Unspun Live

On Unspun Live this week, Political Editor Andrew Learmonth reveals some of the politicians shortlisted for the The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year awards which will take place next month. Political Correspondent Hannah Brown joins him to discuss Your Party in Scotland following several defections to the emerging socialist party last week. She also sits down with the MP leading the new party with Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana, for the podcast ahead of a Your Party event in Glasgow.

Cabinet Secretary Màiri McAllan speaks to Unspun Live about SNP leadership, rebellions and motherhood as Political Correspondents Hannah Brown and Kathleen Nutt look ahead to the SNP’s annual conference in Aberdeen this weekend.

Scotland’s shipyards are booming again, global tensions are rising, and defence is back at the heart of political debate. In this episode, Andrew Learmonth is joined by George Allison, editor of the UK Defence Journal, and veteran foreign correspondent David Pratt to discuss The Herald’s special series on Scotland’s Defence Future.

We're joined by Eddie Barnes, director of the John Smith Centre at the University of Glasgow, which has just released research on 16- and 17-year-olds' attitudes toward politics. Eddie helps us unpack what this means for the future of civic engagement and how educators and policymakers can bridge the gap.

FOUR guests, THREE interviews and also THREE journalists on this week's Unspun Live. Hannah Brown speaks to the new Scottish Green co-leaders, Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay; Kathleen Nutt speaks to Alex Cole-Hamilton about the prospect of more defections to the Lib Dems; and Andrew Learmonth speaks to Malcolm Offord about what should and shouldn't happen in the next decade of devolution.

Lothian MSP Jeremy Balfour has quit the Scottish Conservatives after nearly 40 years in the party. In his resignation letter he accused the leadership under Russell Findlay of “falling into the trap of reactionary politics,” chasing headlines and ignoring both Scotland’s cities and its most vulnerable people.

In this episode of Unspun Live, Andrew Learmonth sits down with Jeremy to talk through the hardest decision of his political career, why he believes the Conservatives have “given up on Edinburgh and Glasgow,” and what needs to change in social security. He also reflects on his future — and whether he could stand as an independent next May.

On the last day of The Herald's Unspun Live at the Fringe, deputy First Minister Kate Forbes discusses her reasons for stepping down at the next Holyrood election, what it's like being a parent and a woman in frontline Scottish politics, and perceptions she's against certain groups with political editor Andrew Learmonth.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar opens up to The Herald editor Catherine Salmond about his relationship with Keir Starmer, fatherhood, his parents and what Donald Dewar would think of the current Scottish Parliament on day three of The Herald's special Unspun Live at the Fringe series.

On day two of The Herald Unspun Live at the Fringe, Brian Taylor interviews John Swinney. They discuss independence, Gaza, Donald Trump's visit to Scotland, caring responsibilities in public office and much more.

Day one of The Herald's Unspun Live at the Fringe kicked off with psephological analysis from the UK’s leading pollster Professor Sir John Curtice who is joined by award-winning writer and Herald columnist Kevin McKenna and political correspondent Hannah Brown. Predictions for Holyrood 2026 are made as the guests paint a picture of the current landscape of Scottish Politics.