Advertise on podcast: UofG Spotlight

We're kicking off Season 7 of our UofG Spotlight podcast with a live episode challenging our political leaders on public service reform in Scotland. Recorded live on Monday 19 January 2026 at our event, Stop/Start: Making Public Service Reform Stick in Scotland, our host Professor Kezia Dugdale talks to: Michael Marra MSP - Scottish Labour Alison Thewliss - SNP Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP - Scottish Conservatives Graham Simpson MSP - Reform UK Jamie Greene MSP - Scottish Liberal Democrats Gillian Mackay MSP - Scottish Greens Kez quizzed our panel about whether politicians can work together to deliver for Scotland, the fiscal challenge facing Scotland, prevention, the future of the NHS, devolution, and more. We closed with a big question: What would each member stop spending money on, how much money that would save and what you would spend it on? The Centre for Public Policy will be publishing lots more insights and outputs from speakers at our Stop/Start: Making Public Service Reform Stick in Scotland event, including Professor Graeme Roy as discussed in this episode. Make sure you don't miss it - sign up to the Centre for Public Policy mailing list: https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/about/

In this latest episode of Spotlight, we reflect on a turbulent year in American politics and its global ripple effects. Nicola McEwen and Kez Dugdale are joined by two leading voices in international affairs:  Prof Juliet Kaarbo (University of St Andrews) explores Donald Trump's evolving leadership style, the psychology behind his foreign policy decisions, and the blurring lines between domestic and international agendas. Prof Mark Blyth (Brown University) unpacks the economic and political consequences of Trump's tariff wars, rising inflation, and the resilience of U.S. institutions under executive pressure.  Tune in for expert analysis, transatlantic perspectives, and a look ahead to what the next three years might hold.  CONFERENCE TICKETS: Stop/Start: Making Public Service Reform Stick in Scotland: Book your place. 

This week's episode takes a quick look at the UK Government's Budget:   What it means for Scotland?  Why has the Government made these tax decisions?  Was this a Budget for growth?  What does lifting the Two Child Limit mean?  How do we achieve effective regional development?  Professor Nicola McEwen, Director of the Centre for Public Policy, discusses all this with Graeme Roy, Professor of Economics and Chair of the Scottish Fiscal Commission, Dr David Waite, expert in regional economies and inclusive growth and Ruth Patrick, Professor in Social and Public Policy with expertise in poverty and social security.  

In this episode, we tackle a critical and timely issue in the Scottish policy landscape: access to justice. Kezia speaks with two leading academics and legal aid practitioners, Fiona McPhail and Jen Ang, about the Scottish Government's ongoing consideration of Legal Aid Reform. With decades of experience in social justice law, they share insights on what reform could mean.   Then, we take a deeper look at the experiences of people trying to access justice. Joined by Satwat Rehman, Chief Executive of One Parent Families Scotland, and Marsha Scott, Chief Executive of Scottish Women's Aid, we explore the broader challenges families and women face when seeking justice. From domestic abuse to systemic barriers, they reveal what's working, what isn't, and what still needs to change. 

In this Challenge Poverty Week special, Nicola McEwen and Kezia Dugdale explore the governance of poverty with Claire MacRae and Thomas Rochow from the Centre for Public Policy.   This week the First Minister reiterated again that eradicating child poverty is the driving mission for his government. The State of Poverty research team discuss how institutional silos and fragmented decision-making can hinder progress towards tackling poverty. They also explain their innovative approach to including lived experience in their work through composite stories.  In the second part of the episode, we hear from Lorraine Sanda, Clackmannanshire Council, and Lynn Hendry, Hunter Foundation, who share insights from their work driving systems change at a local level to tackle poverty. Together they explore what it really takes to govern differently.  For more information about the State of Poverty, visit the Centre for Public Policy website: https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/research/state-of-poverty/  Also sign up to our State of Poverty workshop on 6th November in Glasgow: https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/events/headline_1213704_en.html  

In this season opener of Spotlight, Nicola McEwen and Kezia Dugdale explore the future of Scotland's health, focusing on prevention, systems change, and the social determinants of health. Nicola speaks with Professor Sir Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer for the Scottish Government, about the long-term challenges facing the health service, the concept of Realistic Medicine, and why prevention must be central to Scotland's public health strategy. Their wide-ranging conversation touches on political decision-making pressures and the potential of AI in healthcare, offering a compelling vision for reimagining health systems. Kezia brings in two leading voices from the University of Glasgow: Professor Petra Meier, Policy Modelling for Health Consortium Director, whose modelling work has influenced key public health policies such as Minimum Unit Pricing. Dr David Blane, Academic Lead for the Deep End GP Project, which addresses health inequalities in Scotland's most deprived communities. Together, they unpack the economic and social drivers of health, barriers to preventative care, and the importance of whole-system approaches to improving outcomes.

This powerful episode marks the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. Hosts Nicola McEwen and Kez Dugale reflect on the events of July 1995, when over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were systematically murdered in a UN-declared "safe area" and 30,000 Bosnian Muslim women and children forcibly removed during the Bosnian War.  They are joined by Sabina Kadić-Mackenzie, Chair of the Scottish charity Beyond Srebrenica and a survivor of the genocide, who shares her personal story and the mission to ensure remembrance and education in Scotland and beyond. Sabina discusses the importance of bearing witness, the challenges of teaching genocide to young people, and the lingering tensions in Bosnia today.  Later, Dr. Richard Illingworth, Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Glasgow, joins to examine the global response to mass atrocities and the legacy of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine. What has R2P achieved in the past two decades — and where has it fallen short?  This episode explores difficult but essential questions: What does it mean to remember? What can be learned from failure? And how can the international community do better — not just in the past, but right now?  Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of genocide, war crimes, and other themes listeners may find distressing.    Event: 30th Commemoration of the genocide in Srebrenica: https://www.gla.ac.uk/events/listings/index.html/event/14177    Link to Richard's article: https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/348010/    Beyond Srebrenica Commemoration Event:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scotlands-national-commemoration-of-the-victims-of-the-srebrenica-genocide-tickets-1380264069989?aff=oddtdtcreator   

In this special episode, we sit down with Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli as he prepares to step down after 16 transformative years as Principal of the University of Glasgow. We reflect on his time at the University and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for higher education in Scotland and beyond.  From steering the institution through global upheavals — including the financial crisis, Brexit, and the pandemic — to championing internationalisation while staying rooted in civic responsibility, Sir Anton shares candid insights on leadership, resilience, and the balancing act of marrying local impact with global ambition.  We also delve into the economic outlook under a new UK Government and the role of regional innovation in this. Graeme Roy joins us to answer the question 'What is the Spending Review' as we look ahead to the upcoming statement. 

In this episode of Spotlight, hosts Nicola McEwen and Kezia Dugdale are joined by Professors Nasar Meer and Sergi Pardos-Prado from the University of Glasgow to unpack the UK Government's Immigration White Paper. This episode offers an evidence-based insight into the politics shaping UK immigration discourse.  The discussion explores the policy, politics and the rhetoric being used - particularly language like "island of strangers" and its implications for integration and public perception. They examine whether the proposals reflect genuine policy concerns or are driven by political positioning. Challenging some assumptions around immigration, including the idea of a zero-sum labour market and the notion that stricter conditions foster better integration. They also consider Scotland's distinct workforce needs and the differences in response from the Scottish Government.  

This week, co-hosts Nicola McEwen and Kez Dugdale bring together three expert guests to delve into the outcomes and potential parallels of the recent 2025 elections in England, Australia, and Canada for a special Elections Bumper episode.  Nicola and Kez start us off with insights from Mark McGeoghegan, University of Glasgow researcher of nationalism and contentious politics, on local elections in England. Then Nicola brings us into conversation with Andre Lecours, world-leading scholar on Canadian politics from the University of Ottawa, who reflects on the outcomes of the Canadian federal election and implications for nationalism, fragmentation, and US/Canada relations. Finally, Kez speaks with Ariadne Vromen, previously at the Australian National Univeristy and now head of Political and International Studies at the University of Glasgow, who shares insights into the campaign lead-up and results of the Australian federal election.  Sign up to the Centre for Public Policy mailing list: https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/stayintouch/

In this special Energy Bumper episode of Spotlight, host Kez Dugdale explores how global energy policy decisions are shaping communities and industries from Central America to Central Scotland. First, Kez speaks with Dr Ewan Gibbs, Senior Lecturer in Economic and Social History, about the shifting energy and industrial landscape in Grangemouth and Scunthorpe — two UK towns at the frontline of transition debates. Then, Dr Hannah Salamon interviews Rosilena Lindo Riggs, former National Secretary of Energy for Panama and a leading voice in climate and energy policy. Their conversation touches on Panama's path toward a sustainable future, the global ripple effects of U.S. policy, and the vital role of women in driving a just energy transition. Two different perspectives on one global conversation on the future of energy.

What do young people want from our politics?   This week, Nicola McEwen is joined by Eddie Barnes and Elisabeth Loose from the John Smith Centre at the University of Glasgow to discuss their newly published UK Youth Poll 2025.  The UK Youth Poll 2025 explores the attitudes and priorities of young people aged 16-29 across the UK. The findings reveal strong support for democracy but concern for its future, with financial worries and material needs driving much of their anxiety. Young people are calling for a more honest, solutions-focused politics, while issues like toxic masculinity, racism, and the role of social media are also key concerns. Read the full findings at www.ukyouthpoll.com.   

Our Associate Director, Kezia Dugdale hosted a political panel discussion, asking all the major parties in Scotland what we can expect to see from them in the run up to the election on the issues of poverty, public debt and the multi-level governance challenges at play.   During the panel we heard from the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville; Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP; Cllr Blair Anderson; Miles Briggs MSP; and Paul O'Kane MSP.  This was a joint conference the Centre for Public Policy hosted with Aberlour Children's Charity, centered on research with Professor Morag Treanor on how public debt practices can worsen families' experience of poverty. 

This week our Spotlight hosts bring you interviews on two substantial topics from experts at the University of Glasgow. Nicola McEwen starts with a brief and timely insight from Marcin Kaczmarski about the outlook for Ukraine and Europe in response to the unpredictable directions coming from the White House. Kez Dugdale then brings you an in-depth conversation with Ken Gibb on reforming council tax and the recent rises we've been seeing across Scotland.   Read more about the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence here: https://housingevidence.ac.uk/ 

Today's podcast focuses on a big question in public policy – why is prevention so hard? Can we spend money more wisely? Given the fiscal pressures on the system, prevention is now not just an option but a necessity to create sustainable public services. Policymakers know we should be tackling the root causes of issues, but systems, short-termism and complexity get in the way. We discuss overcoming these barriers with the former Auditor General for Scotland, Caroline Gardner, and Fiona Duncan, the Independent Strategic Advisor on The Promise Scotland.   With regular University of Glasgow hosts Prof. Graeme Roy and Prof. Nicola McEwen.