Unspun Live

The Herald Politics Team

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Unspun Live is The Herald’s Scottish politics podcast — bringing you interviews, analysis, and insight from the heart of Holyrood. Hosted by some of the finest journalists in the business, each episode cuts through the noise to explore the big ideas, tough decisions, and real stories behind the headlines.

3D AGO

Episode 32 - Unspun Live: Scottish Greens’ youngest Holyrood hopeful on poverty, power and protest

With less than three months to go until the Holyrood election, Unspun Live speaks to Iris Duane, the Scottish Greens’ 23-year-old candidate for Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill, who could become the youngest MSP in the next Scottish Parliament. Duane talks candidly about growing up in poverty, why she believes both the SNP and Labour have run out of ideas, and why tackling child poverty would be her top priority if elected. She also discusses council funding, taxation, the Scottish Child Payment, and what she sees as the limits of devolution. The conversation also explores representation and identity in politics, barriers facing trans people in Scotland, and whether the Greens would consider working with the SNP again after the collapse of the Bute House Agreement.

23 min
JAN 21

Episode 31: Scotland's Housing Emergency

Deputy Political Editor Rebecca McCurdy interviews Richard Meade, the chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, as the organisation launches its Holyrood manifesto, demanding urgent funding to end the housing emergency.

17 min
JAN 9

Episode 30: Reform's Graham Simpson on indyref2, Farage and elections

Reform UK's only MSP Graham Simpson comes to the defence of his party leader Nigel Farage over claims he is "racist" and addresses the confusion over the party's stance on Scottish independence.

19 min
11/26/2025

Episode 29: Budget chaos!

On Budget Day, the Office for Budget Responsibility unexpectedly released its economic forecasts before the Chancellor reached the despatch box — sending Westminster and the markets into a spin. In this episode of Unspun Live, Andrew Learmonth breaks down what the leak means, why it matters, and how Rachel Reeves’ second Budget will affect taxpayers, businesses and Scotland’s finances. Andrew is joined by Ian McConnell, The Herald’s business editor, to unpack the big revenue-raising measures — from income tax threshold freezes to the changes on electric vehicle mileage, ISAs, salary sacrifice schemes and alcohol duty. They also look at Reeves’ decision to scrap the two-child limit, and what that means for the Scottish Government’s spending plans.

22 min
11/12/2025

Episode 28: Ministers, Contempt Law and Scotland’s Trans Prisoner Row

In this week’s episode of Unspun Live, Andrew Learmonth unpacks Holyrood's latest political and legal row. After the Scottish Government told Parliament it could not comment on its prison guidance court battle with For Women Scotland, opposition MSPs accused ministers of misleading the chamber about the limits of the law. To understand what the Contempt of Court Act, the Scottish Parliament’s sub judice rules, and the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act actually say, Andrew speaks to Edinburgh Law School’s Scott Wortley.

19 min
11/07/2025

Episode 27: What will tax hikes south of the border means for Scotland's budget?

With Rachel Reeves laying the groundwork for potential tax rises on November 26, Andrew speaks to Dr João Sousa of the Fraser of Allander Institute about what that could mean for Scotland’s block grant – and the decisions that now land on Shona Robison’s desk.

16 min
10/28/2025

Episode 26: The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year & Your Party in Scotland

On Unspun Live this week, Political Editor Andrew Learmonth reveals some of the politicians shortlisted for the The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year awards which will take place next month. Political Correspondent Hannah Brown joins him to discuss Your Party in Scotland following several defections to the emerging socialist party last week. She also sits down with the MP leading the new party with Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana, for the podcast ahead of a Your Party event in Glasgow.

29 min
10/11/2025

Episode 25: Màiri McAllan on SNP leadership, party rebellion & motherhood

Cabinet Secretary Màiri McAllan speaks to Unspun Live about SNP leadership, rebellions and motherhood as Political Correspondents Hannah Brown and Kathleen Nutt look ahead to the SNP’s annual conference in Aberdeen this weekend.

38 min

Unspun Live is The Herald’s Scottish politics podcast — bringing you interviews, analysis, and insight from the heart of Holyrood. Hosted by some of the finest journalists in the business, each episode cuts through the noise to explore the big ideas, tough decisions, and real stories behind the headlines.

Creator

The Herald Politics Team
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

32
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© The Herald Politics Team
Show Website

Unspun Live