farage Factor

From Tory defections to Labour's internal rumblings, national politics is in chaos:

Suella Braverman joins Reform—another blow to the Conservatives.

Labour battles internal factionalism after the Burnham row.

Nigel Farage looms large, courting disaffected voters across the spectrum.

Bernard poses the big question: Are we heading for the first election in generations where both governing and opposition parties collapse simultaneously?

Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok 

For more Go Studio Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD...

Go Radio Politics Show: November 23rd, 2025

This is a catch-up version of Bernard Ponsonby's live, weekly Sunday show on Go Radio. 

In this episode of The Go Radio Politics Show, Bernard Ponsonby sits down with Ross Greer, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, for an in-depth conversation that goes beyond soundbites.

From his unexpected journey into politics—rooted in faith and a sense of justice—to his vision for Scotland’s future, Ross shares candid insights on what drives him, why he chose the Greens, and how he plans to tackle the country’s biggest challenges.

Faith as a Political Catalyst: Ross reveals how Christian teachings—especially “Blessed are the peacemakers”—inspired his activism.

Why the Greens? Climate crisis as the ultimate priority: “Everything else is moot if we don’t have a liveable planet.”

Politics in an Angry Age: From carrying a panic alarm to dealing with death threats—what it takes to survive public life.

Scotland’s Broken System: Why devolution hasn’t delivered and how vested interests block real change.

Election Strategy: Cooperation over confrontation, but a firm stance against Reform UK’s influence.

Trans Rights & Human Rights: Tackling 200-year NHS waiting lists and fighting dehumanising policies.

Independence Debate: Why the SNP’s “65-seat mandate” strategy is flawed and what Greens propose instead.

Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok 

For more Go Creative Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD...