Coffee House Scots

By: The Spectator
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  • Summary

  • A spin-off from The Spectator's flagship daily politics podcast, Coffee House Shots, all about the latest political news from Holyrood and beyond.
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Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
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Episodes
  • Ash Regan on the rise of Reform in Scotland, what is a woman and why ‘no-one resigns anymore’

    Ash Regan on the rise of Reform in Scotland, what is a woman and why ‘no-one resigns anymore’
    May 9 2025
    In this special edition of Coffee House Shots, Lucy Dunn speaks to the Holyrood leader of the pro-independence Alba party, Ash Regan. Regan was formerly a member of the SNP and even ran to be the party’s leader after Nicola Sturgeon resigned in 2023. She defected to the late Alex Salmond’s Alba party 18 months ago and ran for party leader after his death.

    On the podcast, she talks to Lucy about the difference between Alba and the SNP, the threat of Reform in Scotland, the ‘performative’ nature of Scottish politics, the Supreme Court ruling over what is a woman, and why she was right to resign over the Gender Recognition Bill.

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.
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    21 mins
  • What will Nicola Sturgeon's legacy be?

    What will Nicola Sturgeon's legacy be?
    Mar 12 2025
    Nicola Sturgeon has announced her intention to step down at the next Scottish Parliament election in May 2026. One of the original MSPs elected to Holyrood in 1999, Sturgeon has dominated Scottish and UK politics over the past two decades. The Salmond-Sturgeon era began in 2004 and she went on to serve as First Minister for the best part of a decade.

    Stewart McDonald, former SNP MP for Glasgow South 2015-24, and Lucy Dunn join James Heale on this special Coffee House Scots to discuss Sturgeon's legacy. She brought Scotland the closest to independence for 300 years, yet resigned in 2023 under a cloud over party management. Attention turns to next year's election, could the SNP's winning streak continue without her?

    Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Natasha Feroze.
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    12 mins
  • 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
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