What happens when Labour breaks its biggest election promise?

This week on Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond), and Andy Maciver (former Scottish Conservative comms director) unpack Rachel Reeves’ budget gamble — and why it could reshape Scottish politics.

We break down:

• 💸 How Labour’s tax rise could hit Scottish voters
• ⚖️ The political fallout for Rachel Reeves and Anas Sarwar
• 🏴 What it means for Holyrood’s income tax powers
• 🥃 John Swinney’s whisky diplomacy and Douglas Alexander’s criticism
• 📊 Plus: Why 2026’s no-overnight count election will feel totally different

Later, Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur joins us to discuss the Assisted Dying Bill — with almost 300 amendments under scrutiny, is Holyrood getting it right?

📍 Chapters below

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Scotland is heading into one of its most unpredictable elections ever — and the usual rules of politics might not apply.

In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (former Scottish Conservative comms director) unpack the key trends shaping Scotland right now:.

💬 Join the debate:

Who wins Scotland’s next election — the SNP, Labour, or Reform UK?

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Labour’s century-long dominance in Wales could be about to collapse — with polls showing Reform UK and Plaid Cymru overtaking them in the Caerphilly by-election.

In this week’s Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (former Scottish Conservative communications director) unpack:

🗳️ The Wales by-election and what a Labour defeat would mean for Keir Starmer’s leadership

🔥 Is Ed Miliband plotting a leadership comeback? Why he might be on manoeuvres after months of internal tension

🏴 Scottish independence — and why Labour’s defence minister warns it could “help Putin”

💷 Rachel Reeves’ upcoming Budget: tax hikes, income reform, and political messaging chaos

🌍 Chinese investment in Scottish renewables: national security vs economic growth

Plus: Trident submarines, Starmer’s strategy, and what Labour’s polling collapse tells us about British politics.

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🎙️ Also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

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John Swinney’s independence strategy is set — but is it realistic?

In this week’s episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein, and Andy Maciver dive deep into what really happened at the SNP Conference.

They unpack Swinney’s “Fresh Start with Independence” plan, the internal reaction to his threshold for triggering a new referendum, and what the polls really say about the SNP’s chances in 2026.

Plus:

• Nicola Sturgeon returns to conference with her new book 📚
• The SNP’s 15-second tribute to Alex Salmond sparks backlash
• Geoff reveals a behind-the-scenes story from the 2007 election 🗳️
• The team debate whether Reform UK threatens both Labour and the SNP
• Can the SNP convince voters it’s competent enough to govern — and to lead Scotland to independence?

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The Holyrood Sources team — Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond), and Andy Maciver (former Scottish Conservative Director of Communications) — unpack an intense week in UK and Scottish politics.

🇬🇧 At the Tory Conference in Manchester, Kemi Badenoch’s leadership faces open revolt as polling shows half of Conservative members want her replaced. Andy and Geoff debate whether she deserves more time — and whether the party can even survive another election.

🏴 Meanwhile in Aberdeen, John Swinney prepares for the SNP Conference, focusing on the economy and independence strategy. Can Swinney steady the ship — or is the SNP losing direction?

🇵🇸 Plus: Reaction to the First Minister being heckled during remarks on Palestinian statehood, and what that moment says about the political climate in Scotland.

🎧 Stay tuned for part two with Scottish Green Party co-leaders Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay, who join the podcast to discuss their job-share leadership and policy priorities.

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#ScottishPolitics #KemiBadenoch #JohnSwinney #SNPCONFERENCE #ToryConference #HolyroodSources #SNP #Conservatives #Palestine #ScottishIndependence #ScottishGreens

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The Holyrood Sources podcast takes you inside the heart of Scottish politics. This week, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (former Director of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives) discuss Labour Party Conference 2025.

👉 In this episode we ask:

• Has Keir Starmer miscalculated by branding Nigel Farage and Reform UK’s policies “racist and immoral”?
• Is Labour playing into Farage’s hands by focusing too much on him rather than addressing voters’ concerns?
• What does this mean for Scottish Labour and Anas Sarwar’s push ahead of the Holyrood election in May?
• Could Sarwar’s strategy of focusing on infrastructure projects and positioning himself against John Swinney pay off?
• Plus: Why Labour’s messaging on tax, immigration and ID cards is leaving voters confused.

The panel also debates whether Labour can balance party unity vs country-first strategy, the impact of Rachel Reeves’ budget positioning, and the extraordinary missteps of Andy Burnham during conference week.

💬 Join the conversation:

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Sponsored by Electrify Britain.

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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure from both the left and centre of his party ahead of conference. With questions over his leadership, his political voice, and Labour’s direction on key issues like energy policy, immigration, and economic growth, this episode asks:

• Does Starmer have the authority to unite his party?
• Could figures like Andy Burnham challenge him?
• Is Labour heading for a damaging split – or a chance to reset?
• Will Ed Miliband’s reported U-turn on North Sea oil and gas reshape the government’s energy strategy?

We also compare Labour’s struggles to historic SNP and Lib Dem conferences, and discuss how Reform UK is reshaping the political battlefield.

Plus:

• Why Scottish Labour’s new Westminster ministers could act as a “shadow Scottish Government” to boost Anas Sarwar’s election chances.
• The role of Douglas Alexander as Scotland Secretary – and whether he can coordinate Labour’s strategy effectively.
• Could Reform UK split the Tory vote enough for the SNP to win all constituency seats?
• Should there be a clear constitutional process for another Scottish independence referendum?
• Plus: the bizarre scandal of Seagullgate, which forced a minister to resign after a row with Douglas Ross.

We also hear from listeners on Scottish education, independence rules, and whether Holyrood needs reform to handle the growing scale of devolved powers.

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In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (former Scottish Conservative Head of Comms) deep dive into the week’s biggest political stories.

👉 We ask: has it been a good week for John Swinney and a bad week for Keir Starmer?

👉 We discuss the fallout from the Mandelson–Epstein scandal, Starmer’s leadership under fire, and what it means for Scottish Labour.

👉 Then we welcome Lord Malcolm Offord, UK Government Minister and author of the report Wealthy Nation, Healthy Nation, to debate how Scotland can improve outcomes in health, education, energy, and the economy after 25 years of devolution.

Topics include:

• The whisky trade & Trump visit diplomacy 🇺🇸🥃
• Scotland’s economic growth (or lack thereof) 📉
• NHS waiting lists & health reform 🏥
• Education decline and the Curriculum for Excellence 📚
• The “just transition” vs “affordable transition” in energy policy ⚡
• Scotland’s constitutional future: has Holyrood lost focus? 🏛️

🔔 Subscribe to Holyrood Sources for insider Scottish politics every week.

💬 Share your thoughts in the comments – should Scotland rethink its approach to health, education, and economic growth?

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Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has secured a rare audience in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump — a diplomatic coup that could shape both Scotland’s international standing and the next Holyrood election.

In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff, Andy Maciver and Ayesha Hazarika break down:

• Why this Oval Office meeting is such a big win for Swinney’s leadership.
• The Scotch whisky tariffs — Scotland’s largest export industry is on the line. Could Swinney negotiate a breakthrough deal with Trump?
• How this plays into Swinney’s election strategy: “standing up for Scotland” on the world stage.
• The SNP’s shifting position on Donald Trump — from heavy criticism to pragmatic diplomacy.
• Whether this actually cuts through to ordinary Scots facing the cost of living crisis.
• The comparison with Keir Starmer: has Swinney managed to outmanoeuvre the Prime Minister on international diplomacy?

We also explore the optics of Swinney’s Washington trip, the political theatre around international diplomacy, and whether this moment really elevates him as Scotland’s statesman.

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Part 2

The future of energy in Scotland is at a crossroads. In this special podcast edition, leading politicians Michael Shanks, Claire Coutinho, and Kate Forbes join the discussion on:

• ⚡ Offshore wind challenges – 400% increase in transmission charges threatening Scottish projects
• 🏠 Fuel poverty – 1 in 3 Scottish households face rising bills despite Scotland’s energy wealth
• 🔌 Grid reform – Can strategic energy planning and investment finally cut costs?
• 🏘️ Community benefit & ownership – Should local communities see direct rewards from wind farms?

Hosted by Calum Macdonald, with post-match analysis from Geoff Aberdeen & Andy McIver, this conversation digs into the clash between industry costs, consumer bills, and community fairness.

👉 Do you think Scotland is getting energy policy right? Email us hello@holyroodsources.com

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more debates on politics, energy, and Scotland’s future.

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The future of oil and gas in the UK is one of the most pressing political questions of our time — and it’s at the heart of this debate. With the North Sea basin still a major source of energy and jobs in Scotland, how should the UK balance the demands of energy security, climate change targets, and community livelihoods?

In this special discussion, UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks MP (Labour), UK Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Claire Coutinho MP, and Deputy First Minister of Scotland Kate Forbes MSP (SNP) join host Calum Macdonald to debate:

• Should the UK continue issuing new North Sea oil and gas licences — or focus on a full energy transition? Does it need to be a binary choice?
• What does a true “just transition” for workers look like?
• How can Scotland and the UK lead in renewable energy while safeguarding existing industries?
• Who should pay for the costs of moving to net zero — taxpayers, energy companies, or both?

🔥 Key themes explored in the debate:

• Labour’s push for a phased transition and “mission-driven” investment in renewables.
• Conservative arguments that new oil licences are essential for jobs and energy security.
• SNP concerns about protecting communities while driving forward Scotland’s renewable future.
• The tension between climate goals and short-term energy needs.
• The global context: what the UK does (or doesn’t) means little if countries like China and India don’t follow suit.

Scottish politics, the future of energy, and the road to net zero.

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Part 1 of 2.

In association with the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce. Sponsored by Shepherd and Wedderburn.

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Scotland’s energy future is at a crossroads.

In this special episode of Holyrood Sources, recorded live at Offshore Europe in Aberdeen, we bring together leading voices to debate oil, gas, renewables, community power projects, and the politics driving the UK’s energy transition.

Guests include:

• Claire Mack – Chief Executive, Scottish Renewables
• Andrew Bowie MP – Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine, Shadow Minister for Energy
• Angus Macdonald – Community energy company director from the Western Isles

Topics covered:

• The oil vs renewables binary: false choice or political reality?
• Grid failures & why community projects can’t get connected
• Net Zero deadlines: realistic or damaging?
• How UK & Scottish Governments can fix energy investment challenges
• The future of Grangemouth, Sullom Voe & North Sea oil assets
• Why ordinary households are paying the price for failed energy policy

🎧 Tomorrow’s follow-up episode features a major debate with:

• Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister of Scotland
• Michael Shanks, UK Government Energy Minister
• Claire Coutinho, Shadow Energy Secretary

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Nicola Sturgeon’s new book is causing controversy. On this episode of Holyrood Sources, Geoff Aberdein - former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond - directly challenges several claims, including:

• Did Alex Salmond really leak allegations against himself?
• Was Salmond disengaged from the 2013 independence White Paper?
• Did he oppose same-sex marriage?

Geoff says these stories are “falsehoods and fabrications” — and sets the record straight.

Later, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein, and Andy Maciver (former Director of Comms, Scottish Conservatives) debate:

• The fallout for John Swinney as Sturgeon’s book dominates headlines
• What rising concern over immigration means for Scottish politics
• Energy bills, community power, and whether Scotland is missing its renewable energy jackpot
• James Hawes’ claim that Scottish independence is “inevitable”

👉 Subscribe for more in-depth political analysis from inside Scottish politics.

🎧 Watch on YouTube.

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• WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507
• Email: hello@holyroodsources.com
• Website: hollyroodsources.com
• Follow on X & TikTok: @HolyroodSources

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Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has released her long-awaited memoir Frankly — and it’s already sparking old feuds, reigniting the Alex Salmond debate, and deepening divisions inside the SNP.

In this episode of the Holyrood Sources Podcast, Calum Macdonald and Andy Maciver unpack:

• Sturgeon’s claims about Alex Salmond during the independence referendum
• The SNP’s internal factions: Team Sturgeon, Team Salmond & Team Swinney
• Her reflections on Gender Recognition Reform and the Isla Bryson case
• How her leadership shifted SNP ideology — and her political legacy
• The election wins and controversies that defined her time in power

Later, former Edinburgh Council leader Donald Anderson joins to debate the future of local government in Scotland:

• Should Scotland follow Manchester’s Andy Burnham model with city region mayors?
• Is Holyrood too centralised for effective local democracy?
• Reforming (or replacing) council tax and giving councils more power to raise revenue
• Could stronger local leadership transform Scotland’s economy?

📩 Get in touch: hello@hollyroodsources.com | WhatsApp 0333 404 6507

🎧 Full podcast available wherever you get your podcasts

🎟 Join our Future of Energy event in Aberdeen (2 Sept) with Kate Forbes & Claire Coutinho — use code holyrood25 for a discount

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Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has announced she will step down at the 2026 Holyrood election. In this bonus episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (former Director of Comms for the Scottish Conservatives) unpack the political shockwave.

👉 What does this mean for John Swinney's leadership?

👉 Is the SNP losing its most economically credible voice?

👉 Could this pave the way for Stephen Flynn or Màiri McAllan?

👉 What’s next for Scottish politics?

We also hear listener reactions and discuss Kate Forbes' relationship with the SNP's internal culture, business community, and independence strategy.

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📩 Send your comments or voice notes for our next episode to: 0333 404 65

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#KateForbes #SNP #ScottishPolitics #JohnSwinney #Holyrood #IndyRef2 #ScottishIndependence #StephenFlynn #MàiriMcAllan

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In this powerful episode of Holyrood Sources, historian and author James Hawes explains why Scottish independence is inevitable and argues the UK has been in terminal decline since 1922.

Speaking with host Calum Macdonald, Hawes discusses:

• Why Labour’s 2024 landslide won’t save the Union
• The rise of Reform UK and Nigel Farage’s “naked English nationalism”
• The SNP’s crisis — and its historical parallel with Irish nationalism after Parnell
• Whether the UK is becoming a modern-day Habsburg Empire
• What a post-UK future might look like for Scotland and Ireland

📚 James Hawes is the author of The Shortest History of England, The Shortest History of Germany, and the upcoming Shortest History of Ireland.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly political analysis and insider commentary from Holyrood and beyond.

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Donald Trump’s whirlwind visit to Scotland left behind more than photo ops — it’s shifted the tone of UK and Scottish politics. In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (former Scottish Conservative Director of Communications) unpack the chaos, optics, and opportunities of Trump’s trip to Ayrshire and Aberdeen.

From whisky tariffs and oil politics to Trump’s unexpectedly measured comments on Scottish independence, the panel breaks down how Scotland became the geopolitical centre of the world for five surreal days.

Plus: John Swinney’s strategy to revive the independence campaign by calling for a Holyrood majority in 2026. Is it a bold move or a trap of his own making? The hosts debate whether Swinney’s plan is political genius or a doomed distraction.

📲 WhatsApp your thoughts to the show: 0333 404 6507

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👀 Stay tuned for part two of this episode focusing on independece: Author and historian James Hawes joins us to argue why Scottish independence is inevitable.

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In this episode of the Holyrood Sources Podcast, we reflect on, the recent Tall Ships event in Aberdeen, the Hebridean Celtic Festival in Stornoway and the ongoing debate about zonal pricing in electricity. The conversation also touches on infrastructure challenges in Scotland, the implications of President Trump's visit, concerns over social unrest, and the trust deficit in political leaders, particularly among young people.

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