In Episode 45 of Apolitical we discuss the case for Leaving the European Union with Tom Harris, the former Scottish Labour MP who is heading up Vote Leave Scotland.

Amongst the topics we discuss with Tom on the podcast are:

• His personal reasons for supporting a Leave vote;

• The infamous £350m per week figure and what it means;

• Whether people can really expect any savings resulting from a Leave vote to be invested in the NHS;

• Additional powers that would accrue to Holyrood in the event of the UK leaving the EU;

• How to make a moderate case in support of a cause backed by extremists;

• Where changes to immigration could be made to benefit the UK after leaving the EU;

• How the murder of Jo Cox relates to the referendum campaign and the challenges of campaigning sensitively in the wake of such an event;

• Plans for the last few days of the campaign;

and

• Tom’s prediction for the outcome of the Referendum.

Please join us in discussing these issues or any other raised in the podcast below, or find us on Twitter at @apoliticalpod.

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The post #45: Leave: EU Referendum Special appeared first on Apolitical Podcast.

In Episode 44 of Apolitical we discuss the case for Remaining in the European Union with Ross Greer MSP, the Scottish Greens’ spokesman on Europe and external affairs.

Amongst the topics we discuss with Ross on the podcast are:

• His personal reasons for supporting a Remain vote;

• Whether the EU’s treatment of Greece has damaged it;

• How comfortable he is with standing for the same objective as senior Westminster Conservatives;

• Whether the EU can be reformed;

• How the EU benefits the environment and how it impacts Scotland’s fishing industry;

• How the murder of Jo Cox relates to the referendum campaign and the challenges of campaigning sensitively in the wake of such an event;

• Plans for the last few days of the campaign;

and

• Ross’ prediction for the outcome of the Referendum.

Please join us in discussing these issues or any other raised in the podcast below, or find us on Twitter at @apoliticalpod.

You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher or on your usual podcast app.

View our house rules for commenting here.

The post #44: Remain: EU Referendum Special appeared first on Apolitical Podcast.

In Episode 43 of Apolitical we welcome the Guardian’s Scotland Correspondent, Libby Brooks, to the show. Libby is an established part of the Guardian team and has been based in Glasgow since the 2014 Independence referendum.

Amongst the topics we discuss with Libby on the podcast are:

• The women who inspired her to get into journalism;

• Her perceptions of political life in Scotland compared to London;

• Recollections from writing her 2006 book, The Story of Childhood: Growing Up in Modern Britain;

• Gender balance in Scottish political journalism and Scottish politics;

• Political discourse in Scotland and in particular the term ‘ulsterisation’;

• Online abuse received by female writers and by Libby in particular;

• Deportation and covering the story of the Brain family;

and

• What makes her optimistic about life in Scotland today.

Please join us in discussing these issues or any other raised in the podcast below, or find us on Twitter at @apoliticalpod.

You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Stitcher or on your usual podcast app.

View our house rules for commenting here.

Show Links:

Libby’s Guardian piece on ‘Ulsterisation’
Libby on Twitter
Libby in the Guardian
The Story of Childhood: Growing Up in Modern Britain
Harpies & Quines

The post #43: Libby Brooks appeared first on Apolitical Podcast.