AD-FREE

Get ad-free listening and early announcements

$4.99/month or $49.99/year

Holyrood Sources

Shortbread Media
  • 5.0 (1)
  • NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

  1. 4D AGO

    One Week To Go: The Path to Bute House and the 'Scunner Factor'

    Is Scotland facing a political stalemate? In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein, and Andy Maciver, with just ONE WEEK to go until polling day, explore the possible outcomes of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. Is it certain that John Swinney will return to Bute House?, or could Anas Sarwar, even Malcolm Offord, relying on Reform’s hidden vote somehow seize power?  They also dive into the "Scunner factor"— continuing their thoughts on voter apathy from last week, could this lead to a record-low turnout?  --- 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.

    49 min

  2. APR 23

    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.

    36 min

  3. APR 15

    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.

    53 min

  4. APR 8

    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.

    57 min

  5. APR 7

    The Interviews: Malcolm Offord

    In this final installment of our Leaders Special, we sit down with the leader of Reform UK in Scotland, Malcolm Offord. As Reform surges in the polls, Offord addresses the "racist scaremongering" accusations from the Scottish Greens, explains why the party is targeting disillusioned voters, and outlines their plan to scrap Net Zero subsidies in favor of North Sea gas. In this episode, we discuss: Why 80% of Reform UK candidates have never been in politics.The "Scotland is at Breaking Point" campaign and the Glasgow asylum seeker debate.Malcolm Offord’s response to Patrick Harvey and the "racist" allegations.The future of North Sea oil and gas vs. offshore wind subsidies.Can Reform UK win constituency seats in the Scottish Parliament?Offord’s past "bad joke" and his transition from the Conservative Party to Reform.Subscribe to Holyrood Sources for deep dives into the heart of Scottish politics. #ScotlandElection #ReformUK #MalcolmOfford #ScottishPolitics #NigelFarage #Holyrood #NetZero #Immigration --- 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.

    32 min

  6. APR 6

    The Interviews: Alex Cole-Hamilton

    Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton joins Holyrood Sources: The Interviews in Edinburgh to tackle the "Ferry Fiasco," the NHS crisis, and the future of the Union. Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver discuss with him: The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry fiasco. Does Scottish politics have a central belt bias? What does it mean to be a Liberal Democrat today? Why he would resign before supporting Swinney or Reform. Sponsored by: The Scotch Whisky Association’s "Made to be Measured" campaign. Subscribe for more interviews with Scotland's party leaders! ** 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.

    21 min

  7. APR 5

    The Interviews: Anas Sarwar

    In this Holyrood Sources special, the team sit down with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar ahead of the upcoming election. Sarwar outlines a "boldly different" vision for Scotland, addressing the growing crisis in the NHS, the decline in Scottish education, and the future of clean nuclear energy. He responds to tough questions on the Grangemouth refinery, the procurement of buses from China over Scottish firms, and his public call for Keir Starmer to resign. Is Scottish Labour truly different from the SNP? Can Anas Sarwar move from opposition to Bute House? In this episode: NHS Emergency: The plan to ramp up operations and let "money follow the patient." Education Crisis: Addressing the 19% drop in ASN teachers and banning mobile phones in classrooms. Industry & Jobs: The fallout at Alexander Dennis and the future of North Sea energy. The Starmer Dynamic: Why Sarwar stood by his call for the PM to step down. Subscribe for more interviews with Scotland’s political leaders. #ScottishPolitics #AnasSarwar #ScottishLabour #SNP #Holyrood #ScotlandElection #NHSScotland #KeirStarmer ** 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.

    33 min

  8. APR 4

    The Interviews: Russell Findlay

    Has Russell Findlay conceded defeat already? What can his party offer going into the election? In this special edition of 'The Interviews' from Holyrood Sources, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives Russell Findlay speaks to Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver in Edinburgh. "common-sense" vision for the 2026 election. From the rise of Reform UK to the 14-year legacy of the UK party. In this episode: The Reform Threat: Why Findlay calls Reform UK "soft on the Union." Alternative Government: Why the Tories are focusing on stopping an SNP majority rather than the First Minister's office. The "Badenoch Factor": How the relationship with Kemi Badenoch is changing the Scottish campaign. Working with the SNP: Would the Tories ever vote with John Swinney? Sponsored by: The Scotch Whisky Association’s "Made to be Measured" campaign. ** 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.

    21 min
See All (227)

Trailers

Shows with Subscription Benefits

AD-FREE

Get ad-free listening and early announcements

$4.99/month or $49.99/year

View Subscription FAQs

About

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.

Information

  • Channel
    Shortbread Media
  • Creator
    Shortbread Media
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    227
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Shortbread Media
  • Show Website
    Holyrood Sources
  • Provider
    Shortbread Media

More From Shortbread Media

You Might Also Like