I'm a freelance political writer and broadcaster and this is my podcast
Back like the renegade master. Or at least like a man, talking to a former leader of Scottish Labour, and an 11-year-old. James Millar is joined by his daughter and Kezia Dugdale, Labour MSP and former party leader. The conversation starts with the Edinburgh tourist tax, the Scottish budget, Labour splits and Brexit. But degenerates to the effect of coffee and dog food on your bowel movements. Plus everything inbetween
James Millar is joined by SNP MP Drew Hendry and political journalist Lindsay Razaq in an effort to unpick what the hell is going on at Westminster. Up for discussion is the latest bout of Prime Minister's Questions, the Tory leadership kerfuffle and Christmas. Plus listen to our predictions for the year ahead and then laugh your way through 2019.
With Westminster acting all wacky this week James Millar is joined by an actual peer of the realm to discuss what's going on in politics. Lib Dem lord Jeremy Purvis makes his prediction for how Brexit will turn out plus he discusses 'the worst Jason Bourne sequel ever', Lib Dems in space, poo and punching terrorists. You don't get that anywhere else.
James Millar is joined by SNP defence spokesman Stewart McDonald and Birmingham Live political editor Jon Walker to dissect the latest round of Prime Minister's Questions and discuss their recent foreign jaunts to the war zone of Ukraine and to stoat around Italy on a luxury train. Tune in for a bona fide rammy that nationalists and unionists alike ought to enjoy!..
What if everyone was named after their home town? Should MPs play football in the Commons? And Brexit. James Millar is joined by SNP MP Neil Gray and HuffPost's Rachel Wearmouth to discuss this and much much more including the latest round of Prime Minister's Questions from Parliament.
The gang's back together. With it being half term James Millar is joined by his children and Labour MP Ian Murray to review the latest round of Prime Minister's Questions, discuss the best biscuits, reminisce over seminal 80s movie The Goonies and share some truly awful jokes.
It's back! A new run of Political Yeti's politics podcast sees the return of James Millar hosting an MP and a top commentator each week. In the first one back it's SNP deputy leader Kirsty Blackman and Birmingham Live political editor Jon Walker dissecting the latest Prime Minister's Questions, choosing between crisps and a meal and going all moral maze on whether Nazis should vote. Tune in!
James Millar, Jon Walker and Matt Withers reconvene in a (slightly) quieter pub to discuss the latest political news including World War Three, the Commonwealth Games and lots of Barry Gardiner
It's three men in a pub this week as James Millar is joined by Matt Withers and Jon Walker to review the year in politics so far. Unfortunately they were also joined by a jazz band. Listen in...
On this week's podcast Drew Hendry joins James Millar and the Press and Journal's Westminster Corr Jennifer McKiernan to talk more about what he asked Theresa May at Prime Minister's Questions. Plus there's some Cambridge Analytica chat, more speculation about the next depute leader of the SNP, fish and roller derby.
Podcast favourites Tony Grew and Kirsty Blackman, deputy leader of the SNP group at Westminster, join James Millar to review the latest batch of Prime Minister's Questions then question whether that's what they should be talking. Then there's the Saudis, the royals and the SNP deputy leader contest. It starts with respectful disagreement and ends in a rammy.
Two guests last heard on the podcast last summer return for a proper ramblechat taking in Prime Minister's questions, robots, Communism, drugs and mice. Paul Sweeney, Scottish Labour MP for Glasgow North East, and Rachel Cunliffe, comment and features editor for City AM, join James Millar to discuss the week in politics and all sorts of other stuff besides.
With the SNP searching for it's third deputy leader in three years Stewart McDonald's been talked up as a contender. Is he going to stand? You can hear it here first. There's the usual review of the latest Prime Minister's Questions with Jennifer McKiernan of the Press and Journal and the panel tries to unravel what's really going on with RBS bank closures PLUS suffragettes and masons.
The second podcast of the year brings another new voice - Ged Killen one of Labour's new Scottish MPs. Along with The New Statesman's Julia Rampen he reviews the latest bout of Prime Minister's Questions, talks about James's recent article about the SNP and the newest mad stooshie thrown up by Scottish politics. Plus a particularly tricky 'I Love Your Questions' throws up some surprising answers. Warning: contains a swear word.
The first PYPP of 2018 sees James Millar joined by Labour's Ian Murray and, for the first time, Jennifer McKiernan of the Press and Journal. Up for discussion is the first Prime Minister's Questions of the year, Brexit, how Labour's leaders are faring in Scotland and Westminster and SNP stunts.
SNP social justice spokesman Neil Gray and Labour spinner turned pundit Martin McCluskey join James Millar to dissect the latest Prime Minister's Questions. Up for discussion is the SNP's tax plans, RBS bank closures and just how friendly the SNP leadership is with the bank, feminism and the best Christmas song (which is Just Like Christmas, not Last Christmas).
The Scottish Tories have truly arrived at Westminster - because one has now been on James Millar's podcast. Andrew Bowie, who defeated friend of the podcast Stuart 'sausage boy' Donaldson at the election gets a last minute call up to guest alongside Birmingham Mail Westminster corr Jon Walker. Up for discussion was the latest installment of Prime Minister's Questions, which didn't feature the Prime Minister plus a bit of Budget, Waspi, Disraeli and life after Corbyn.
Fair play to Labour MP Danielle Rowley. On the day her dad stepped aside from his role as deputy leader of Scottish Labour then was suspended from the party she kept her appointment to join James Millar on this podcast alongside the New Statesman's Julia Rampen. The trio review the latest round of Prime Minister's Questions and preview the Scottish Labour leadership contest that reaches its climax this weekend. Plus there's a discussion about names and books.
James Millar is joined by SNP MP Drew Hendry and Yorkshire Post Westminster corr Kate Langston to discuss all the issues thrown up by the latest installment of Prime Minister's Questions including the sexual harassment scandal, controversial welfare reform and whether Dundee is cool.
They're back for half-term: James Millar is joined by his children to interview leading SNP MP Kirsty Blackman on independence, international affairs, and farting. Inevitably there's a different take on politics from a nine-year-old and a seven-year-old including questions for Kirsty about parenting and an explanation of why SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford is like Strictly grump Craig Revell Horwood. Really.
We're back, after a conference induced gap, with Labour's Ian Murray bringing the confectionery and questioning the credibility of Labour's leadership contest in Scotland. And The Scotsman's ace Westminster reporter Paris Gourtsoyannis casts his eye over the latest bout of Prime Minister's Questions. Plus there's a challenge for listeners and quite a lot of silly nonsense. Enjoy!
Once again MPs are preparing to go off for a recess so James Millar is joined by traditional recess guest Martin Whitfield MP to talk about the latest Prime Minister's Questions that strayed on to reality TV, Rick Astley and radiation. Plus there's talk of the divisions in Scottish Labour's group of just seven MPs and the coming leadership election and a preview of conference season. And Martin and James are joined by a mystery guest. Listen in to find out who.
Parliament's back and James Millar is there with another MP. This week's guest is Alison Thewliss of the SNP who takes James to task for some comments on the SNP's approach to immigration as they discuss PMQs and the Scottish government's Programme for Government. They are joined by The Scotsman's Paris Gourtsayannis for a wide-ranging and grown up chat that includes praise for Michael Gove and, finally, the answer to the rollover 'I Love Your Questions' teaser.
It's the fourth and final summer special politics in a pub podcast and it rained, rather summing up the weather and the politics of this dismal summer. But this week's offering presented by James Millar is brightened by the return of Stuart 'sausage boy' Donaldson, the nation's youngest ex-MP. At 23 he was the member of parliament for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire. By 25 he wasn't. He talks about the experience of being catapulted in and out of parliament and his views on Nicola Sturgeon, Alex Salmond and Keanu Reeves. Plus Jon Walker is along again to discuss Disneyland and Big Ben. All the big issues of the last week then.
Lots to talk about this week as James Millar is joined in the pub in Catford by Reaction's Olivia Utley, former Lib Dem spin doctor Matt Withers and the Birmingham Mail's Jon Walker to chew over the latest political developments. Three big characters dominate things - James Chapman and his new party, Jacob Rees-Mogg's run to lead a rather older party, and Alex Salmond's sexist jokes. Plus there's a bonus conversation about which incarnation of Batman Jeremy Corbyn most resembles - Adam West, George Clooney, or Ben Affleck.
It's come to that time in the any podcast's life - it's three men in a pub talking about politics. But bear with it as James Millar is joined by Jon Walker and Mike Indian to talk about the latest "bonkers" Brexit moves, "stupid choices" in parliament and a surprising fact about badgers.
With parliament in recess it's back to podcasts in the pub. This week James Millar is joined by City AM's Rachel Cunliffe to talk about Liam Fox, women's football and politicians going on holiday. Plus James lets a fan on the podcast. David Mackenzie, one of Labour's 'red princes' and self proclaimed 'Ivanka Trump of Scottish politics' joins in to talk about his experience of being his dad's election agent in 2015 and the Loch Ness monster.
It's the last week of the parliamentary term and there's a holiday vibe as James is joined by new Labour MP Martin Whitfield and the New Statesman's Julia Rampen to review the last Prime Minister's Questions of the session. It could even be Theresa May's last PMQs if the rumours of a leadership plot are true. Martin reveals what he's learned about parliament in his first six weeks as an MP and the panel cast an imaginary parliamentary production of the Wizard of Oz. Really. And Julia talks about being sick and Martin talks about eating a pig.
New author James Millar is joined by the MP with surely the longest title in politics - Drew Hendry - to discuss his latest piece for The New Statesman on the state of the SNP. (http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2017/07/snp-mps-fear-another-snap-election-it-was-one-way-traffic-labour) Drew didn't like it. And reviewing a Prime Minister's Questions that didn't feature the Prime Minister it's Kate Proctor of the Evening Standard, one of the top young journalists in the UK: OFFICIAL. Why's she so good? Because she knows about Labour playtime whatever that is, as well as bringing top analysis.
After his promotion in the SNP reshuffle Neil Gray join James Millar to talk about what exactly social justice is and how much his new leader is worth. Plus he manages to utterly befuddle James by introducing Scottish football into the conversation. And joining them to review the latest bout of Prime Minister's Questions is Ian Silvera, senior political correspondent at the International Business Times.
James Millar is joined by new Labour MP Paul Sweeney to talk about his first experience of Prime Minister's Questions, what it's like in the frenzy of the Commons chamber. Plus James, Paul and fellow guest Tony Grew discuss the issues that were raised at the first Prime Minister's Questions of the new parliament including the Grenfell Tower fire and the government deal with the DUP. And Paul explains how he built the biggest Royal Navy ship ever constructed including a genuine 'wow fact.
THE MAN FRIEND PROJECT - Rachel Reeves MP by James Millar
THE MAN FRIEND PROJECT - Seema Kennedy MP by James Millar
Parliament gets down to business with the Queen's Speech setting out Theresa May's plans for the coming parliament - mainly Brexit and spaceships. James Millar is joined by Lindsay Razaq of the Press & Journal and MP Ian Murray to discuss. Plus Ian talks about having some Scottish Labour colleagues in parliament for the first time in two years, the "singularly unpleasant" SNP and why Jeremy Corbyn gave him the fingers (metaphorically).
Parliament's back! James Millar is joined by SNP MP Kirsty Blackman just before she was confirmed as the party's deputy leader in Westminster to discuss what went wrong for the party at the general election. And seagulls come up too. Seagulls always come up when Kirsty is on the podcast. Plus Jon Walker, political editor of the Birmingham Mail, offers his take on the election that's just been and what's next for the Tories, Labour and the DUP. And after the terrible attempts at predictions in last week's podcast James doubles down with an audacious long term projection.
Two years older and wiser, but still only at primary school, my children attempt again to predict the outcome of a general election more accurately than the experts. All the guests got it wrong in 2015, will they fare any better in 2017? Last time out I called it for a Tory majority (and I suggested Trump would win in America too) so listen out for my General Election 2017 prediction too. Who'll be closest to the result - the man who's worked in politics for 20 years, the former spin doctor, or the six-year-old? Only a couple of days to find out!
In the shadow of a giant cat three pundits gather to discuss the latest twists and turns in the general election campaign. James Millar is joined in the pub by Birmingham Mail political editor Jon Walker who compares Tim Farron to Richard Nixon, and former spin doctor Matt Withers has the low down on why Simon Hughes is always late.
James Millar is back in the pub surrounded by experts to chew over another week in the general election campaign. Birmingham Mail political editor Jon Walker, New Statesman digital news editor Julia Rampen and co-founder of The Spoon Martha Gill share their views on how the parties are getting and discuss which Harry Potter book's the best, are the media unfair on Jeremy Corbyn, is this the SNP's hardest campaign yet, and the second stupid guy of 2017.
The plan to record podcasts in the pub crashes into reality. James Millar is joined by Birmingham Post and Mail political editor Jon Walker and former Lib Dem spin doctor Matt Withers to analyse the general election campaign so far and share tales of meeting a leading politician at the darts, candidates in tears, going to Belgium on a hovercraft and nominations for the first official 'stupid guy' of the campaign. Plus one time shadow cabinet member Rachel Reeves answers questions on the campaign trail and her leadership ambitions.
With parliament dissolved and the Queen firing the starting gun on the campaign to elect a new one James Millar catches up with a few departing MPs to reflect on the last few years in politics. Plus Westminster watcher extraordinaire Tony Grew joins him to sum up the 2015-17 parliament which he correctly predicted two years ago would be "nasty, brutish and short." And there's a solution to global warming.
James Millar is joined by SNP MP Roger Mullin and Yorkshire Post correspondent Kate Langston to review the final Prime Minister's Questions of this parliament. It may have been a short parliament but it was the longest ever PMQs. Plus there's election predictions, a fascinating insight into Roger's peace-making trip to the Middle East and, for the first time on the podcast, actual singing.
It's general election time again and SNP MP Deidre Brock joins James Millar to discuss the shockwaves in Westminster and what it means for indyref2. Plus real life political analyst Mike Indian is on hand to review the penultimate Prime Minister's Questions of this parliament. And given Deidre once did a turn on Home and Away there's some discussion about Ailsa eras on the Aussie soap opera.
With MPs on their recess this week James Millar is joined by a bona fide expert, or indeed Brexpert. Anand Menon of the UK In a Changing Europe think tank answers listeners questions about Brexit covering food prices, security, Scottish independence and immigration among other things. Plus there's cynicism, sarcasm, Big Ben and an unwanted intervention from a robot. You don't get that anywhere else.
To discuss the momentous events of the previous day when Brexit was triggered by the Prime Minister, James Millar is joined by SNP MP Kirsty Blackman and Yorkshire Post political correspondent Kate Langston. As well as chatting about whether Brexit affects our identity there's more Aberdonian delicacies on the menu and a bit of indyref2. PLUS one of my guests correctly guesses the mystery voice on the I Love Your Questions jingle forcing some extra special editing. Listen in.
This episode was recorded just an hour before the terrorist attack on Westminster, hence no reference to it and hence it's been delayed. It didn't seem appropriate on the day of the attack to release a recording of three people just joshing around about politics. But there's no reason not to release it so here's James Millar, Lindsay Razaq and the SNP's rising star Callum McCaig on indyref2, Finding Nemo and the internal jokes and fights of the SNP.
This week James Millar is joined by Stuart Donaldson, the second youngest MP in the Commons, to discuss Nicola Sturgeon's new independence referendum, sausages and Theresa May running over Jeremy Corbyn. And another newbie, Paris Gourtsoyannis of The Scotsman, is on board to discuss his excitement about indyref 2 and the grim reality of the effect of Brexit
Reviewing Philip Hammond's first budget with Eilidh Whiteford, SNP work and pensions spokesperson (and the person matters) and Westminster watcher extraordinaire Tony Grew. And since we're in a reviewing mode there's a discussion about which was the more worthy Oscar winner - La La Land or Moonlight. Plus the 'I Love Your Questions' chain continues. Will there be a winner this week? Listen in to find out.
There's another newbie on the podcast this week as SNP MP Carol Monaghan joins James for the first time to discuss a pedestrian PMQs and a lively debate around independence. Plus Ian Silvera returns to offer his take on fish and Sadiq Khan. Really.
This week SNP MP Kirsten Oswald and the Herald's Westminster correspondent Kate Devlin join James Millar to talk about the sexist bampots of the world. So up for discussion is Tory attempts to derail a bill against domestic violence and picking over this week's Donald Trump debate in parliament. Plus there's unanimity on the best dress up outfit for Alex Salmond
It's half term for children and MPs and the two come together in this week's podcast as James Millar is joined by his offspring to quiz game Labour MP Ian Murray. Who wants to dress Jeremy Corbyn as Batman? Is Ian related to Andy Murray? And why does everyone keep talking about KitKats so much? Listen in for some half term hilarity.
This week the world's tiniest MP - SNP member for Aberdeen North Kirsty Blackman - is back on the podcast with James Millar to explain why the SNP are so unhappy about the rules in Westminster and why pedantic ornithologists are so unhappy with her. Plus there's Jon Walker, political editor of the Birmingham Mail and gourmand extraordinaire on Brexit and regional menus.