Sunday Mail Chief Reporter Dan Vevers joins What’s the Point? for a no-holds-barred look at the stories Scotland’s powerful institutions would rather you didn’t see.

Dan talks about his investigation into the missing Yes Scotland money, the legal pushback that followed, why shrinking local journalism means “councils are getting away with more”, and why councillors may now be “the last line of defence” for local scrutiny.

We also get into Scottish Water and SEPA, salmon farming, Sid Perrie, Fiona Higgins, the Standards Commission, council power, NHS centralisation and whether some watchdogs are simply refusing to bite.

“Good stories piss people off.”

🎙️ What’s the Point? Ep 61
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#ScottishPolitics #DanVevers #Journalism #LocalGovernment #WhatsThePoint

WHO REALLY RUNS SCOTLAND?Robin McAlpine joins What’s the Point? for a no-holds-barred conversation about power, money, bureaucracy and whether Scotland’s democracy is actually working.Who really makes the decisions in Scotland? elected politicians, civil servants, council officers, quangos or regulators?Robin argues that too much power has shifted away from elected representatives and into institutions most people never vote for. He also takes aim at Scotland’s economic model, the ownership of national wealth, the Standards Commission, the Fiona Higgins case, AI data centres and the future of public energy.We also ask:Why does so much Scottish wealth leave the country?Are politicians still really in control?Are AI data centres being oversold on jobs and economic benefit?Should councils own renewable energy assets?Could local authorities make money from power generation instead of simply hosting private infrastructure?Robin also discusses the idea of municipally owned energy and whether Scotland could build a national system around locally owned generation.And Greg revisits the sustainable energy company motion he brought to North Lanarkshire Council in 2022, years before energy ownership and data-centre power demand became major political issues.Power. Money. Democracy. Energy. AI.One question runs through the whole episode:Who actually runs Scotland?🎙️ What’s the Point?Scottish politics, local government, public affairs and accountability — with straight talking and no party script.#ScottishPolitics #RobinMcAlpine #Scotland #Politics #LocalGovernment #Democracy #AI #DataCentres #Energy #PublicOwnership #WhatsThePoint

THE WATCHDOG THAT BROKE THE LAW? | FIONA HIGGINS, THE STANDARDS COMMISSION & THE WEAPONISATION OF THE CODE

This could be our most explosive episode yet.

Fresh from her historic Court of Session victory, Cllr Fiona Higgins joins us to discuss the judgment that found the Standards Commission for Scotland acted unlawfully when it refused to admit evidence she wanted to rely on in her defence.

So now the obvious question has to be asked:

Who holds the watchdog to account when the watchdog itself gets it wrong?

We look at a standards system with enormous power over elected councillors, a process capable of damaging reputations and political careers, and whether that system has become far too comfortable operating without meaningful challenge.

We discuss the refusal of evidence, the consequences of the Court of Session ruling, and what this could mean for other councillors who have previously faced the same system.

Then we go further.

Has the Councillors’ Code of Conduct become a convenient weapon for senior council figures who would rather silence scrutiny than answer difficult questions?

When does legitimate accountability become intimidation?

When does “standards” become control?

And what happens to local democracy when elected councillors start wondering whether asking the wrong question could trigger the next complaint?

And because this episode apparently wasn’t explosive enough already, we turn to North Lanarkshire SNP.

We examine the long-awaited investigation into the party’s handling of the Jordan Linden scandal, the treatment of those who raised concerns, the extraordinarily narrow scope of the review and the inevitable question:

Just how independent was this “independent” investigation?

There are some organisations that spend a lot of time demanding accountability from everybody else.

Tonight, we turn the spotlight back on them.

The Standards Commission.
The Councillors’ Code.
Council chief officers.
North Lanarkshire SNP.
Jordan Linden.
The investigation.
The fallout.

Nobody gets a free pass.

🔥 This is What’s The Point?

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And if you disagree with us, even better — tell us why in the comments.

#WhatsThePoint #ScottishPolitics #StandardsCommission #FionaHiggins #NorthLanarkshire #SNP #JordanLinden #CouncillorsCode #LocalDemocracy #FreeSpeech #Accountability #CourtOfSession

🎙️ What’s the Point? | Episode 58 – The Podcast They Tried to Silence? 

That’s a wrap for the season.

On our final episode before the summer break, wego behind the scenes and ask why What’s the Point? has become one of Scotland’s most politically disclaimed local politics podcasts.

We discuss the formal complaints made against the show’s hosts, including a complaint submitted by North Lanarkshire SNP Group Leader Cllr Tracy Carragher, and examine the wider events which, in our view, amounted to attempts to shutdown the podcast.

Since recording this episode, we have also become aware of further complaints raised by Cllr Adam Smith, Cllr Richard Sullivan and Cllr Kirsten Larson, which we look forward to discussing in our first episode back in September. .

We also explore:

The complaints process and what happened next. The impact of political complaints on free debate. The balance between robust political discussion and internal party discipline. Whytransparency and accountability matter in local politics. Asalways, we’ll let you see the evidence and decide for yourself.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the show this season. We’ll be taking a short summer break and will return in September. 👍 Like, Subscribe and Share. #WhatsThePoint#ScottishPolitics #NorthLanarkshire #LocalGovernment #Podcast #Accountability#Transparency

Who really runs your council? The councillors you elect, or the officers behind the scenes?This week on What’s the Point?, we tackle one of the biggest questions in local democracy: delegated authority. How much power is actually held by elected councillors, how much is delegated to officers, and where does accountability sit when major decisions are made? We break down how councils operate, who makes the decisions, and why understanding the difference matters to every taxpayer and voter.We also discuss:What delegated authority really meansThe balance of power between councillors and council officersWho is responsible when controversial decisions are madeTransparency, accountability and local democracyThe latest developments involving our national teamThe stories and issues making headlines this weekAs always, Greg and Gerry bring their mix of political insight, humour, and straight-talking analysis as they ask the questions others won't.📻 Live every Tuesday at 7pm on Listen Lanarkshire 107.7FM🎙️ Podcast available every Thursday📱 Follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube💬 Who do you think really controls the council? Let us know in the comments.#WhatsThePoint #LocalGovernment #DelegatedAuthority #CouncilPolitics #NorthLanarkshire #ScottishPolitics #Democracy #Accountability #Councillors #LocalDemocracy #Podcast #PoliticalPodcast #NationalTeam #ListenLanarkshire

This week on What's the Point?, we're joined by James Marvin, better known online as Scotland by Prestige, to explore the fascinating history and heritage of North Lanarkshire and beyond. From abandoned mines and ancient priories to forgotten landmarks, museums, and hidden gems, James has built a loyal following through his engaging short videos that bring Scotland's rich history to life. Coming from humble beginnings, his passion for uncovering local stories has captured the attention of thousands across social media, including us. We'll be discussing some of Lanarkshire's most intriguing historical sites, the importance of preserving our heritage, and the opportunities available for residents and visitors to explore Scotland's past. 

Our guest tonight is Brian Leishman MP, one of Scottish Labour's most outspoken politicians and a man who seems to have spent much of his Westminster career testing the theory that MPs are supposed to do what the party leadership tells them.A former councillor, trade unionist and professional golfer, Brian made the jump from local government to Westminster in 2024 when he was elected as the MP for Alloa and Grangemouth. Since then, he's built a reputation for saying exactly what he thinks, whether his own party likes it or not.That independent streak landed him in hot water in 2025 when he became one of four Labour MPs suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party after repeatedly rebelling against the Government, particularly over welfare reforms. While Labour HQ was counting votes, Brian was telling anyone who'd listen that he wasn't elected to make vulnerable people poorer.He's campaigned on the future of Grangemouth, challenged his party leadership on welfare, and become one of the most recognisable voices on Labour's left. Depending on who you ask, he's either standing up for his principles or giving party whips regular headaches.Tonight we'll find out whether Westminster is everything he thought it would be, what really happened behind the scenes during his suspension, whether Labour is still the party of working people, and perhaps most importantly whether being suspended by your own party is actually as stressful as it sounds.#WhatsThePoint#localgovernment #BrianLeishman#ScottishPolitics #ScottishLabour #LabourParty#Westminster #Politics #PoliticalPodcast

This week on What's the Point? We’re joined by Reform UK MSP Graham Simpson.As Reform emerges as one of the newest and fastest-growing groupings at Holyrood, now positioning itself as a major opposition force following the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, we ask what Scotland can expect next. We’ll discuss:* What Reform UK actually stands for in Scotland* Whether local government reform is on the horizon ahead of the 2027 council elections* How Reform plans to challenge the political establishment* What Graham Simpson’s move from the Conservatives to Reform says about the changing political landscape * And what voters can realistically expect from Reform over the next five yearsWith growing influence at Holyrood and increasing debate around governance, devolution, public spending and political reform, this promises to be a fascinating conversation. 📻 What’s the Point?Tuesday at 7PM on Listen Lanarkshire 107.7FM🎧 Podcast available Thursday. #UKPolitics #LocalGovernment #BreakingPolitics#PoliticalPodcast #Democracy #ScotlandTikTok

Former MP Hugh Gaffney joins Gerry and Greg for Episode 51 of What’s the Point? to discuss his new book "Auchengeich: Gone But Not Forgotten", which tells the story of the devastating Auchengeich Pit Disaster and the lasting impact it had on Lanarkshire communities and mining families.

We also dive into Hugh’s time as both a North Lanarkshire councillor and MP, the realities and pitfalls of Westminster politics, and ask whether public procurement in Scotland is actually delivering value for taxpayers and communities.

The conversation then turns to the latest North Lanarkshire Council drama, including the SNP Group’s motion to remove the Lord Provost over an incident that took place four years ago, an incident the Standards Commission for Scotland already dealt with through censure and a warning not to repeat the behaviour.

After the Linden scandal and the loss of the £10,000 opposition leader payment, we ask: is this genuine accountability, political payback, or simply an attempt to remain relevant?

We also discuss the recent Housing Committee meeting that lasted just 15 minutes, with minimal scrutiny despite over £160 million in contracts being awarded.

Is this the standard of governance the public should expect from North Lanarkshire Council? All this and much more on Episode 51 of What’s the Point?🎙 Listen Lanarkshire 107.7FM📲 Follow us: TikTok @whats.the.point.p

What's the Point? North Lanarkshire Podcast2d · This week on What’s the Point? we’re joined by Glasgow’s Cllr Fiona Higgins Canal Ward for what promises to be one of our biggest conversations yet.Fiona is becoming one of the most talked about voices in Scotland around free speech, political expression and the right of elected councillors to robustly challenge decisions, scrutinise power and speak openly on matters of public concern.As debate grows around the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, officer complaints, political scrutiny and democratic accountability, Fiona has found herself at the centre of a national conversation about where the line sits between standards and free political debate in modern Scotland.We’ll be discussing: Free speech & political expression Standards and accountability Councillor scrutiny and officer relationships Social media and modern politics Governance, transparency and public confidence Whether the current framework is fit for modern local democracy We will not be discussing the substance of any live legal matters. LIVE from 7pm Listen Lanarkshire 107.7FM Podcast released later this weekOne not to miss #WhatsThePoint #FionaHiggins #LocalGovernment #FreeSpeech #ScottishPolitics #CodeOfConduct #Transparency #Governance #NorthLanarkshire