
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
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 260 | Founded | 4 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | News | |||

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
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
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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
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
see above….
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
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! 😉
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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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1. Scotcast
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4. Matt Forde's Political Party
5. Electoral Dysfunction
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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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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