As part of our week-long investigation into Labour's PFI Scandal, we chat to Richard Murphy and Robin McAlpine about the practice and how much money has been spent on doomed projects in Scotland and across the UK.

As part of our week-long investigation into Labour's PFI Scandal, we chat to Richard Murphy and Robin McAlpine about the practice and how much money has been spent on doomed projects in Scotland and across the UK.

Special edition: Labour's PFI scandal

We're back for a special edition! While Abbi is on maternity leave, Steph Brawn and Adam Robertson put together this special episode for the election campaign. We're joined by Mhairi Black who reflects on nine years as an MP, Lorna Slater who takes on the urgency for parties to tackle the climate crisis, and Alba's Chris McEleny - who's running as a candidate in Alex Salmond's party. 

We're back for a special edition! While Abbi is on maternity leave, Steph Brawn and Adam Robertson put together this special episode for the election campaign. We're joined by Mhairi Black who reflects on nine years as an MP, Lorna Slater who takes on the urgency for parties to tackle the climate crisis, and Alba's Chris McEleny - who's running as a candidate in Alex Salmond's party.

General Election special! Ft Mhairi Black on leaving Westminster

Scottish Deputy First Minister Shona Robison describes the latest Scottish Budget is one of the "most difficult in the history of devolution". Taking our reporters through some of the controversial cuts the Scottish Government has made as its Budget passed in Holyrood last week, Robison also weighs in on a council tax row with defiant Labour authority leaders who called on Westminster to bypass devolution. Elsewhere, political reporters Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Steph Brawn take you through the headlines from FMQs, the reaction to plans for an Orange walk in Aberdeenshire and how a Glasgow Willy Wonka experience went viral.

Scottish Deputy First Minister Shona Robison describes the latest Scottish Budget is one of the "most difficult in the history of devolution". Taking our reporters through some of the controversial cuts the Scottish Government has made as its Budget passed in Holyrood last week, Robison also weighs in on a council tax row with defiant Labour authority leaders who called on Westminster to bypass devolution. Elsewhere, political reporters Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Steph Brawn take you through the headlines from FMQs, the reaction to plans for an Orange walk in Aberdeenshire and how a Glasgow Willy Wonka experience went viral.

Behind the Scottish Budget with Shona Robison

The House of Commons descended into chaos this week as Speaker Lindsay Hoyle allowed a Labour amendment to be moved during an SNP opposition day debate that was supposed to be calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Go behind the scenes with SNP chief whip Owen Thompson who takes our political reporters Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Steph Brawn through the ins and outs of a dramatic day where archaic Westminster procedure overshadowed a serious international issue.

And, hear the key parts of the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow that led into this heated debate, and what Anas Sarwar had to say about the SNP's motion.

The House of Commons descended into chaos this week as Speaker Lindsay Hoyle allowed a Labour amendment to be moved during an SNP opposition day debate that was supposed to be calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Go behind the scenes with SNP chief whip Owen Thompson who takes our political reporters Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Steph Brawn through the ins and outs of a dramatic day where archaic Westminster procedure overshadowed a serious international issue.
And, hear the key parts of the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow that led into this heated debate, and what Anas Sarwar had to say about the SNP's motion.

Inside the Commons Speaker Gaza ceasefire row with SNP chief whip Owen Thompson

Scotland's top pollster and professor of politics at Strathclyde University John Curtice joins the podcast to dissect two new conflicting polls. We look ahead to the General Election, and why independence support has remained so steady almost a decade after the 2014 referendum. And, host Abbi Garton-Crosbie takes listeners through Humza Yousaf's Cabinet reshuffle after Michael Matheson's resignation.

Scotland's top pollster and professor of politics at Strathclyde University John Curtice joins the podcast to dissect two new conflicting polls. We look ahead to the General Election, and why independence support has remained so steady almost a decade after the 2014 referendum. And, host Abbi Garton-Crosbie takes listeners through Humza Yousaf's Cabinet reshuffle after Michael Matheson's resignation.

Can the SNP win back Yessers at the General Election? With John Curtice

What does the Scotland Office actually do, and why does it take multiple FOIs and a parliamentary question to find out how many staff they have working in Edinburgh? Host Abbi Garton-Crosbie is joined by SNP MP Deidre Brock to discuss Alister Jack's "propaganda" department, and political reporter Steph Brawn joins to debrief a long week at the UK Covid Inquiry. Elsewhere, go behind the scenes at the latest independence white paper launch on culture. 

What does the Scotland Office actually do, and why does it take multiple FOIs and a parliamentary question to find out how many staff they have working in Edinburgh? Host Abbi Garton-Crosbie is joined by SNP MP Deidre Brock to discuss Alister Jack's "propaganda" department, and political reporter Steph Brawn joins to debrief a long week at the UK Covid Inquiry. Elsewhere, go behind the scenes at the latest independence white paper launch on culture.

Is the Scotland Office a waste of money?

With the monarchy's popularity plummeting under King Charles - could or would an independent Scotland get rid of the royals? Political reporters Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Steph Brawn speak to anti-monarchy campaigner and Our Republic convener Tristan Gray on the politics of the royals in Scotland. Elsewhere, we look at the Post Office Horizon scandal, new rules for XL bully dogs, the Scotland Office seeking expenses over the Section 35 court case, and the looming General Election.

With the monarchy's popularity plummeting under King Charles - could or would an independent Scotland get rid of the royals? Political reporters Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Steph Brawn speak to anti-monarchy campaigner and Our Republic convener Tristan Gray on the politics of the royals in Scotland. Elsewhere, we look at the Post Office Horizon scandal, new rules for XL bully dogs, the Scotland Office seeking expenses over the Section 35 court case, and the looming General Election.

Can Scotland get rid of the King?

The first podcast episode of 2024 looks at what could be the next controversial piece of legislation to come through Holyrood - a bid to ban LGBT+ conversion practices. Dr Rebecca Crowther and Tim Hopkins take us through the key points of the legislation and the pushback it has seen already just days after a consultation was launched. Elsewhere, political reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie takes listeners behind the scenes to the SNP's General Election launch in Glasgow, and the first political huddle of the year.

The first podcast episode of 2024 looks at what could be the next controversial piece of legislation to come through Holyrood - a bid to ban LGBT+ conversion practices. Dr Rebecca Crowther and Tim Hopkins take us through the key points of the legislation and the pushback it has seen already just days after a consultation was launched. Elsewhere, political reporter Abbi Garton-Crosbie takes listeners behind the scenes to the SNP's General Election launch in Glasgow, and the first political huddle of the year.

What will a conversion therapy ban in Scotland look like?

SNP MP Philippa Whitford joins our political reporters Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Steph Brawn for a lengthy chat about the biggest stories of the year, from Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation as first minister and where the campaign for independence is, as well as other news that has dominated Westminster and Holyrood during 2023. 

Later, chief political reporter Judith Duffy joins our reporters to analyse some key moments from the year, and some of the most ridiculous stories that have made it into the headlines.

SNP MP Philippa Whitford joins our political reporters Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Steph Brawn for a lengthy chat about the biggest stories of the year, from Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation as first minister and where the campaign for independence is, as well as other news that has dominated Westminster and Holyrood during 2023. 
Later, chief political reporter Judith Duffy joins our reporters to analyse some key moments from the year, and some of the most ridiculous stories that have made it into the headlines.

2023 Year in Review with Philippa Whitford

Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell joins this week's podcast to discuss the main issues surrounding COP28 in Dubai, how an independent Scotland could influence global policy out from under the feet of Westminster and what domestic impact decisions made at the summit could have at home. Elsewhere, political reporters Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Steph Brawn discuss the main stories coming out of FMQs, Alex Cole-Hamilton allegedly dialling in from outside the Parliament’s pub, and Rishi Sunak’s latest dystopian immigration plans.

Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell joins this week's podcast to discuss the main issues surrounding COP28 in Dubai, how an independent Scotland could influence global policy out from under the feet of Westminster and what domestic impact decisions made at the summit could have at home. Elsewhere, political reporters Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Steph Brawn discuss the main stories coming out of FMQs, Alex Cole-Hamilton allegedly dialling in from outside the Parliament’s pub, and Rishi Sunak’s latest dystopian immigration plans.

How could an independent Scotland influence global climate policy?

Our team of political journalists talk us through the week that was in the Scottish Parliament, with appearances from politicians, campaigners and experts explaining key new stories.

Our team of political journalists talk us through the week that was in the Scottish Parliament, with appearances from politicians, campaigners and experts explaining key new stories.

The National's Holyrood Weekly Podcast

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