Politics Galore! A Scottish Politics Podcast

After some drama up Mt Kilimanjaro, and both hosts having had a bug, we're back w/ David serving as a guest talking health policy; the differences and similarities between the 'devolved nations' polities; top tips for engaging with local government; the state of Scottish politics just now and some reflections on the controversial Sheku Bayoh case. Enjoy.

In a packed podcast tonight we're with Kirsty Regan of News Direct talking Inclusion Scotland's Election Fund for Disabled Candidates; Scottish Government reshuffles & Scottish Parliament committee changes; political engagement, political visions & politicians as people; domestic policy v. Brexit & IndyRef2 and (lastly) HIV Scotland funding. Enjoy!

This week we talk opinion polls and political research with expert pollster and researcher Mark Diffley, previously head of Ipsos Mori in Scotland and now an independent operator. Fascinating stuff! And there's some nice background muzak too. Enjoy!

With apologies for a bit of audio snap, crackle and pop, the latest podcast is here! This week we feature a full length interview with Katherine Trebeck of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance talking wellbeing, radically different economics and giving her take on current Scottish Politics. Enjoy!

Tonight, in the last 'cast before a break for the Scottish Parliamentary recess, we interview Peter McColl of NESTA & talk innovation across communities, tech, politics, parliaments, Brexit & IndyRef2. Enjoy!

This week we're talking about last night's Holyrood Magazine Garden Party & Political Awards with mentions for a (small) galaxy of political stars! Enjoy!

Tonight we gamely wrestle with some economic statistics courtesy of the latest reports from SPICE (the Scottish Parliament Information Centre) and, after taking a beating there, in the wake of another stadium-rock sized SNP conference in Aberdeen, we talk about the pros and cons of these political gatherings. Enjoy!

This week we're outside the Scottish Parliament in the sunshine interviewing Russell Gunson, Director of think-tank IPPR Scotland on Universal Basic Income, Child Poverty, the Growth Commission and the state of Scottish politics. Enjoy!

This week we have a full length interview with Danielle Rowley, MP for Midlothian, recorded at Newbattle Abbey College and kindly arranged by Neil Cuthbert at Public Affairs Co-op. Enjoy!

A bumper edition feat. a full interview with ace-lobbyist Luke Skipper of top PR outfit Weber Shandwick (at circa. 12mins) whilst your regular hosts talks defamation law, Andy Wightman and a quick bit on John Swinney at the Scottish Parliament's Education Committee. Plus a flat earth joke! Enjoy!

This week we talk the EU Withdrawal & Continuity Bills, the SNP long game and a little bit of IndyRef2 (wherein bass virtuoso Pete Wishart gets a mention) plus our fantastic Scottish Parliament Annual Report Quiz! Believe it, it's true. Enjoy!

In an interview special whilst David is off gallivanting, we talk to Fiona Garven of the Scottish Community Development Centre about people-powered politics, community engagement and the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. Sorry for the cafe noise, needs must. Enjoy!

This week we welcome Richard Baker of Royal Blind & Scottish War Blinded and talk about his current work and his prior experience as an MSP. We've also got the Prescription (Scotland) Bill which tackles an issue thrown up by the 2004 Stockline factory explosion and we touch on the continuing controversy over the death of Sheku Bayoh in an incident involving Police Scotland.

David is back! We talk EU Withdrawal Bill, devolution & the value of the Scottish Parliament through the prism of its inspiring 3-MSP Committee on the Pow of Inchaffray! No idea what that is? Listen & learn! Enjoy!

We're back after our Easter break talking political inspiration, political activism and how Scottish politics feels right now in a full length interview with one of Scotland's most prominent and tireless independence campaigners; Shona McAlpine. Enjoy!

In Ep15. this week (29 March 2018) we have a full length interview with Bob Doris, the SNP MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn and convenor of the Scottish Parliament's Local Government and Communities Committee. Enjoy!

This week we talk about where Scottish politics is at in the run up to the Scottish Parliament's Easter recess and interview Harriet Hall, Communications Manager at Children 1st, about diversity in the Scottish Parliament and in Scottish political life. Enjoy!

This week we talk about the shocking letter that, in the ongoing Mark McDonald MSP 'unwanted attentions' story, James Dornan MSP has sent to the Scottish Parliament's Standards Committee and we cover Anas Sarwar's new Cross Party Group on Islamophobia. We also have a cracking interview with Chloe Riddell, Policy Manager at the charity Children 1st. Enjoy!

In Episode 12 this week, with guest Neil Cuthbert of Public Affairs Cooperative, we ask how radical can Scottish Labour be and how radical do they need to be? Plus some EU Continuity Bill catch up leads us into the woods! Well, forestry and land reform anyway. Enjoy!

It's the 'Beast From The East' Snow Storm Special, in which we discuss the state of the Scottish Tories as their conference in Aberdeen is snowed off and also ask the question: "Is it a law? Is it a politics (a what)? Yes, er, no, er, both! It's the Scottish Government's 'UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity)(Scotland) Bill'. Try saying that after a couple of Drambuies! Enjoy!