STARMER'S REPORT CARD - End of First Year - Marks Out of Ten
The 4th of July marks the first anniversary of Keir Starmer's election victory and time as Prime Minister. Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie evaluate his first 12 months in No 10 Downing Street, breaking down performance into domestic and foreign affairs performance. Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
50:53
BREAKING: FERGUS EWING TO STAND AGAINST SNP IN 2026
Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie discuss the news today that Fergus Ewing is leaving the SNP and standing as an independent candidate at the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election, bringing to an end an era of constant representation under the SNP banner for the Ewing dynasty since the Scottish Parliament was formed. Also - What is the role of independents in the Scottish Parliament and why do so few succeed? Only 3 have been elected as independents but can you name them?Scottish Disability numbersThe Winter Fuel AllowanceAssisted dying.... and Bernard cutting the podcast a little shorter to get out for a pint in the sun! Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
40:02
SCOTTISH PARTY LEADERS - REPORT CARD - One Year From Scottish Election
Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie run the rule over each of the Scottish political party leaders and give them a mark out of ten for how they are performing. Including:John SwinneyAnas SarwarRussell FindlayAlex Cole-HamiltonLorna Slater & Patrick HarvieReform? Who is the Scottish Leader?Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
52:00
BY ELECTION SPECIAL: LATEST REACTION TO LABOUR WIN OVER SNP AND REFORM
Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie are joined by Paul Sweeney of Labour and Cllr Thomas Kerr of Reform UK to ask what the result means?Labour GAIN from SNP Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election resultLAB: 31.5% (-2.0) SNP: 29.4% (-16.8) REF: 26.2% (+26.2) CON: 6.0% (-11.5) GRN: 2.6% (+2.6) +/- 2021Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
45:21
NEW POLLS: Will Scotland Become Independent if Nigel Farage is Prime Minister
On support for independence in poll: "54% of people supporting independence and 46 supporting the unionist status quo... a record high for Norstat in the last four or five years." — Alex MassieOn Reform UK's rise in poll: "Reform are plus four at 18%. And of course, when you translate all of this into seats, I mean, it is really quite extraordinary." — Bernard PonsonbyOn Labour's struggles: "If Labour are way, way, way behind the SNP... it would be a complete humiliation if they can't come second." — Bernard PonsonbyOn the SNP’s longevity: "By the time we go into the election next year the SNP will have been in government for 19 years. I mean, it really is embarrassing from the Labour Party's point of view." — Bernard PonsonbyOn Farage and political consistency: "Farage has just decided, I won't bother about the Tories... he's now going after Labour. But he's doing it not by enunciating what he really has traditionally believed." — Bernard PonsonbyOn Reform’s strength: "It is an expression of a sensibility of dissatisfaction with politics as they've been." — Alex MassieOn Labour’s disconnect: "The people Labour are really struggling with in Scotland are people who live on the housing estates... reform are now at around one in four in council housing." — Alex MassieOn race politics in the by-election: "Anybody who knows Anas Sarwar will know that he would not prioritise the interests of any community over the other." — Bernard PonsonbyOn Farage’s ignorance of Scotland: "I remember... he said, 'the SNP won that famous Falkirk by-election'... they didn't." — Bernard PonsonbyFocussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The two biggest names in Scottish political journalism, Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie, join forces to bring you a regular “must listen” insider briefing on the political and wider world.Bernard has been Scotland's leading TV political editor for many years while Alex is the unavoidable commentator and columnist for the Times and Sunday Times. Together they bring decades of experience and unsurpassed contacts books to provide you with a valuable insider briefing behind the headlines.Scottish, Scotland, Scottish Politics, Political Podcast, Scottish Political Podcast, UK Politics, Scottish Independence, Indyref, Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon, Salmond, Sturgeon, SNP, Scottish Labour, Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Lib Dem, Scottish Greens, Alba Party, Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves, John Swinney, Anas Sarwar, Holyrood, Westminster, Brexit, Budget, Devolution, Policy, News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
UK