Writing in 1999, just a couple of months after Holyrood convened in Edinburgh, the great Clydeside trade unionist Jimmy Reid asked if the parliament in which “we Scots have invested such hope is simply to be another gravy train for a well-connected few.”

Today, Holyrood has its very own revolving door, propelling politicians and advisors from parliament to influential consultancy firms, private posts and lucrative post-politics jobs. 

In Scotland, away from the public eye, a small cohort of influential PR firms have carved out a role at the heart of decision-making. Some are run by former Labour politicians and others by ex-SNP advisers. All, however, promise their private clients extensive access to our politicians.

South of the border, the arrival of a Prime Minister to Downing Street who pledged to clean up politics has meant nothing of the sort. Their election funded by controversial donations, Labour’s first 10 months in office have been plagued by stories of scandal and sleeze. 

To ask who really runs Scotland, Coll McCail is joined by Paul Dobson and Ethan Shone. 

Paul Dobson is a reporter and Journalist Director for the Ferret, Scotland’s award-winning investigative journalism platform.

Ethan Shone is an investigations reporter for openDemocracy. He is particularly interested in lobbying and political corruption. He writes the Dark Arts newsletter on Substack. 

You can support Nest of Fearties – and watch the entire recording of this podcast – by joining Skotia’s Patreon for as little as the price of a pint per month.