Calum, Andy and Geoff are joined by Prof. Adam Tomkins. He was Conservative MSP for the Glasgow region from 2016 to 2021. He's a constitutional lawyer at the University of Glasgow. He was previously a constitutional advisor to the House of Lords Constitution Committee and the Scotland Office. We discuss the end of the road for a referendum route to independence, the latest from Humza Yousaf who has, once again, fallen ill with foot-in-mouth disease after an interview with a BBC Radio programme w...
May 17, 2023•58 min•Season 1Ep. 15
A new Survation poll, commissioned by strategic advisory firm True North and shared exclusively with the Holyrood Sources podcast, shows the SNP is losing the support of people who believe in independence. Calum, Geoff and Andy are joined by Fergus Mutch from True North, and Professor Sir John Curtice from the University of Strathclyde to discuss the results and the implications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 09, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 14
SNP MP Joanna Cherry joins Calum, Geoff and Andy. She's in the middle of a tumultuous week, saying she's been cancelled by The Stand Comedy Club, whose staff don't want to work at an event Joanna was booked to take part in. In light of that, we discuss free speech and how far politicians, and the SNP, are responsible for eroding open debate. She also tells us: "I don't know what the SNP strategy for independence is at the moment." She talks about what the SNP need to do to head for independence ...
May 03, 2023•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 13
Calum, Geoff and Andy are joined by the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar who discusses the NHS, his relationship with the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, what his vision is for the general election in 2024 and the Holyrood election in 2026. Mr Sarwar describes how he wants to work collegiately and considers how Labour can appeal to all parts of Scotland - urban and rural. He says: "We've probably persuaded lots of people why we think the Tories and the SNP deserve to lose. I think the hardest ...
Apr 26, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Ruth Davidson, former leader of the Scottish Conservative party joins Calum, Geoff and Andy. She discusses the sympathy she feels for Humza Yousaf given the ongoing SNP crisis. Geoff and Andy say the new First Minister's programme for government is getting lost as the crisis around the SNP continues. Ruth reminisces about preparing for First Minister's Questions - she describes the differing styles of Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond. She discusses the future of the Scottish Parliament, her memo...
Apr 19, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Calum, Geoff and Andy reflect on the last couple of weeks since our exclusive with former SNP leadership candidate and Scottish Government Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and conversation with former Health Secretary Jeane Freeman in our previous two episodes. Plus, we consider the woes of the SNP - has Kate Forbes dodged a bullet? How is Humza Yousaf handling the fallout from the police investigation into financial mismanagement within the SNP? How can the party that, for years, has claimed to sp...
Apr 12, 2023•54 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Special guest Jeane Freeman joins this episode. Jeane served as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport from 2018 to 2021. She was SNP MSP for the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency from 2016 to 2021. Calum, Geoff and Andy question her on the relationship between the Greens and the SNP and whether The Bute House agreement is clear enough. Jeane also reflects on her days as Health Secretary during the Covid pandemic. She tells us about her biggest regret as Health Secretary as well as h...
Apr 05, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Join us for a special conversation with Kate Forbes. In her first public comments since she lost out on the SNP leadership to Humza Yousaf, the Highland MSP, who came a close second in the SNP leadership election, says the accusation that her economic policies were a ‘lurch to the right’ was bizarre, and simply “spin and smear.” She speaks about her campaign almost being derailed in the early days by the reaction to her membership of the Free Church of Scotland and her views on gay marriage. She...
Apr 01, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Calum, Geoffrey and Andrew - apparently we're using Sunday names on this episode - assess Humza Yousaf's first few days. Kate Forbes, and her campaign manager Ivan McKee, have left government having been offered lesser jobs. Andrew and Geoffrey assess whether this is a bold sense of direction from Yousaf, or whether it's a mistake. They consider how businesses will feel, as well as the 48% of SNP members who backed Kate in the leadership contest. We consider what might come next for Kate Forbes....
Mar 29, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Calum reports from the room where the announcement of Humza Yousaf's successful leadership bid was announced. Andy and Geoff offer snap analysis on what it means for Yousaf, Kate Forbes, the SNP, the Greens and for Scotland's future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 27, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In our last episode before the result of the SNP leadership contest is known, Andy, Geoff and Calum discuss the importance of this moment in Scotland's history. Alongside that, we consider whether the candidates have changed direction based on new knowledge. How can the two leading candidates work with the party should they win? The next two to three weeks after the election are crucial, says Geoff. Winning the leadership is one thing but appealing to the public is another. Who would Andy and Ge...
Mar 23, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Calum, Andy and Geoff analyse what we've learned about each of the candidates so far. Moreover, we discuss what the debates, the differences and the divides mean for the SNP - can they unite after this is over? We run through the latest polling as well to see which candidate is playing best with which group: SNP politicians, SNP members and the Scottish public. Geoff and Andy pull apart some of the debate techniques being employed by the candidates. We analyse if independence should be the prior...
Mar 15, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Calum, Andy and Geoff analyse the first TV debate between Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan broadcast on STV. The candidates got quite personal - is this them trying to carve out differences in public in a really obvious way? Geoff and Andy discuss whether this tactic will continue for the remainder of the campaign. How far did the candidates manage to appeal to SNP members to be their leader, and the wider public to be First Minister? We also got a bit of insight into more of their policy...
Mar 08, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Calum Macdonald, Andy Maciver and Geoff Aberdein look at the Windsor Framework that's been agreed by Rishi Sunak to solve Northern Ireland's place post-Brexit and ask: does this provide a route map to independence for Scotland, and for the SNP leadership candidates to campaign on? Plus, as teachers go on strike again and NHS waiting lists increase, we assess what's in the new First Minister's in-tray. And, how much power do the Green party have right now, and will they - and should they - still ...
Mar 01, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 2
On our first episode, the three candidates who will be the next SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland are confirmed: Kate Forbes, Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan. 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) to discuss the first week of campaigning which has been bruising for some, and difficult for all. Geoff and Andy compare this leadership contest with previous electi...
Feb 24, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Holyrood Sources hears from those who have lived and breathed governing and opposition in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. As the SNP prepares to choose its new leader, and Scotland gets a new First Minister, what will they do? How will they govern? What does life after Nicola Sturgeon look like? What does it mean for the Yes campaign for independence? Join hosts Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver and guests as a new era in Scottish politics begins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...
Feb 23, 2023•2 min
