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Holyrood Sources

Shortbread Media
SNP
Scotland
Scottish Parliament
Reform UK
Labour Party
Scottish Government
Scottish Politics
Anas Sarwar
Scottish Independence
John Swinney
Devolution
Scottish Labour Party
Scottish National Party
Scottish Labour
Scottish Conservatives
Renewable Energy
Nicola Sturgeon
Donald Trump
Offshore Wind
Scottish Conservative Party

The Holyrood Sources podcast analyses Scottish politics through the experiences of those who have lived and breathed it as Special Advisers to the Scottish Government, SNP and opposition parties. Join hosts Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (Chief of Staff to the First Minister, 2007-2014) and Andy Maciver (Former Head of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives) as they take you inside Scottis... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes260Founded4 years ago
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News

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Artwork for Holyrood Sources

Latest Episodes

On a special episode of the Holyrood Sources podcast, recorded in the afternoon of Wednesday the 28th October, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver break down John Healey's first ever Budget... what does it mean for Scotland... did it all... more

The UK government has approved extraction from the Jackdaw gas field near Aberdeen What does this mean for Scotland's economy and the future of North Sea oil and gas?

In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maci... more

YouTube

Calum and Geoff are live from the pub at SNP conference. They take the temperature of the party ahead of John Swinney's speech this weekend and are joined by party representatives, pollsters and experts to diagnose the health of the SNP going into 20... more

This week on Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver preview the SNP conference with The Scotsman's Rachel Amery. For the first time ever, John Swinney leads a conference with a mandate as First Minister... how will he shap... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

John Underhill
Director for energy transition at the University of Aberdeen.
University of Aberdeen
Episode: Jackdaw Approved, BBC Scotland Channel scrapped and John Swinney's Conference Speech.
Jack Middleton
SNP MSP for Aberdeen Central
SNP
Episode: Live from the pub at SNP Conference
Lara Bird
SNP MP for Arbroath and Bressy Ferry
SNP
Episode: Live from the pub at SNP Conference
Lucy Dunn
STV News Westminster correspondent
STV
Episode: Live from the pub at SNP Conference
Luke Trill
Executive director at More in Common; polling host of Opinion Brief
More in Common
Episode: Live from the pub at SNP Conference
Darren Hughes
Electoral Reform Society representative
Electoral Reform Society
Episode: Live from the pub at SNP Conference
Rachel Amery
Political correspondent at The Scotsman
The Scotsman
Episode: Is The SNP's Independence Strategy Broken? and Andy Burnham visits Scotland
Rachael Hamilton
Scottish Conservative MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire; Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservatives
Scottish Conservatives
Episode: Will the Conservatives take power AWAY from Holyrood?
Megan McElroy
Politico's Playbook Reporter
Politico
Episode: Bonus Episode: 24 Hours at Labour Conference

Hosts

Calum Macdonald
Host of the podcast and Holyrood sources veteran with deep ties to Scottish politics.
Geoff Aberdein
Former Chief of Staff to the First Minister; seasoned political operator.
Andy Maciver
Former Head of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives; co-host on many episodes.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 202 ratings
  • Rosebank Propaganda

    Gave this a try, first episode I listened to was explicitly sponsored by the company that’s funding the controversial Rosebank oil field site. The presenter interviewed one of their employees and one guy giving a general political overview of Hollywood’s reactions to the proposals. Neither at any point put forward any of the arguments as to why the proposals (to double down on oil and gas extraction during a climate catastrophe) were controversial in the first place and both just used phrases li... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Rockin_roo13
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Va

    Enjoyed this at the beginning of pod but the two commentators are so obviously SNP through and through, they now need someone with a different political point of view. To say that this PMurell issue wouldn’t have had a bearing on the election outcome is unbelievable. Read the room Andy

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    SNP bias
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • another all male blokey irrelevant podcast

    see above….

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    scotsnik
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Progressive Taxation

    I have listened to Graeme McCormick’s AGFR tax proposals on numerous occasions and to me it is revolutionary, the structure is in place, can be implemented almost immediately, lift everyone out of poverty and impact on land ownership because of the work done on land registry, all in the one parcel. I have constantly begged people to tell me why it cannot work. All I can see is that it will anger landowners and the MOD - that’s it. It was passed at last year’s Alba conference and then disappeared... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    🔬8
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • The best bar none for Scottish political thought

    The weekly listen - and more often when there’s a party being kicked out of government and an FM resignation! - for the best informed take on politics in Scotland. And Calum, Andy and Geoff all seem to like each other too which is fun! 😉

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    robbie77
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Informative and entertaining, with deep dives into Scottish politics.
Engaging and insightful, though some listeners crave more diverse viewpoints.
Balanced, informed analysis with strong guest lineups.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Jackdaw Approved, BBC Scotland Channel scrapped and John Swinney's Conference Speech.
Q: How many of those gas discoveries exist?
Underhill says Oil & Gas UK has identified more than 100 potential oil and gas discoveries, though each would need to be assessed for commercial viability.
Jackdaw Approved, BBC Scotland Channel scrapped and John Swinney's Conference Speech.
Q: In terms of what Jackdaw gives us then, how important, how significant is this in the overall picture of the UK's gas supply?
John Underhill says the UK relies on gas for home heating, cooking and electricity, and that domestic production currently supplies only part of national demand. He says Jackdaw could reduce reliance on imports, including higher-emissions liquefied natural gas.
Live from the pub at SNP Conference
Q: What is the main takeaway from the SNP conference on energy policy?
The main takeaway is that there is a shift toward prioritizing domestic energy resources, bolstering renewables, and ensuring the wealth generated from North Sea oil and gas is reinvested in Scottish energy, balancing pragmatic energy policy with long-term independence ambitions.
Is the End of the UK Inevitable? Inside the First Ministers’ Cardiff Summit
Q: What did you make of the theatrical moment from the First Ministers, and did it have gravitas?
Alex Kerr argued that the moment was historically significant and publicly noticeable, but he challenged whether it represents a durable shift in constitutional arrangements, emphasizing the need to translate symbolism into concrete policy and democratic outcomes.
Nicola Sturgeon vs SNP Cabinet... and Tax Debate Continues.
Q: Is changing the top rate purely for revenue, or is it also about signaling and political messaging?
They argue that while revenue considerations matter, the top-rate change is heavily political, used to shape perceptions of fairness and to secure social buy-in across the tax base.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Holyrood Sources

What is Holyrood Sources about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show provides in-depth, insider-style analysis of Scottish politics, with a focus on governance, constitutional questions, taxation, energy policy, and party dynamics. Conversations couple sharp political insight with practical implications for policymakers, businesses, and the media, often featuring former advisers and communications leaders from major parties. Listeners can expect rigorous discourse, candid banter, and cross-party perspectives that illuminate strategy, policy trade-offs, and the daily realities of Scottish public life. A standout trait is the hosts' lived experience inside government and opposition worlds, which lends a practical angle to complex topics like devolution, energy transition, and party leadership debates.... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Holyrood Sources?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Holyrood Sources:

1. Scotcast
2. The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast
3. Political Currency
4. Matt Forde's Political Party
5. Electoral Dysfunction

How many episodes of Holyrood Sources are there?

Holyrood Sources launched 4 years ago and published 260 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Holyrood Sources?

Recent guests on Holyrood Sources include:

1. John Underhill
2. Jack Middleton
3. Lara Bird
4. Lucy Dunn
5. Luke Trill
6. Darren Hughes
7. Rachel Amery
8. Rachael Hamilton

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