Politics Galore! A Scottish Politics Podcast

In the last podcast before the summer, we look back on what's been going on in Scottish politics, mainly with the SNP, and wonder "What next?"

The Visitor Levy, dubbed a Tourist Tax by its detractors, could be a win for local democracy - or could it? Why talk politics when you can talk policy? Enjoy!

This week we talk with Fife councillor Graeme Downie about the latest Audit Scotland overview of local government in Scotland. Enjoy!

This week we welcome back Alastair Stewart and talk about Our Scottish Future and where we're at with visions for Scotland, whose visions they are and what information we all need to be able to make up our minds about what they should be.

This week Shona Robison warned of tight budgets ahead whilst The Promise (a flagship initiative of Nicola Sturgeon's government) recommended radical changes to the Children's Hearing System, which could cost a fair whack. How should a Scotland that self-identifies as progressive be spending its money?

"Commissioners to the left of them, commissioners to the right of them, into the valley of oversight rode the public authorities." This week we're talking about... commissioners! Any good? Too many? Not enough? Listen and learn!

We're finally back! Through fire & flood. Sort of. Anyway, this week we talk about continuity radicalism and other absurdities, pedestrian policy proposals; jury-less rape trails; Maggie Chapman's conflict of interest and Lorna Slater's boat. Enjoy!

This week we talk to Gordon MacRae of Shelter Scotland about what's needed to address Scotland's continued need for more affordable housing and to reduce the number of folk who are homeless.

We continue on with a theme from last week and talk about the Health Foundation's January 2023 report on health inequalities in Scotland: 'Leave no one behind.' You can find the report here: https://www.health.org.uk/publications/leave-no-one-behind

This week we talk about health inequalities in the context of the SNP leadership election on the back of the Poverty Alliance & Robertson Trust leadership hustings on solving poverty.

We review the ‘Bloody Tuesday' STV News SNP Leadership debate, talk about the role of public affairs professionals at times like these and take a look at Scottish government funding transparency.

What more do we need to say? Fun, fun, FUN!

A bumper episode this week on... what else? The SNP leadership race! May joy be unconfined!

Is a vote for independence a vote to rejoin the EU? Scottish Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson, seems to think so. We discuss.

This week we discuss the stramash over the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Act 2022, the UK government's blocking of it with a section 35 order and related issues.

In our first podcast of 2023 we welcome Lucy Miller & Clare Slipper from Women in Public Affairs Scotland and talk about forthcoming big developments for that network as well as what's been on their minds when it comes to Scottish politics.

In our last podcast of 2022, we talk about the division, anger & absence of nuance which continues to characterise our Scottish politics and hope (probably naively) for a better 2023. Ho, ho, ho!

This week, the fallout from the Supreme Court decision on indyref2 and the SNP Westminster group's pistols at dawn feat. the splendidly acidic sarcasm of Pete Wishart. Enjoy!

In this month's Women in Public Affairs Scotland takeover, Clare Slipper, Lucy Miller and Kimberley Somerside talk the Supreme Court ruling on indyref 2, the cost-of-living crisis implications on health equalities and human rights, and Spotify wrapped.

This week the podcast is dusted with sprinklings of the autumn statement, the Fraser of Allander Institute, Audit Scotland's report on Scotland's public finances, the Scottish Green's independence paper and the non-coup not to oust Ian Blackford. Enjoy!

"SNP backbenchers are revolting!" That's a joke, you see, because some of them rebelled in a parliamentary vote, as did a Minister. Plus: did you know there were new rules about fireworks? Us neither! We talk SNP splits and government publicity. Enjoy!

On a momentus day in Scotland for trans rights, as the Gender Recognition Reform Bill clears stage 1 at the Scottish Parliament, we have a recent Women In Public Affairs Scotland interview with campaigner and NUS Scotland president Ellie Gomersall. Enjoy!

This week we look at proposals to add a range of economic, social and cultural rights to Scotland's human rights firmament. The SPICe briefing we refer to can be found here: https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefings/Report/2022/3/16/fcf45055-9ebf-48ca-b2b6-11787fcb3232

This week, the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, appeared before the Convenors Group of the Scottish Parliament. What's that all about then?

Trussed up like a Prime Minister: will our new PM stick to the Tories' mandated menu or serve up something less palatable and, either way, how do we ease Scotland's constitutional constipation?

We're back after our summer break to skip once more through the flower-bedecked Elysian fields of Scottish politics. Or at least to take the High Road to get to Scottish politics afore ye. Or something. Enjoy!

This week, WIPA's Lucy Miller, Clare Slipper & Kimberley Somerside sign us off for the summer talking about abortion, buffer zones, independence and what they're looking forward to next parliamentary term. You can donate to Walk the Walk here: https://walkthewalk.enthuse.com/donate#!/ and email WIPA Scotland at wipascotland@gmail.com

Should the SNP be calling pest control? Is the First Minister's sense of good judgement all it's cracked up to be? Plus, strikes, Mick Lynch and whether some journalists are treating the public like mugs. Enjoy!

This week we talk to Councillor Graeme Downie, recently elected to the West Fife and coastal villages ward in Fife, about all things local government. Enjoy!

This week, in a change from our usual Scottish beat, Grainne Walsh from public affairs consultancy, Stratagem, talks us through the current politics of Northern Ireland. Enjoy!

This week features the WIPA team's interview with Mairi McAllan MSP, Scottish Government Minister for the Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform, from WIPA's first in-person live event of 2022.

This week, Sue Gray's report and what good and bad governance means for Scottish independence and devolution. Plus we do a bit of Understanding Scotland via the latest report from the Diffley Partnership.

Scottish Government steps back from going full Wolf Hall, just about swerving an absolute monarchy, plus 'a Bickering of Council Coalitions', if that is the right collective noun (clue: it is). Have fun!

This week we talk to Anna Cowan of the ‘Back Off' campaign for buffer zones at abortion clinics.

This week the Women in Public Affairs (WIPA) Scotland team speaks to Talat Yaqoob, award-winning campaigner and writer specialising in women's equality and anti-racism. The episode is a segment from an event focused on Talat's incredible work and women's particpation in politics and public life.

This week we welcome friend of the podcast Alastair Stewart of Orbit Communications and discuss the new Scottish Council on Global Affairs. Enjoy!

This week, we discuss Graham Simpson MSP's proposal for a Removal from Office and Recall (MSPs) Bill. Enjoy!

Ferries in Scotland, democracy accountability, government incompetence plus 'Is the theatre of the Scottish Parliament's convenors' group that of the absurd?' Enjoy! If that's the right word.

This week the Women in Public Affairs (WIPA) Scotland team talk to Charlotte Adamson, chair of WIPA (in London) and an account director at Cicero/amo. Enjoy!

Ukraine, Scottish Independence, Indyref2, Energy Costs, No Fly Zones, Nuclear War.

Today we talk about working in public affairs, policy and communications with Clare Slipper, podcast regular in her WIPA role, and Senior Associate at the strategic communications agency, Message Matters. Enjoy!

For this week's Women in Public Affairs Scotland takeover, Kimberley Somerside and Clare Slipper speak to Eilidh Dickson, Policy and Parliamentary Manager at Engender (Scotland). Listen in to their chat about misogyny and criminal justice and the Scottish Parliament's gender audit, plus what they've been enjoying reading!

This week, Freedom of Information, how open is government really, how open could it be & why isn't it? Plus state pensions after Scottish independence as an example of how hard it is for citizens to get hold of the facts.

"It takes two!" sang Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston. Or does it? This week, unicameral and bicameral assemblies and parliamentary innovations with Dr. Andrew Williamson. Enjoy!

This week Kimberley Somerside and Sarah Cowie from WiPA speak to Clare Morrison, Director for Scotland of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, about the National Care Service, NHS Near Me and sustainability in pharmacy.

What do the Scottish Government's proposals for regulating the legal profession tell us about the separation of powers, democracy, politics and the state of our MSPs and the Scottish Parliament?

"Money's too tight to mention". What's in the Scottish budget, what's not and why it's tough to tell one way or the other plus: Is Moray Council gambling with democracy?

This week we're talking with Dougie Peedle about the Scottish Wildlife Trust's latest campaign; Help Nature Help Us. Enjoy!

This week, Clare Slipper, Sarah Cowie and Debbie McCreath from Women in Public Affairs Scotland talk about Scotland's growing bioeconomy, and the opportunities that Scottish innovation and technology can create for food production and land management.

This week: what does a good food nation mean if it doesn't mean a right to food and what does a right to food entail? Plus, political divisions around the National Care Service.

This week, we talk with Gordon Johnston from the Scottish Mental Health Partnership on where Scotland is at in improving & treating the population's mental health.