The Holyrood Sources podcast analyses Scottish politics through the experiences of those who have lived and breathed it as Special Advisers to the Scottish Government, SNP and opposition parties. Join hosts Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (Chief of Staff to the First Minister, 2007-2014) and Andy Maciver (Former Head of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives) as they take you inside Scottish politics. Their insight is second to none - they've been there, lived it, and maintain remarkable connections to Scotland's politicians and the world of Scottish politics.
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Ash Regan, who recently switched from the SNP to Alba party at Holyrood, joins Calum, Geoff and Andy to discuss independence strategy and what her priorities are with her new party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Calum, Geoff and Andy speak to Alex Cole-Hamilton - the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats - about deleted WhatsApps, Israel-Hamas, and the Lib Dems' election chances. Sign up to our email mailing list here for news and announcements: https://holyroodsources.com/get-our-emails Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to Holyrood Sources. Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver discuss the issues of the moment, with politicians past and present, and others - to analyse where we stand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Deputy Leader of Scottish Labour joins Calum, Geoff and Andy to discuss their electoral strategy after success in Rutherglen and Hamilton West. Jackie Baillie says the SNP has reached an electoral "tipping point." Also up for discussion - Labour's response to the conflict in the Middle East; health and the NHS, and Jackie becoming a Dame. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Calum, Geoff and Andy debrief on Humza Yousaf's speech as leader at SNP Conference. We discuss what the implications are of the council tax freeze, plus NHS spending and other announcements. Plus, why did Nicola Sturgeon show up? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Calum, Geoff and Andy discuss the independence resolution that has been supported by delegates at SNP conference. This is a special episode recorded at No 10 - no, no...it's a pub in Aberdeen where Geoff's company - True North - have put on a drinks night, sponsored by Drax. Hear from guests from the energy sector, plus SNP MP Stephen Flynn, and journalists including Lucy Dunn and John Boothman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Calum, Geoff and Andy are joined by Stewart McDonald, SNP MP for Glasgow South to discuss responses to the Middle East conflict and to look ahead to the SNP conference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Calum, Geoff and Andy discuss the aftermath of Labour's emphatic victory in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election and what it means for the SNP, for Labour and for the Conservatives. Email us your analysis: hello@holyroodsources.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Calum, Geoff and Andy are joined by Andy Wightman who was a Scottish Green Party MSP for the Lothian Region from 2016-2020. He discusses the state of the Green party today, as well as the Bute House Agreement, and his take on what needs to change in Scotland's political structures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Calum, Geoff and Andy are joined by Johann Lamont who was the Leader of the Scottish Labour Party from 2011 to 2014, during the independence referendum campaign; and Stephen Noon, who was chief strategist of the Yes Campaign and senior policy advisor to the First Minister. We discuss the referendum’s impact on people and politicians, whether there’s a way forward from here - and whether a binary referendum should ever be tried again. Plus Geoff and Andy have a row. Calum mediates. Hosted on Acas...
Blair McDougall was the Chief Executive of the Better Together campaign during the independence referendum in 2014. Listen to his reflections on the campaign, and whether he thinks there will be a second referendum. He remembers the night of "the poll" which showed Yes Scotland taking a lead - he'd left his phone in a taxi and so couldn't call anyone. Blair talks at length about the strengths of Alistair Darling as a campaign spokesperson. Email your thoughts to hello@holyroodsources.com. Hosted...
Blair Jenkins who was the Chief Executive of Yes Scotland during the independence referendum in 2014, shares his memories, reflections and considerations on a frantic time in Scottish politics. He assesses the campaign - its successes and failures - and considers whether the pro-independence landscape today lends itself to a successful independence referendum campaign. This is the first part of a special series of episodes. Later this week: Blair MacDougall, who ran the Better Together campaign....
Michelle Thomson - the SNP MSP for the Falkirk East Constituency, since 2021 joins Calum, Geoff and Andy. In the news this week - the Lord Advocate of Scotland, the top lawyer in the country, says she would advise against prosecuting people for possession of drugs if they’re in Safer Drug Consumption facilities… Today, the Scottish Secretary Alistair Jack said the UK government will not be intervening and so a pilot project in Glasgow is off and running. We also discuss Fergus Ewing's future in ...
Calum and Andy are joined by Rachel Amery, Political Correspondent at The Scotsman, Louise Wilson, Political Editor at Holyrood Magazine and Lucy Dunn, a journalist for The Spectator covering Scottish Affairs to offer instant reaction to Humza Yousaf's Programme for Government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Scottish Conservative Deputy leader Meghan Gallacher joins the podcast to discuss life in parliament as a mum to a young baby. Meghan says provision at Holyrood is far worse than at Westminster. She also discusses independence and working with the SNP, whether more powers should be devolved to Scotland, and the Scottish Conservatives' proposals for tax cuts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
New polling by Survation for True North (Geoff's Strategic Advisory firm) is out - how does it compare to what Humza Yousaf told us on last week's live podcast? We listen back to some of his answers and compare them to the polling which suggests the SNP and Labour are neck-and-neck on seat projections at the general election. Plus, we reveal the details of Geoff and Andy's election bets; and answer some of your questions. Also we look at Sir Tom Hunter's calls for changes on tax - does it feed i...
The First Minister, Humza Yousaf, joins us to record in front of a live audience at Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh. He's asked about electoral strategy, the independence movement, the Bute House Agreement with the Greens and relationships within the SNP. Sponsored by the Scotch Whisky Association's Made to be Measured campaign. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Calum, Andy and Geoff look forward to next week's special episode with First Minister Humza Yousaf, to be recorded live in Edinburgh with a live audience. Geoff and Andy discuss what sort of things we want to hear from the First Minister. Plus, in exam results week, Andy gives us an overview of the discussion on Scottish education and how to improve it. Do Andy and Geoff care how much money civil servants spent while Nicola Sturgeon was First Minister and, apparently, being treated like royalty ...
There's huge excitement on the podcast this week as the live episode with Humza Yousaf approaches. Have you got a ticket? Email us to let us know! Also up for discussion this week, the by-election in Rutherglen and Hamilton West. We discuss expectation management: is it a foregone conclusion that Labour will take the seat from the SNP? How much does the size of their victory matter? Geoff becomes a Geoff-ologist. Plus, Allister Thomas, the Europe Editor of Energy Voice is on the podcast to expla...
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Fergus Ewing, SNP MSP for Inverness and Nairn (Constituency) joins Calum, Geoff and Andy. Road building, renewable energy opportunities, trust in government, and the path to Scottish independence are all on the table. Ewing criticises the Green Party and Scottish government's approach to new road building, arguing that emissions reduction should take priority. Ewing shares his perspectives on Scotland's economic potential in the energy sector, the divide between rural and metropolitan Scotland, ...
Calum Macdonald, Andy Maciver and Geoff Aberdein are joined by Stephen Flynn - the SNP’s Westminster leader. We start by discussing the Labour Shadow Cabinet's defence of the two-child cap policy and the claim that Britain has no money. Stephen Flynn, as a Scottish nationalist, emphasises the need for clarity in their vision for Scotland, particularly in terms of economic growth and harnessing renewable resources. As more SNP MPs announce their intention to stand down at the next election, the d...
MSPs get in touch with Holyrood Sources to tell us how they're spending their summer recess. As well as holiday time, what policies are they pursuing? How are they representing constituents? We emailed every single MSP to ask them to send us a 30 second clip - and we're playing every single response we got. A couple of parties are missing (H/T Peter MacDonald on Twitter) Get in touch with us. Email hello@holyroodsources.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Hear from Kate Forbes (SNP MSP and former leadership candidate), Jeane Freeman (Former SNP Health Secretary), Alex Salmond (Former SNP First Minister), Jack McConnell (Former Labour First Minister), Ruth Davidson (Former Leader of the Scottish Conservatives) and Anas Sarwar (Scottish Labour leader) for a recap of the podcast so far. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Calum, Andy and Geoff gather for the last day of term before the Scottish Parliament heads into recess. Calum has arrived back from holiday to a cryptic note from Geoff saying: "Ask me about Brexit" - which he does, and an interesting conversation about the importance of Brexit at the next election begins. Then, it's onto the independence convention in Dundee - what on earth was that all about? Plus, what have been our highlights of our first 21 episodes and what have we learned? Who has talked ...
Kezia Dugdale, the former leader of the Scottish Labour party, joins Calum, Geoff and Andy. We discuss Nicola Sturgeon after she made her second public comments since being arrested and released without charge. Kezia also shares her take on Sir Keir Starmer's energy strategy and her doubts about whether the widely-reported surge in Labour support is real. The Bute House Agreement comes up in the context of energy strategy. Kezia tells us about her work on democracy and about encouraging more peo...
Former First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond (Geoff's old boss) is on the podcast. He responds to the news of Nicola Sturgeon's arrest and analyses where the SNP stands. He talks about uniting independence-backing parties together ahead of the general election and next Scottish election. He and Geoff reminisce telling never-heard-before stories of the independence referendum campaign - including a near disaster in a helicopter - the release of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi - and an odd phone call fro...
Former First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Jack McConnell, joins the podcast to talk about election victories and defeats. He remembers campaigns he won and lost. He tells us about 2007, when Labour lost control of Holyrood and how early he knew something was going wrong. He discusses Labour's current position on North Sea oil and gas. He tells us about his relationship with other First Ministers, either present or former. As he reflects on his time as First Minis...
Calum, Andy and new dad Geoff discuss the politics of the oil and gas industry, and the transition to renewables and net zero. After Keir Starmer suggested Labour would not allow new licenses in the North Sea - and Anas Sarwar, seemingly, backed him - we discuss why there can't be more cooperation on a way to achieve net zero. Plus, we look at the deposit return scheme and ask basically the same question: why try to create a constitutional argument out of something that isn't controversial and s...
Throughout the episode, we answer your questions. Calum, Andy and Geoff consider latest polling which suggests losses for the SNP at Westminster, including of Deputy Westminster leader Mhairi Black. We answer Mada's question on election strategies for Labour and the Conservatives. We discuss the Greens as Lorna Slater suggests the Deposit Return Scheme is: "All systems go" and consider Richard asking why the First Minister hasn't got rid of the Greens from Government yet. Then it's onto the Inde...
