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This podcast has
84 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Holyrood CommunicationsExplicit
No
Date created
2021/04/21
Latest episode
2026/09/21
Average duration
50 min.
Release period
132 days
Description
Welcome to Politically Speaking, Scotland’s flagship political podcast brought to you from the editorial team of the award-winning Holyrood magazine. Whether you are more interested in what politicians do to relax than what they actually do in the parliament, this is the podcast where you will get the full skinny on politics, policy, and pure nonsense. ©Holyrood Communications
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Podcast episodes
Check latest episodes from Politically Speaking: Scotland’s flagship political podcast podcast
Political decisions in the age of AI: Who makes the final call?
2026/09/21
In this discussion chaired by Louise Wilson from Holyrood Connect's Digital Leadership Exchange, Jenny Young MSP, David Green MSP, David Kirkwood MSP and Professor Mark Wong explore how AI is already influencing political decision‑making, examining where algorithmic support can improve outcomes and where human judgement must remain.
Rather than asking whether machines should decide, the discussion focuses on the harder question: how politicians can retain control, ensure transparency and take responsibility when AI becomes part of the decision‑making process.
Holyrood Election 2026: Post-match analysis
2026/05/19
Join the editors of Holyrood – Scotland’s only dedicated political media title – political scientist Sir John Curtice and pollster Mark Diffley, for immediate reaction to the Scottish Election 2026 results and what they mean for parliament and the country.
Together with a number of leading Scottish politicians, to be announced, the expert panel will discuss:
Scottish Election resultsWho makes up the new Scottish government and what deals might need to be doneWhat this means for each party leaderWhat this means for the constitutional question in ScotlandWhat this means for how Scotland is run
Breaking the Cycle
2022/03/31
Holyrood's Chris Marshall talks to Sean Duffy, chief executive of the Wise Group, and SNP MSP Rona Mackay, a member of the Scottish Parliament's Criminal Justice Committee, about Scotland's stubbornly high prison population and the effectiveness of community-based alternatives to incarceration.
This podcast is sponsored by the Wise Group.
Keeping it human
2022/02/10
After a bruising week in which the statutory regulator, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, found itself in the eye of the Gender Recognition Act storm, Mandy Rhodes interviews its chair, Baroness Kishwer Falkner.
Questioning the question
2022/01/14
After a paper written by the former SNP policy lead, Chris Hanlon, on ‘devo max’ sparked an almighty row about what question or questions should be asked in any future Independence Referendum, Mandy Rhodes speaks to SNP President, Mike Russell, former Labour MSP Neil Findlay, and academic, Professor James Mitchell, on why it mattered.
Labour of Love
2021/12/16
Scottish Labour’s Richard Leonard talks to Louise Wilson about his political career and why he decided to step down as party leader earlier this year. Elsewhere, the Holyrood team discuss the coming Omicron wave and whether the controversy over Downing Street parties has made it less likely that people will follow guidelines this Christmas.
COP26: Where are the Global South?
2021/11/10
In this special COP26 edition of the podcast, Louise Wilson hears from Alistair Dutton of SCIAF about who is feeling climate change first and worst, the missing $100bn climate finance, and the achievements of COP so far.
COP26: Can we be cautiously optimistic?
2021/11/05
In this special COP26 edition of the podcast, Louise Wilson speaks to WWF Scotland’s Fabrice Leveque about cautious optimism, how Scotland can prove it’s a climate leader and the work still to be done.
All Eyes on Scotland
2021/10/29
In the latest edition of the podcast, Mandy Rhodes speaks to SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford about the latest push for independence and the UK Government’s decision not to award a carbon capture plant to Scotland. Elsewhere, the team discusses the upcoming COP26 climate summit and asks – does Glasgow really have a rat problem?
An Attack on Democracy
2021/10/25
Following the murder of Sir David Amess MP, there is renewed focus on the growing level of threat and intimidation politicians face, particularly online. In this edition of the podcast, journalist Margaret Taylor speaks to SNP MP Carol Monaghan about what it was like to receive a death threat. Elsewhere, the team discuss whether Sir David’s death will lead to a tightening of security for elected officials.
Joking aside
2021/10/13
Former Scottish Conservatives leader Jackson Carlaw is the guest on this week’s edition of the podcast, fresh from being named Wag of the Year at the Holyrood Political Awards. He reflects on a career in politics and what really happened when he stepped down as leader last year. Elsewhere, the team discuss Nicola Sturgeon’s comments about having “time on her side” when it comes to a second independence referendum, and why the First Minister and Tory leader Douglas Ross are so keen to show off their working class credentials.
The case for independence
2021/10/06
In this edition of the podcast, Mandy Rhodes speaks to former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars about his life in politics and why he believes the current party leadership is failing to articulate the case for independence. Elsewhere, the team discuss a landmark legal ruling by the Supreme Court and Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s speech to the Conservative party conference.
Where now for Labour?
2021/09/29
As the Labour Party meets for its annual conference in Brighton, journalist Andrew Learmonth talks to recently elected MSP Michael Marra on how the party can get back into government both at Holyrood and Westminster and how it heals itself following the division of the Jeremy Corbyn era. Marra also reflects on being named One to Watch at the recent Holyrood Political Awards. Elsewhere, the team discuss the fuel crisis and whether there is finally some cause for optimism when it comes to the pandemic.
Deal or no deal
2021/09/10
After striking an historic Green deal and announcing its 12-bill programme for government, has the SNP run out of steam or is it ready to power forward to independence? Mandy Rhodes interviews Professor James Mitchell.
A Leap of Faith
2021/09/03
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says the cooperation agreement is a “leap of faith,” but which party has more to gain, the SNP or the Scottish Greens? Join the Holyrood team as they discuss all the latest developments, as well as the prospect of vaccine passports amid rising Covid cases and Michael Gove’s unexpected appearance in an Aberdeen nightclub.
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