What’s the Point? | Scottish Politics

Who really runs Scotland’s councils and how are decisions being made?This week on What’s the Point?, Greg Lennon and Gerry Brennan are joined by Cllr Paul Leinster for a conversation about equal pay, Glasgow’s housing crisis and the democratic process.We explore how councillors in Glasgow make decisions, how those decisions are scrutinised, and what they mean for the people they represent.In the second half, we turn to Council Watch and how residents can follow spending, decisions and developments across Scotland’s 32 councils.Are you happy with your council? Do you feel represented? Join the conversation in the comments.Explore Council Watch: https://councilwatch.org.ukSubscribe to What’s the Point? for more conversations about Scotland’s councils and communities.

Is Scottish local democracy under pressure — and are some of the biggest decisions facing our communities getting enough scrutiny?

In Episode 63 of What’s the Point?, Greg Lennon and Gerry Brennan take on four major issues facing Scottish local government.

We look at the huge claims surrounding AI data centres — billions of pounds of investment, thousands of jobs and potentially enormous community benefits. But where do those figures come from, how robust are they, and should councils independently examine the numbers being put into the public domain?

We also return to the growing debate surrounding the Standards Commission for Scotland and the Ethical Standards Commissioner, including concerns about trust, transparency, councillors' freedom of expression and recent calls for change to Scotland's ethical standards framework.

Then there's the potential reorganisation of Scottish local government. Could Scotland's existing 32 councils eventually give way to larger regional authorities and much smaller community authorities? And if power is supposed to move closer to communities, what powers and budgets would actually move with it?

Finally, we look at council finances and council tax. With authorities facing difficult financial decisions, what could rising costs, budget pressures and changing council structures mean for households and local services?

This week: AI data centres | Standards Commission | Local government reform | Council tax | Local democracy

What’s the Point? — Scottish politics. Real conversations.

Something significant has been happening at Edinburgh City Council.

Former Edinburgh Council Leader and current SNP Councillor Adam Nols-McVey joins Greg and Gerry to discuss Edinburgh councillors' concerns about Scotland’s Standards Commission and the system governing elected members.

We get into what happened inside Edinburgh City Chambers, the recent Court of Session case, freedom of expression for councillors, scrutiny of council officers and whether Scotland’s current standards regime needs reform.

Why did Edinburgh councillors take action? What needs to change? And could what has happened in the capital have consequences for local democracy across Scotland?

A fascinating conversation from the heart of Edinburgh politics.

🎙️ What’s the Point?
Scottish politics | Local government | Accountability

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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