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Planet Holyrood - The Scottish Politics Show

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Welcome to Planet Holyrood, our weekly look at the key events in Scottish politics. Hosted by Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon, guests will chew over what has been happening at Holyrood and Westminster.

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Latest Episodes

In the latest episode of Planet Holyrood, the Daily Record's Paul Hutcheon is joined by Douglas Dickie of the Scottish Daily Express and Dan Vevers of the Sunday Mail, to discuss some of this week's hot topics in politics.

The panel look at the batt... more

There's never a dull moment in Scottish politics and in this week's episode of Planet Holyrood, the panel had plenty to chew over.

Paul Hutcheon was joined by Ben Borland and John Ferguson, to dissect the Scottish government's Gers report - which wa... more

Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of being "more Green than SNP" after the former first minister blasted John Swinney's election campaign strategy.

The Record's Chris McCall is joined by John Ferguson of the Sunday Mail and Douglas Dickie of the Scot... more

Scottish Labour leadership contest | Andy Burnham bounce effect | Worst job in Scottish politics?

Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon is joined by Sunday Mail Editor John Ferguson and Scottish Express Editor Ben Borland on the Planet Holyroo... more

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Recent Guests

Ruth Sutter
Chief Live Reporter at The Daily Record
Daily Record
Episode: Planet Holyrood 01/07/26 | What is Andy Burnham's vision for Scotland?
Dan Vevers
Chief Reporter, Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail
Episode: Planet Holyrood 27/5/26 - Peter Murrell pleads guilty to embezzling SNP funds as party chief executive
Paul O'Kane
Former Labour MSP for West Scotland region, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education and Equalities
Scottish Labour Party
Episode: Planet Holyrood special - Former Labour MSP Paul O’Kane speaks on the future of Scottish Labour after the party’s election drubbing
Ruth Souter
The Daily Record's chief live news reporter
Daily Record
Episode: Planet Holyrood 06/05/26 | The worst election ever? Highs and lows of Scotland's campaigns
John Swinney
First Minister of Scotland during the interview
Scottish National Party (SNP)
Episode: Planet Holyrood interview | John Swinney to demand immediate indyref2 talks with Downing Street if elected
Gemma Ryder
Daily Record reporter making her Planet Holyrood debut
Daily Record
Episode: Planet Holyrood 23/04/26 | Pro-union majority forecast, Mandelson scandal and Sarwar's spat with Reform
Anas Sarwar
Scottish Labour leader
Scottish Labour
Episode: Planet Holyrood Special 14/04/26 | Anas Sarwar promises to lift 100,000 children out of poverty if elected First Minister
John Ferguson
Editor of The Sunday Mail
The Sunday Mail
Episode: Planet Holyrood 08/04/26 | Polls show definitive SNP victory but free-for-all for second place in Holyrood
Ruth Suiter
Editor of The Scottish Daily Express
Episode: Planet Holyrood 24/03/26 | Scottish politics of the last five years and Reform candidate meltdown

Host

Paul Hutcheon
Host of Planet Holyrood, Daily Record political editor with extensive coverage of Scottish politics and Holyrood-Westminster dynamics.

Reviews

3.4 out of 5 stars from 31 ratings
  • Rotten & Biased

    How can a political editor who has decided to fill his paper with support for the Labour Party be anything other than biased in Scottish politics. Rank rotten, wouldn’t bother listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DavieB719
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Insightful analysis with insider access, useful for understanding Scottish political dynamics.
Strong panel variety but some listeners perceive media bias toward certain parties.
Great guests and timely discussions on elections and policy, often with sharp takes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Planet Holyrood 22/7/26 - Anas Sarwar’s legacy | Monica Lennon return to Holyrood? | The early days of Andy Burnham
Q: What is Monica Lennon's reaction to Anas Sarwar's decision to stand down and move to the Lords?
Monica acknowledges the surprise and notes the potential vacancy dynamics for the Scottish Parliament, stressing the need for a careful, strategic approach by the party as it recalibrates after the leadership change.
Planet Holyrood 27/08/25 - Nigel Farage returns to Edinburgh as Jeremy Corbyn eyes gains at Holyrood
Q: Why do so many Scottish voters find you to be so repellent? Secondly, you've always been a Putin fanboy. Are you hopeful that Russia gets to hold on to the land, that they illegally seized from Ukraine?
Farage defends his position by arguing that his past remarks were taken out of context and emphasizes his admiration for Putin as a political operator, while denying endorsement of his actions; the exchange highlights a communications gap between his branding and policy substance.
Planet Holyrood special - Former Labour MSP Paul O’Kane speaks on the future of Scottish Labour after the party’s election drubbing
Q: What is your view on Anas Sarwar's leadership and future leadership contest?
He expressed respect for Anas and support for his leadership through the reflection period, while saying everything should be on the table for the party's future and leadership decisions.
Planet Holyrood special - Former Labour MSP Paul O’Kane speaks on the future of Scottish Labour after the party’s election drubbing
Q: Do you feel like there was too much focus on the constituencies at the expense of having a proper list strategy?
He argued there should have been more balance and contingency planning for the regional list, noting the data from Hamilton and the learning from by-elections, and stressed the complexity of the electoral system requiring a dual approach.
Planet Holyrood special - Former Labour MSP Paul O’Kane speaks on the future of Scottish Labour after the party’s election drubbing
Q: What would your reflection be on the campaign, and what could have been done better?
He suggested there were questions about the 30-seat strategy, preparation and processes, and the need for a more adaptive regional list approach, while acknowledging the dedication of the campaign teams and the learning process ahead.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Planet Holyrood

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

A weekly briefing on Scottish politics featuring a veteran Daily Record political editor guiding conversations with regular panelists and high-profile guests. Episodes frequently dissect Holyrood politics, Westminster dynamics, leadership moves, policy debates (health, education, energy, housing), and electoral strategy, often weaving in live reactions to breaking news and polling. Notable strengths include a sharp insider perspective, a balance of skepticism and humor, and a steady stream of high-caliber guests from media, politics, and party leadership circles, making it a go-to for listeners who want practical, context-rich analysis of Scotland's political landscape.

Where can I find podcast stats for Planet Holyrood?

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How many listeners does Planet Holyrood get?

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What are the audience demographics for Planet Holyrood?

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How many subscribers and views does Planet Holyrood have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Planet Holyrood has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Planet Holyrood?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Planet Holyrood:

1. Holyrood Sources
2. Scotcast
3. The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast
4. The Steamie by The Scotsman
5. The Stooshie: the politics podcast from DC Thomson

How many episodes of Planet Holyrood are there?

Planet Holyrood launched 3 years ago and published 187 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Planet Holyrood?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Planet Holyrood?

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What guests have appeared on Planet Holyrood?

Recent guests on Planet Holyrood include:

1. Ruth Sutter
2. Dan Vevers
3. Paul O'Kane
4. Ruth Souter
5. John Swinney
6. Gemma Ryder
7. Anas Sarwar
8. John Ferguson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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