The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast

Andy Burnham has lifted Labour’s spirits—but can he afford to deliver? Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie examine what comes after the conference applause: pension reform, social care and the prospect of a tax-raising Budget.

Bernard argues that Burnham has shown how to sell difficult political choices by explaining what voters will get in return. Alex asks whether the speech’s emotional appeal and promises for after the next election leave the government’s immediate financial problems unanswered.

Would replacing the state pension triple lock with a double lock raise enough to fund a National Care Service? Which voters is Burnham trying to win back—and could his approach create an opening for Nigel Farage? Could electoral reform fundamentally reshape British politics?

In Scotland, John Swinney faces difficult choices of his own. Bernard and Alex challenge the SNP’s pension argument and examine the looming battles over public sector jobs, compulsory redundancies, council reform and the cost of public services.

Plus: the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, Kemi Badenoch and the Conservative Party conference.

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Can Burnham turn renewed Labour confidence into delivery—and can Swinney persuade Scotland to accept painful reform? Share your thoughts in the comments.

#PonsonbyAndMassie #ScottishPolitics #AndyBurnham

Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

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With Labour’s conference approaching, Bernard and Alex discuss Andy Burnham’s first Budget, the speculation about an early general election, and whether a divided opposition could help Labour hold on to power.

Could Scotland’s councils be radically reorganised within months? And as drug deaths rise, are the Scottish Government’s promises matching the results?

Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie examine the proposed shake-up of local government, the lack of detail on costs and powers, and Glasgow City Council’s separate workforce dispute. They also discuss Scotland’s drug deaths, access to addiction treatment, and the growing gap between political rhetoric and outcomes.

In this episode:

• Scotland’s proposed council reorganisation

• Glasgow’s workforce dispute

• Drug deaths, rehabilitation and political accountability

• Homelessness and the Scottish Government’s record

• Labour conference, the Budget and Burnham’s electoral strategy

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:07 Scotland’s council shake-up

10:27 Glasgow’s workforce dispute

14:03 Scotland’s drug deaths

25:41 Promises versus results

26:39 Could Burnham call an early election?

30:30 The pressure on Labour’s first Budget

38:26 Reform, the Conservatives and Labour’s path to victory

43:22 Closing thoughts

Subscribe for weekly analysis of Scottish and UK politics with Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie.

#ScottishPolitics #UKPolitics #PonsonbyAndMassie

Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Marra has been elected as the new Scottish Labour Leader. Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie take a deep dive into the issues he'll face.

Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poor marks for Scottish Education in PISA figures, Burnham’s referendum blunder and a bad week for the SNP succession hopefuls?

• Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie examine Andy Burnham’s confusion over the route to a second Scottish independence referendum—and what it reveals about his command of constitutional politics.
• Scotland’s latest PISA results make grim reading. Why has Scottish education fallen behind England, and are John Swinney and Education Secretary Màiri McAllan confronting the scale of the problem?
• A difficult week for possible SNP successors Màiri McAllan and Stephen Flynn leaves John Swinney looking increasingly secure—while Glasgow’s new council leader Ricky Bell inherits a formidable set of problems.

Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this edition of The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast, Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie analyse the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government and John Swinney’s radical plans for public-service reform. They examine the proposed restructuring of Scotland’s NHS, social care, councils and quangos; the £5 billion funding gap; and the prospect of conflict with public-sector trade unions. Turning to UK politics, they assess Andy Burnham’s early premiership, Keir Starmer’s resignation, the Holborn and St Pancras by-election and the changing fortunes of Labour, the Greens, Reform UK and the Conservatives.

Topics discussed:

• Scottish Government’s public-service reform agenda
• NHS, social-care, council and quango restructuring
• Scotland’s £5 billion funding gap and trade-union conflict
• Political support and opposition to John Swinney’s reforms
• Bus-fare caps, supermarket price controls and GP walk-in centres
• Andy Burnham’s early premiership and the UK economic outlook
• Keir Starmer’s resignation and the Holborn and St Pancras by-election
• The Greens, Reform UK and Britain’s increasingly fragmented politics

Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• A new cost-of-living “winter of discontent”?
• Will Andy Burnham and John Swinney come clean on tightening budgets facing both Westminster and Holyrood
• The lighter question of casting the announced Sturgeon–Murrell Channel 5 drama.

Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Either Michael Marra or Joe Fagan will be the next leader of the Scottish Labour Party. What's happening in the race, what does the new leader need to do and will it make any difference in their goal of Labour unseating the SNP?

PLUS

- It's reported the John Swinney's World Cup junket with entourage cost the tax payer around £95k? Was it worth it?

• Anger in Glasgow over the state of the City. Why can't opposition parties hold the SNP to account?

Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie discuss Farage's post Clacton by-election propects as it's announced that the parliamentary investigation into substantial donations made to Mr Farage by a donor is active again.

Plus - the Scottish Labour leadership contest is gathering pace. It's all smiles in public but what's really happening and who will emerge victorious.

GERS figures - we've read them so you don't have to - Alex explains and Bernard takes a critical view.

Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's going on? Former SNP FM Nicola Sturgeon criticising John Swinney's SNP? Is this a serious analysis or part of the latest round of book promotion?

The SNP hit back saying John Swinney is the best First Minister yet.

Also, the race for the Scottish Labour leadership is warming up. Michael Marra looks like the front runner with Joe Fagan also in contention but Monica Lennon may struggle to get the required nominations to stand in the vote.

Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie discuss.

Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bernard and Alex discuss a good start for Andy Burnham in terms of communications but does it really change any of the fundamental issues facing the country.

Also, who are the runners and riders for the Scottish Labour leadership after Anas Sarwar accepted a peerage and is not a Westminster Trade Minister? Michael Marra? Monica Lennon? Paul Sweeney? Daniel Johnson?

Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.