Episodes

  • Starmer's Scottish headache

    Starmer's Scottish headache
    Feb 21 2025
    'What does a party get after nearly two decades in office, collapsing public services, an internal civil war and a £2 million police investigation? Re-election again - perhaps with an even bigger majority', writes James Heale in The Spectator this week. He's talking about the SNP, whose change in fortunes has less to do with their leader John Swinney and more to do with the collapse of support for Scottish Labour and their leader Anas Sarwar.

    Who could benefit from the increased fragmentation of voters in Scotland? Will demands for more time, money and attention cause even more issues for Rachel Reeves? As Scottish Labour meets for its conference in Glasgow this weekend, James and editor Michael Gove join Katy Balls to discuss the dynamics between Holyrood and Westminster. Michael also spots a positive avenue for Labour, should they wish to take it...

    Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
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    11 mins
  • Sturgeon-Murrell split & Scotland's Reform challenger

    Sturgeon-Murrell split & Scotland's Reform challenger
    Jan 13 2025
    Former Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced she is separating from her husband Peter Murrell, former chief executive of the SNP. The announcement comes as the police probe into the SNP’s funds and finances remains ongoing, with Sturgeon and ex-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie under investigation while Murrell was charged with embezzlement in April 2024.

    Katy Balls is joined by The Spectator’s editor Michael Gove, and data editor Michael Simmons, to discuss the separation, why the investigation is still ongoing four years later, and what chances Scottish Labour or Reform have against the SNP in 2025.
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    12 mins
  • Humza Yousaf quits – what next?

    Humza Yousaf quits – what next?
    Apr 29 2024
    Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has just announced his intention to resign. Lucy Dunn speaks to Katy Balls and Spectator contributor Iain Macwhirter about how the past few weeks have led to this point and what to expect from an SNP leadership contest.
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    15 mins
  • Can things get worse for the SNP?

    Can things get worse for the SNP?
    Apr 20 2024
    It's been quite the week for the SNP. Questions remain over the future of the Sandyford gender clinic, 'the tartan Tavistock'; the Scottish government ditched its flagship climate change target; and former party chief executive, and husband of Nicola Sturgeon, Peter Murrell was rearrested on embezzlement charges.

    What does this all mean for the SNP? Lucy Dunn speaks to Iain Macwhirter, columnist at The Times, and Shona Craven, columnist at The National.

    Produced by Natasha Feroze and Patrick Gibbons
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    16 mins
  • Sturgeon paints herself as perfect at Covid Inquiry

    Sturgeon paints herself as perfect at Covid Inquiry
    Feb 1 2024
    Nicola Sturgeon was emotional whilst giving evidence at the Covid inquiry today – a highly anticipated part of the inquiry given the issue of deleted Whatsapp messages. How did the former first minister come across today? And what else can the evidence tell us about how the Scottish government operated? Katy Balls speaks to Isabel Hardman and Michael Simmons. 
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    11 mins
  • Has Humza Yousaf turned things around?

    Has Humza Yousaf turned things around?
    Oct 17 2023
    At his first speech as SNP leader at the party's conference, Humza Yousaf gave a policy-filled address. He hasn't had an easy start to his leadership, but can he turn things around? Katy Balls talks to Lucy Dunn and Iain Macwhirter.

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Cindy Yu.
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    15 mins
  • Why did Lisa Cameron defect to the Tories?

    Why did Lisa Cameron defect to the Tories?
    Oct 12 2023
    Lisa Cameron MP has quit the SNP to join the Conservative party, just days before the SNP holds its party conference in Aberdeen. What does this say about the state of the Scottish National Party under Humza Yousaf? James Heale talks to Isabel Hardman and Lucy Dunn.

    Produced by Max Jeffery and Cindy Yu.
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    11 mins
  • Can Labour take back Rutherglen and Hamilton West?

    Can Labour take back Rutherglen and Hamilton West?
    Aug 2 2023
    A by-election is on the cards for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, after former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier was recalled by her constituents. She'd flouted lockdown rules in 2020, taking a train from London to Scotland despite testing positive for Covid. Given that Labour will need to make gains in Scotland in order to win the next election, this by-election has become a bellwether for the party. Cindy Yu talks to Katy Balls and Lucy Dunn about what to expect.

    Produced by Cindy Yu.
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    13 mins