Holyrood Sources

• Nicola Sturgeon’s Memoir... analysed by Geoff Aberdein

  Nicola Sturgeon’s new book is causing controversy. On this episode of Holyrood Sources, Geoff Aberdein - former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond - directly challenges several claims, including:Did Alex Salmond really leak allegations against himself?Was Salmond disengaged from the 2013 independence White Paper?Did he oppose same-sex marriage?Geoff says these stories are “falsehoods and fabrications” — and sets the record straight.Later, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein, and Andy Maciver (former Director of Comms, Scottish Conservatives) debate:The fallout for John Swinney as Sturgeon’s book dominates headlinesWhat rising concern over immigration means for Scottish politicsEnergy bills, community power, and whether Scotland is missing its renewable energy jackpotJames Hawes’ claim that Scottish independence is “inevitable”👉 Subscribe for more in-depth political analysis from inside Scottish politics. 🎧 Watch on YouTube.📲 Keep in touch with us:WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507Email: [email protected]: hollyroodsources.comFollow on X & TikTok: @HolyroodSources Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Nicola Sturgeon’s "Frankly" & Scotland’s Elected Mayors

  Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has released her long-awaited memoir Frankly — and it’s already sparking old feuds, reigniting the Alex Salmond debate, and deepening divisions inside the SNP.In this episode of the Holyrood Sources Podcast, Calum Macdonald and Andy Maciver unpack:Sturgeon’s claims about Alex Salmond during the independence referendumThe SNP’s internal factions: Team Sturgeon, Team Salmond & Team SwinneyHer reflections on Gender Recognition Reform and the Isla Bryson caseHow her leadership shifted SNP ideology — and her political legacyThe election wins and controversies that defined her time in powerLater, former Edinburgh Council leader Donald Anderson joins to debate the future of local government in Scotland:Should Scotland follow Manchester’s Andy Burnham model with city region mayors?Is Holyrood too centralised for effective local democracy?Reforming (or replacing) council tax and giving councils more power to raise revenueCould stronger local leadership transform Scotland’s economy?📩 Get in touch: [email protected] | WhatsApp 0333 404 6507 🎧 Full podcast available wherever you get your podcasts 🎟 Join our Future of Energy event in Aberdeen (2 Sept) with Kate Forbes & Claire Coutinho — use code holyrood25 for a discount Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Scottish Politics Needs Big Ideas... So Where Are They?

  In this episode of the Holyrood Sources podcast, hosts Calum MacDonald, Geoff Aberdeen, and Andy Maciver take your questions. They discuss the departure of Kate Forbes from the SNP and its implications, touching on her appeal to centrist voters and the challenges facing the party. The conversation then moves onto the broader political landscape, including the potential return of Ian Blackford, coalition possibilities, and the role of mayors in Scotland. The hosts engage with listener questions, reflecting on the need for bold political ideas and the current state of political engagement in Scotland. The episode concludes with a call for more substantive political discourse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Kate Forbes Quits Scottish Politics

  Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has announced she will step down at the 2026 Holyrood election. In this bonus episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (former Director of Comms for the Scottish Conservatives) unpack the political shockwave.👉 What does this mean for John Swinney's leadership?👉 Is the SNP losing its most economically credible voice?👉 Could this pave the way for Stephen Flynn or Màiri McAllan?👉 What’s next for Scottish politics?We also hear listener reactions and discuss Kate Forbes' relationship with the SNP's internal culture, business community, and independence strategy.🔔 Subscribe for more in-depth Scottish political analysis: https://holyroodsources.com📩 Send your comments or voice notes for our next episode to: 0333 404 65📱 Follow us on Twitter/X for the latest updates: https://twitter.com/HolyroodSources#KateForbes #SNP #ScottishPolitics #JohnSwinney #Holyrood #IndyRef2 #ScottishIndependence #StephenFlynn #MàiriMcAllan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• "The UK Is Finished" - Historian James Hawes

  In this powerful episode of Holyrood Sources, historian and author James Hawes explains why Scottish independence is inevitable and argues the UK has been in terminal decline since 1922.Speaking with host Calum Macdonald, Hawes discusses:Why Labour’s 2024 landslide won’t save the UnionThe rise of Reform UK and Nigel Farage’s “naked English nationalism”The SNP’s crisis — and its historical parallel with Irish nationalism after ParnellWhether the UK is becoming a modern-day Habsburg EmpireWhat a post-UK future might look like for Scotland and Ireland📚 James Hawes is the author of The Shortest History of England, The Shortest History of Germany, and the upcoming Shortest History of Ireland.🔔 Subscribe for weekly political analysis and insider commentary from Holyrood and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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