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
  • Sturgeon-Murrell split & Scotland's Reform challenger

    Sturgeon-Murrell split & Scotland's Reform challenger
    Jan 13 2025
    Former Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced she is separating from her husband Peter Murrell, former chief executive of the SNP. The announcement comes as the police probe into the SNP’s funds and finances remains ongoing, with Sturgeon and ex-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie under investigation while Murrell was charged with embezzlement in April 2024.

    Katy Balls is joined by The Spectator’s editor Michael Gove, and data editor Michael Simmons, to discuss the separation, why the investigation is still ongoing four years later, and what chances Scottish Labour or Reform have against the SNP in 2025.
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    12 mins
  • Humza Yousaf quits – what next?

    Humza Yousaf quits – what next?
    Apr 29 2024
    Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has just announced his intention to resign. Lucy Dunn speaks to Katy Balls and Spectator contributor Iain Macwhirter about how the past few weeks have led to this point and what to expect from an SNP leadership contest.
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    15 mins
  • Can things get worse for the SNP?

    Can things get worse for the SNP?
    Apr 20 2024
    It's been quite the week for the SNP. Questions remain over the future of the Sandyford gender clinic, 'the tartan Tavistock'; the Scottish government ditched its flagship climate change target; and former party chief executive, and husband of Nicola Sturgeon, Peter Murrell was rearrested on embezzlement charges.

    What does this all mean for the SNP? Lucy Dunn speaks to Iain Macwhirter, columnist at The Times, and Shona Craven, columnist at The National.

    Produced by Natasha Feroze and Patrick Gibbons
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    16 mins
  • Sturgeon paints herself as perfect at Covid Inquiry

    Sturgeon paints herself as perfect at Covid Inquiry
    Feb 1 2024
    Nicola Sturgeon was emotional whilst giving evidence at the Covid inquiry today – a highly anticipated part of the inquiry given the issue of deleted Whatsapp messages. How did the former first minister come across today? And what else can the evidence tell us about how the Scottish government operated? Katy Balls speaks to Isabel Hardman and Michael Simmons. 
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    11 mins
  • Has Humza Yousaf turned things around?

    Has Humza Yousaf turned things around?
    Oct 17 2023
    At his first speech as SNP leader at the party's conference, Humza Yousaf gave a policy-filled address. He hasn't had an easy start to his leadership, but can he turn things around? Katy Balls talks to Lucy Dunn and Iain Macwhirter.

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Cindy Yu.
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    15 mins
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