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The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast

Solid Media
SNP
Labour Party
Scottish National Party
Keir Starmer
Scottish Independence
Reform UK
Scottish Politics
Nicola Sturgeon
Conservative Party
Scottish Government
Scottish Parliament
Scotland
Alex Salmond
Economic Growth
Donald Trump
Rachel Reeves
John Swinney
Brexit
Immigration Policy
UK Parliament

The two biggest names in Scottish political journalism, Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie, join forces to bring you a regular “must listen” insider briefing on the political and wider world.

Bernard has been Scotland's leading TV political editor for many years while Alex is the unavoidable commentator and columnist for the Times and Sunday Times. Together they bring decades of experience and unsur... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes121Founded2 years ago
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Artwork for The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast

Latest Episodes

Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie look at how Nigel Farage is dealing with his first real crisis and also - is Andy Burnham making unsustainable promises before he even becomes Prime Minister?

Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like... more

Two main topics for Alex and Bernard this week.

The proposed coronation of Andy Burnham - speculation is rife around his likely cabinet picks. Starmer was relatively successful in International affairs. Will Burnham be tempted to ask him to stay on... more

Andy Burnham clears the latest hurdle in his bid to become Prime Minister with a stonking by-election victory in Makerfield. The Scottish Conservative win their first Scottish by-election since 1967 after the SNP's Stephen Flynn vacated the seat to s... more

MAKERFIELD

Burnham “Dicing With Political And Electoral Death”

Could Makerfield Trigger Starmer’s Downfall?

Reform’s Huge By-Election Test for Farage and Reform

ABERDEEN

Aberdeen South Tests SNP Resilience After Murrell Fallout

Aberdeen South: ... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Chris Hanretty
Professor at Royal Holloway University in London, expert on notional results
Royal Holloway University of London
Episode: SCOT PARL 2026 - ONE WEEK TO GO - Electoral Maths and Key Seats
Mark Diffley
Polling expert, founder of the Diffley Partnership
Diffley Partnership
Episode: SCOT PARL 2026 - 3 WEEKS TO GO - Latest Polling Insights With Mark Diffley
Paul Sweeney
Labour MSP
Scottish Labour
Episode: BY ELECTION SPECIAL: LATEST REACTION TO LABOUR WIN OVER SNP AND REFORM
Thomas Kerr
Councillor for Reform UK
Reform UK
Episode: BY ELECTION SPECIAL: LATEST REACTION TO LABOUR WIN OVER SNP AND REFORM
John Swinney
First Minister of Scotland
Scottish National Party
Episode: JOHN SWINNEY SPECIAL - PART 1
Patrick Maguire
Author and political journalist at The Times
The Times
Episode: STARMER & McSWEENEY - The Inside Story
Stewart McDonald
Former SNP MP for Glasgow South and defense matters specialist
Scottish National Party (SNP)
Episode: TRUMP & PUTIN - Carve-Up Ukraine & Rip-Up Western Defence
Jenny Lindsay
Poet and author of 'Hounded: Women, Harms and the Gender Wars.'
Polity
Episode: HOUNDED: JENNY LINDSAY
David Frum
Staff writer at The Atlantic and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush.
The Atlantic
Episode: US PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL - With David Frum from The Atlantic

Hosts

Bernard Ponsonby
Host of The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast
Alex Massie
Co-host, political commentator

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 107 ratings
  • Inaccessibility

    I value greatly your inaccessibility. If you would turn up the volume progressively too, that will ensure that I continue to receive your wise counsel

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    What, Eric?
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • Journalistic perspectives on Scottish politics

    The two podcasters are thoroughly experienced journalists looking at Scottish politics - both devolved and within the UK, and able to offer insightful opinions. There are advantages and disadvantages in learning about politics through journalism and you will find them here: advantages include an analysis free of party political blinkers and able to explain what is operating below the surface. But not having an inside view of the system, and relying on secondhand briefings, means in incomplete pi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    David Boothroyd
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • Tony Collins

    Two top tier Scottish journalists, no question. Both excellent communicators and worth listening to always, though especially with Alex, I find myself in disagreement more often than not. Really hoping for substantial and in depth coverage of the attempted ‘assassination’ of Alex Salmond in a future episode, once the legals are concluded of course! Don’t let us down please gents!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    tonaidh
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Interesting.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Michael Comiskey
    2 years ago
  • Too much waffle

    There is probably a lot of very prescient and valuable analysis in this podcast, but the two presenters, and mostly Bernard fall into the trap of very much liking the sound of their own voice.

    Would probably benefit from some judicious editing to keep them on track.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    anon.653
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Strong voices and engaging debate that's valuable for listeners who want depth
Insightful and well-connected hosts
Balanced, with thoughtful analysis and insider context
Occasional editing/pace issues mentioned by listeners

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#82
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#183
United Kingdom/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

SCOT PARL 2026 - ONE WEEK TO GO - Electoral Maths and Key Seats
Q: Could you describe the process by which you go about creating a notional result?
Chris explains using multi-level regression and post-stratification (MRP) to model turnout and vote choice by demographic area, then maps those results onto the new boundaries by aggregating small census-area projections to form each constituency. He notes the method's reliance on last election results and census data, plus the need to adjust for boundary changes and local factors that MRPs may not capture.
NEW POLLS - 100 DAYS TO SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS
Q: What is the significance of Jim Wallace's political career?
He was historically significant for being the first Liberal in government for decades and was known for his non-confrontational political style.
NEW POLLS - 100 DAYS TO SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS
Q: What issues, if any, can actually move the dial for Labour?
Labour must convince the electorate that, after two decades in power, the SNP are tired and out of ideas, emphasizing the need for change.
WHO IS LORD OFFORD? Reform UK's New Leader in Scotland?
Q: What does the Malcolm Offord situation say about the Scottish Conservative Party?
It indicates a perceived dysfunctionality within the party, showing that someone with Offord's history feels the need to leave them.
NEW POLLS: Will Scotland Become Independent if Nigel Farage is Prime Minister
Q: What do you think may happen in the upcoming by-election?
The expectations lean towards a comfortable SNP victory, with potential competition from Labour and Reform for place.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast

What is The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two seasoned Scottish political journalists provide a regular insider briefing on devolved and UK politics, with a strong focus on Holyrood dynamics, party leadership, by-elections, and Westminster-Sco­ttish power interplay. Across episodes, discussions emphasize SNP strategy, Labour and Reform UK trajectories, oil and gas policy, and the practicalities of political brinkmanship in Scotland. Noteworthy is the hosts' insider access, long-running experience, and willingness to mix sharp analysis with humor and candid anecdotes, making complex political maneuvers more tangible for listeners who follow Scottish and UK politics closely. The show tends to blend rigorous briefing with personality-driven dialogue, appealing to professionals and pol... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast:

1. Holyrood Sources
2. Scotcast
3. Not Another One
4. How To Win An Election
5. Matt Forde's Political Party

How many episodes of The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast are there?

The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast launched 2 years ago and published 121 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 The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast?

Recent guests on The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast include:

1. Chris Hanretty
2. Mark Diffley
3. Paul Sweeney
4. Thomas Kerr
5. John Swinney
6. Patrick Maguire
7. Stewart McDonald
8. Jenny Lindsay

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