Podlitical

BBC Radio Scotland

5.0 (17)
GOVERNMENT

Politics chat with the latest goings on at Holyrood and Westminster through the eyes of BBC Scotland journalists.

01/29/2025

Hello from Scotcast

Martin Geissler on the BBC's new Scottish news podcast. A new episode of Scotcast is published every Monday to Wednesday by 5pm. Get in touch with the team by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

2 min
12/19/2024

Our Final Podlitical

In our final episode, the team look back at 6 years of change and chaos in politics. How does this week's row over WASPI women and Labour's new government link back to former PM Theresa May trying wrangle a Brexit deal through during her premiership? How did the constitutional debate develop, and where did that leave parties like the SNP? The team reflect on half a decade of intense politics, from pandemics to protests, supreme court wrangling to parliamentary clashing.

37 min
12/18/2024

Interview: First Minister John Swinney

Scotland's First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney sits down with Podlitical. The First Minister talks about becoming SNP leader right before the UK general election was called, how he worried his party faced a wipeout when the polls closed, and how he believed he was "the only person on the planet who could turn it around" for the SNP following a bruising period under former First Minister Humza Yousaf. Swinney talks about the realisation he'd entered a "government bubble", why he believes the SNP is back on the front foot post-Scottish budget, and how he wants to make Scottish independence a "compelling proposition". For a range of political interviews, subscribe to Podlitical on BBC Sounds.

35 min
12/12/2024

Buzz Or Buzzword?

The team discuss Labour's "reset" plans, and politicking ramping up in Holyrood. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Labour's "Plan for Change", but how has it gone down with the electorate, and Scottish Labour MSPs? As the 2026 Holyrood election continues to approach, the politicking ramps up in Holyrood, following the Scottish Budget, and polls suggesting Scottish Labour might not be on as sure footing as it may have hoped. And, with new leaders for both the UK and Scottish Conservatives, where do they fit into the upcoming electoral picture, as Nigel Farage's Reform UK threatens to make waves in the upcoming elections?

26 min
12/05/2024

Politics By The Pound

Was the pound in your pocket or politicking at the heart of the Scottish budget? The team are joined by economist Dr João Sousa, Deputy Director at the Fraser of Allander Institute, at the University of Strathclyde, to deep dive into the Scottish Government budget this week. From surprises over the vow to scrap the two child benefit cap, tinkering with tax, and scrutiny over spending priorities, the team discuss both the financial and political implications of the budget, as the SNP hope to woo voters ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election, and win over opposition parties to enable the budget to be passed.

33 min
12/03/2024

Assisted Dying: What's next for Scotland?

As MPs back proposals for assisted dying in England & Wales, what's next for Scotland? Podlitical's Rajdeep Sandhu sits down with two MPs and two MSPs who are split on support/opposition for assisted dying - Scottish Labour's Graeme Downie MP, Scottish Conservative Murdo Fraser MSP, Scottish Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur MSP, and the SNP's Seamus Logan MP - to discuss the implications of the assisted dying vote in Westminster on Scotland, and the upcoming bill in Holyrood on assisted dying, as well as what it was like to be in the room of such an important vote. What lessons can be learned from the Westminster debate, and will a devolved approach to assisted dying work?

31 min
11/28/2024

A Matter of Life and Death?

The team talk winter fuel payments in Scotland, immigration, and assisted dying. Ahead of next week's Scottish Government budget, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has told Holyrood that every pensioner in Scotland will receive a winter fuel payment next year. What does this mean for Scotland's finances and what does it say about the battlegrounds being laid for the 2026 Holyrood election? Plus, immigration figures are out, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer accusing the previous Conservative government of running an "open borders experiment", as Reform UK's leader Nigel Farage claims the party has hit 100 thousand members, and MPs are set to debate assisted dying in England and Wales.

29 min
11/21/2024

Reap What You Sow?

Farmers protest inheritance tax changes, and budget manoeuvres continue in Holyrood. This week saw thousands of farmers descend on the capital to protest Labour's changes to inheritance tax, while Labour claims the existing rules around inheritance tax aren't fair nor sustainable. In Holyrood, the row over Stephen Flynn's ambition to run as an MSP while staying on as an MP continues, and Scottish Parliament sees both the Scottish Government and opposition parties laying the political groundwork ahead of December's Scottish Budget. Plus, splits between UK Labour and Scottish Labour as leader Anas Sarwar pledges to expand eligibility for the winter fuel payment if they form the next Scottish government.

25 min

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5

out of 5

17 Ratings

Grand ol’ pod!

07/25/2019

Fatty McGlinchy

YA BEAUUUTEEEE!!!!
Insightful, Informative, Entertaining

07/20/2019

iolantherosa

I was surprised to see that this podcast has no reviews in the US! I am a Californian who is very interested in UK politics, especially post-Brexit. I started out lisenting to Brexitcast, but found it to be too freewheeling and ultimately uninformative. Podlitical is the perfect antidote: in addition to all the Brexit news, I also get general UK politics, with an emphasis on the Scottish Parliament, which is not something you hear much about! The hosts are very appealing: informed, intelligent, and witty, and they are generous about spending time educating the listener on the finer points of UK civics. They keep to topic and do not interrupt each other. It is a warm, friendly listen that I enjoy greatly.