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4 pv sitten

Peter Murrell Pleads Guilty, John Swinney's New Cabinet and Tony Blair

On today's episode of the Holyrood Sources podcast Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver break down a bombshell week in Scottish politics. Peter Murrell has pleaded guilty to embezzlement from the SNP. What does this mean for the party, The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon and trust in politics in general? John Swinney has also appointed his new Scottish Cabinet, was his new slimmed down top team the right way to go? How will Stephen Flynn and Stephen Gethins perform in their new Holyrood roles. How will Ivan McKee do after being promoted to Cabinet Secretary for Public Service reform? You can listen to our 2025 interview with him here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1EO5bkEpwRRPpjnYeOL81I?si=-YP5RgaGSAKtH_d3RoVaMQ And what does Tony Blair's intervention this week mean for the UK Labour Party, is it time to start listening to the former Prime Minister? --- Subscribe to our mailing list at holyroodsources.com Email us with thoughts, questions and your own analysis: hello@holyroodsources.com Drop us a Voice Note or WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 pv sitten

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52 min
20.5.

Scotland's New MSPs: Live from Edinburgh Gin Distillery

On this special live episode of Holyrood Sources: Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver are joined by MSPs, journalists and backroom staff at the Edinburgh Gin Distillery, a stone's throw from The Scottish Parliament. They are joined by three brand new MSPs from the three biggest parties at Holyrood to discuss what the next five years could bring: Katherine Sangster from Scottish Labour, Reform UK Scotland Leader Malcolm Offord and former SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn. What does the future hold for Anas Sarwar and Keir Starmer? Can either survive after devastating results across the UK and in Scotland. Will Reform be the foxes in the hen house... are they as cunning as they make out to be? How does the SNP actually get stuff done, and how does Stephen Flynn live up to his promise as a "champion" of Aberdeen's oil and gas industry. This Holyrood Sources live event was sponsored by Scottish Renewables and SSE. --- Subscribe to our mailing list at holyroodsources.com Email us with thoughts, questions and your own analysis: hello@holyroodsources.com Drop us a Voice Note or WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20.5.

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50 min
17.5.

Sources Crossover: Calum Macdonald and Andy Maciver on the GB election results

On this special edition of Stormont Sources, Calum Macdonald and Andy Maciver from the Whitehall Sources and Holyrood Sources podcasts join David McCann, Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan to discuss how the results of the Welsh, Scottish and English elections will impact the UK as a whole and Northern Ireland. What will 3 nationalist First Ministers do for the state of the union... and is that statistic misleading? Where do Reform UK lie after an excellent night of resultsCan Keir Starmer survive as Prime Minister? Stormont Sources is the place to hear all about politics and policy making in Northern Ireland. . Join journalist, David McCann, plus Tim Cairns, a former Special Advisor to First Minister Peter Robinson and Head of Policy for the DUP and Micheal McKernan, a former Special Advisor in the SDLP who worked in the Northern Ireland Executive from 2007-2016. Whitehall Sources brings you insider coverage of Westminster, and Senedd Sources takes you inside politics in Wales. Subscribe to all four podcasts on YouTube and your podcast app to never miss a moment from across UK politics. --- Subscribe to our mailing list at holyroodsources.com Email us with thoughts, questions and your own analysis: hello@holyroodsources.com Drop us a Voice Note or WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17.5.

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37 min
13.5.

A New Scottish Parliament: Cross-Party Talks and Your Election Questions Answered

On today’s episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver analyse the results of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election and what comes next for Scottish politics. The Prime Minister and the First Minister are set to meet next month, will talks lead to a second independence referendum? Will Keir Starmer even be in office to meet John Swinney? They also discuss the SNP Leader's post-election meetings with political parties, and his refusal to meet with Reform. hHas he shot himself in the foot politically?, and how should the other parties approach these meetings? Calum, Geoff and Andy also take a look at your post-election questions as the picture of the next five years of Scottish politics starts to become clear. --- Subscribe to our mailing list at holyroodsources.com Email us with thoughts, questions and your own analysis: hello@holyroodsources.com Drop us a Voice Note or WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13.5.

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55 min
9.5.

Scottish Election Results Live from Holyrood

The votes are in, and the map of Scotland has been redrawn. Join the Holyrood Sources team for a deep-dive into the 2026 Scottish Parliament election results. In this special episode, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (former Chief of Staff to the First Minister Alex Salmond), and Andy Maciver (former Scottish Conservative Director of Communications) break down a historic night at Holyrood. The Reform UK Surge: How did Malcolm Offord’s party become a major force in the Scottish Parliament? The Pro-Independence Majority: With the Scottish Greens seeing significant gains, how will the SNP-Green dynamic work in this new session? Labour and Tory Losses: Analysis of a difficult night for Anas Sarwar and Russell Findlay as the political center ground shifts. What Happens Next? From coalition talks to the future of the Union, we provide the "inside track" analysis you won't get anywhere else. Holyrood Sources brings you political commentary from those who have lived it. No spin, just the reality of how power works in Scotland. Join the Conversation. Follow us on X/Twitter @HolyroodSources #ScottishElection2026 #Holyrood #SNP #ScottishPolitics #ReformUK #JohnSwinney #AnasSarwar #ScotlandResults #HolyroodSources ** The Holyrood Sources podcast brings the best analysis of Scottish politics with those who have lived it as Special Advisers, and those who are current and former politicians and political party leaders. Join Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (Former Chief of Staff to First Minister Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (Former Director of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives). Subscribe now Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/holyrood-sources/id1673972192 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Fj3emmRONEr8aSkhcMgoH?si=789c7874034340c6 --- Subscribe to our mailing list at holyroodsources.com Email us with thoughts, questions and your own analysis: hello@holyroodsources.com Drop us a Voice Note or WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9.5.

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1 t 6 min
6.5.

The End of the Campaign: Poll Trends, Key Moments & Surprises

It's the day before the 2026 Scottish Parliament election! This episode of Holyrood Sources looks back at the campaign. Calum Macdonald is joined by Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver to analyse the latest polling trends, what’s really happening beneath the headline numbers, Is SNP support as solid as it seems?Why the list vote could be the real danger zone for the SNPThe rise of Reform UK — protest vote or lasting force?Are Labour and the Conservatives heading for historic lows? We also revisit the defining moments of the campaign — from fiery debate clashes to the surreal whisky tariff saga — and ask whether any of it has actually cut through with voters. And in a special segment, journalism student Logan Smith puts the team on the spot with questions about Reform UK, the future of conservatism in Scotland, and what comes next for Scottish politics. With low turnout expected and tight margins across the board, could results night deliver some major surprises? Don’t miss our LIVE results stream from outside the Scottish Parliament, Friday at 7pm. --- Subscribe to our mailing list at holyroodsources.com Email us with thoughts, questions and your own analysis: hello@holyroodsources.com Drop us a Voice Note or WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6.5.

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51 min
23.4.

Why This Election Campaign is "Dispiriting"

The Holyrood Sources team is back to break down a week of political name-calling, tactical blunders, and Westminster turmoil. In this episode, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (former Chief of Staff to the First Minister), and Andy Maciver (former Director of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives) dive into the "immature" state of the current election campaign. From Anas Sarwar and Graham Simpson’s public spats to John Swinney’s decision to skip the BBC Question Time leaders' debate, the team asks: where are the big ideas? We also analyse the "terminal" situation for Sir Keir Starmer at Westminster. With Ollie Robbins sacked and Cabinet ministers struggling to defend the Prime Minister, is Starmer being held "hostage" by his own colleagues until May 7th? In this episode: The "Pathetic" Campaign: Why the focus on deals and name-calling is failing Scottish voters. SNP’s Food Price Cap: Is the cap on food prices a "gimmick" or a strategic masterstroke? The Starmer Crisis: Analysing the dismissal of Olly Robbins and the silence of the Labour Cabinet. John Swinney’s Debate Absence: Is the First Minister "running scared" or making a tactical calculation? Follow Holyrood Sources: ✉️ Email: hello@holyroodsources.com 💬 WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 🌐 Website: holyroodsources.com --- Subscribe to our mailing list at holyroodsources.com Email us with thoughts, questions and your own analysis: hello@holyroodsources.com Drop us a Voice Note or WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

23.4.

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36 min
26.3.

The End of an Era? Live from the Scottish Parliament

Is Holyrood broken? On the final day of the parliamentary session, the Holyrood Sources team (Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein, and Andy Maciver) are LIVE from outside the Scottish Parliament. As 42 MSPs prepare to walk out of these doors for the last time, we speak to the politicians left standing. From the "Tory Trinity" to the SNP's internal shifts and the growing shadow of Reform UK, this episode dives into the fractious nature of the last session and what the "long campaign" means for your pocketbook. Key Topics Covered: The Energy Crisis: Why the North Sea is the ultimate political football. The Reform Threat: Will the next parliament be the "Wild West"? Legacy vs. Reality: Has Holyrood become too distant from the people? The 1999 Club: Who is left from the original parliament? Featured Guests: Brian Whittle (Con), Michelle Thompson (SNP), Marie Todd (SNP), Emma Roddick (SNP), Megan Gallacher (Con), Jackson Carlaw (Con), Murdo Fraser (Con), and Graham Simpson (Reform). --- Subscribe to our mailing list at holyroodsources.com Email us with thoughts, questions and your own analysis: hello@holyroodsources.com Drop us a Voice Note or WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26.3.

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51 min
8.4.

SNP Leads Labour in 2026 Poll: Is a majority within their reach?

In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein, and Andy Maciver take you inside the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary election. We analyse the newest IPSOS Scottish Political Monitor results with Mark McGeoghegan, exploring why the Reform UK vote is the ultimate "spoiler" for Labour and the Conservatives. Calum, Geoff and Andy also reflect on Holyrood Sources: The Interviews, which you can listen back to or watch on YouTube now! We look at the u-turn that made the political headlines and ask which of the party leaders stood out on the night. The guys also tackle the big policy and election headlines of the week: Energy: The Treasury’s refusal to scrap the windfall tax despite a £17.5B investment offer.Manifestos: Russell Findlay’s vision for the Scottish Tories.Infrastructure: John Swinney’s £10M island business fund vs. the ongoing CalMac ferry crisis. Connect with us: 📧 Email: hello@hollyroodsources.com 📱 WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 🎙️ Subscribe for weekly inside tracks on Scottish politics. --- Subscribe to our mailing list at holyroodsources.com Email us with thoughts, questions and your own analysis: hello@holyroodsources.com Drop us a Voice Note or WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8.4.

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57 min
15.4.

Reform-Labour "Deal", Manifesto Analysis & The Truth About Battle Buses

In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein, and Andy Maciver dive into the most heated moment of the campaign so far: the Channel 4 leaders' debate. We break down the explosive exchange between Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar and Reform UK’s Malcolm Offord, and ask if the alleged "backroom deal" has any basis in reality. In this episode: The Debate Fallout: Was the Sarwar-Offord clash a turning point or just "petulent nonsense"?Polling Deep Dive: We analyse the latest YouGov MRP poll—is an SNP majority of 67 seats actually possible?Manifesto Week: Breaking down the key pledges from Scottish Labour and the Scottish Greens.The "Battle Bus" Myth: Geoff reveals why you rarely see leaders actually traveling on their branded buses.Listener Questions: From the UK’s counter-argument for independence to the journey of a barrel of North Sea oil. --- Subscribe to our mailing list at holyroodsources.com Email us with thoughts, questions and your own analysis: hello@holyroodsources.com Drop us a Voice Note or WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15.4.

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53 min

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. Join our mailing list and check out our latest live events: click holyroodsources.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Uutiset
Top advisers to our significant political leaders analyse the successes and failures of today's politics, sharing their experiences of working in Whitehall. Jo Tanner is a political adviser and strategist who's worked with politicians from all parties - she's Managing Partner at Rud Pedersen UK. James Nation was Deputy Head of the Number 10 Policy Unit, Special Adviser to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak and is now Managing Director at Forefront Advisers. Journalist and broadcaster Calum Macdonald manages their in-tray of talking points, U-turns and crises. From parties in Westminster to the tactics of SpAds, this is your exclusive insight into how politics is done and how politicians work. We welcome insiders and analysts to join the conversation each week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Politiikka
Welcome inside politics in Northern Ireland. Listen to the podcast which brings you analysis, insight and experience from Stormont. Join journalist, David McCann, plus Tim Cairns, a former Special Advisor to Peter Robinson and Head of Policy for the DUP and Micheal McKernan, a former Special Advisor in the SDLP worked in the Executive from 2007-2016. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Bringing you behind the door, with those who have lived and breathed jobs about which we need to know more, from politics and elsewhere. By Shortbread Media Ltd.

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Peter Murrell Pleads Guilty, John Swinney's New Cabinet and Tony Blair

Scotland's New MSPs: Live from Edinburgh Gin Distillery

Sources Crossover: Calum Macdonald and Andy Maciver on the GB election results

A New Scottish Parliament: Cross-Party Talks and Your Election Questions Answered

Scottish Election Results Live from Holyrood

The End of the Campaign: Poll Trends, Key Moments & Surprises

Why This Election Campaign is "Dispiriting"

The End of an Era? Live from the Scottish Parliament

SNP Leads Labour in 2026 Poll: Is a majority within their reach?

Reform-Labour "Deal", Manifesto Analysis & The Truth About Battle Buses

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Farage in Scotland and Labour's By-Election Shambles

Double Jobbing & Vote Labour to Stop Labour

The Rise of Reform UK in Scotland

Labour and SNP Draw Level

Special Announcement

The Budget... with Catherine Macleod

SNP Conference: The Pub

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