In this Holyrood Sources special, the team sit down with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar ahead of the upcoming election.

Sarwar outlines a "boldly different" vision for Scotland, addressing the growing crisis in the NHS, the decline in Scottish education, and the future of clean nuclear energy. He responds to tough questions on the Grangemouth refinery, the procurement of buses from China over Scottish firms, and his public call for Keir Starmer to resign.

Is Scottish Labour truly different from the SNP? Can Anas Sarwar move from opposition to Bute House?

In this episode:

NHS Emergency: The plan to ramp up operations and let "money follow the patient."

Education Crisis: Addressing the 19% drop in ASN teachers and banning mobile phones in classrooms.

Industry & Jobs: The fallout at Alexander Dennis and the future of North Sea energy.

The Starmer Dynamic: Why Sarwar stood by his call for the PM to step down.

Subscribe for more interviews with Scotland’s political leaders.

#ScottishPolitics #AnasSarwar #ScottishLabour #SNP #Holyrood #ScotlandElection #NHSScotland #KeirStarmer

**

The Holyrood Sources podcast brings the best analysis of Scottish politics with those who have lived it as Special Advisers, and those who are current and former politicians and political party leaders.

Join Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (Former Chief of Staff to First Minister Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (Former Director of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives).

Subscribe now

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/holyrood-sources/id1673972192

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Fj3emmRONEr8aSkhcMgoH?si=789c7874034340c6

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has Russell Findlay conceded defeat already? What can his party offer going into the election?

In this special edition of 'The Interviews' from Holyrood Sources, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives Russell Findlay speaks to Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein and Andy Maciver in Edinburgh. "common-sense" vision for the 2026 election. From the rise of Reform UK to the 14-year legacy of the UK party.

In this episode:

The Reform Threat: Why Findlay calls Reform UK "soft on the Union."

Alternative Government: Why the Tories are focusing on stopping an SNP majority rather than the First Minister's office.

The "Badenoch Factor": How the relationship with Kemi Badenoch is changing the Scottish campaign.

Working with the SNP: Would the Tories ever vote with John Swinney?

Sponsored by: The Scotch Whisky Association’s "Made to be Measured" campaign.

**

The Holyrood Sources podcast brings the best analysis of Scottish politics with those who have lived it as Special Advisers, and those who are current and former politicians and political party leaders.

Join Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (Former Chief of Staff to First Minister Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (Former Director of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives).

Subscribe now

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/holyrood-sources/id1673972192

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Fj3emmRONEr8aSkhcMgoH?si=789c7874034340c6

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Ross Greer, MSP and co-leader of the Scottish Greens, to discuss the party's future following their stint in government with the SNP.

We dive deep into the heated debate surrounding North Sea oil and gas: Is it pragmatic to use our own hydrocarbons, or is opening new fields like Rosebank a "dead-end" for the planet? Greer challenges the capitalist model, argues for a "well-being economy," and explains why the Greens believe a pro-independence majority is about more than just the SNP.

Key Topics Covered:

The Green record in government: Free bus travel and rail fares.

The "Scientific Reality": Why 2030 is the tipping point for climate feedback loops.

Carbon Capture: A "dead-end technology" or a vital bridge?

The Independence Strategy: Why "show, don't tell" is the path to 60% support.

Criticism of global leaders and the Green campaigning style.

Sponsored by the Scotch Whisky Association.

**

The Holyrood Sources podcast brings the best analysis of Scottish politics with those who have lived it as Special Advisers, and those who are current and former politicians and political party leaders.

Join Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (Former Chief of Staff to First Minister Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (Former Director of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives).

Subscribe now

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/holyrood-sources/id1673972192

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Fj3emmRONEr8aSkhcMgoH?si=789c7874034340c6

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.