Does the SNP Energy Policy depend on where you live in Scotland? Is it Net Zero or "Drill, baby, drill".
As the UK Government gives the green light to the Jackdaw gas field, the SNP faces difficult questions over its support for North Sea oil and gas and its commitment to Net Zero.
Bernard Ponsonby and columnist Alex Massie examine Scotland's increasingly contradictory energy politics, the looming UK Budget and the first cracks appearing in Reform UK's Holyrood group.
This week's big political stories:
🔴 NORTH SEA OIL & GAS — WHICH SIDE IS THE SNP ON?
Jackdaw gets the go-ahead, but the future of Rosebank remains uncertain. Alex asks whether there are "two John Swinnies" when it comes to energy policy, contrasting the First Minister's previous opposition to Jackdaw with his latest response. Are politicians being honest about the costs and consequences of the transition to Net Zero?
💷 THE UK BUDGET — HAS THE CHANCELLOR RUN OUT OF OPTIONS?
With fiscal headroom shrinking, inflation pressures mounting and Labour constrained by its manifesto commitments, what can Chancellor John Healey actually deliver? Bernard and Alex discuss tax, welfare, defence spending, business confidence and whether the Government has any room left for political manoeuvre.
🏴 REFORM UK — THE FIRST HOLYROOD RESIGNATION
Amanda Bland has resigned the Reform UK whip, leaving the party's Scottish parliamentary group with 16 MSPs. Why did she leave so soon? Should list MSPs who abandon their party surrender their seats? And will Malcolm Offord still be leading Reform UK Scotland at the next election?
Plus: Andy Burnham's focus on the small irritations of everyday life, Harold Wilson's political wisdom, and a little SDP history.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome to Episode 135
01:50 Jackdaw approved — the North Sea energy debate
03:00 John Swinney's contradictory positions on oil and gas
04:05 Bernard: The SNP needs to make its position clear
06:30 Is Britain's energy policy fundamentally flawed?
08:49 The cost of Net Zero and Britain's industrial future
10:56 Are politicians being honest about the energy transition?
11:08 Budget 2026 — what choices does the Chancellor have?
13:25 Inflation, spending pressures and shrinking headroom
15:50 Has Labour become a tax-and-spend government?
18:03 Business, investment and Britain's debt burden
20:51 Defence spending versus the welfare budget
23:11 Why businesses are struggling under Labour
25:08 Andy Burnham and the politics of little things
26:57 Reform UK loses its first Scottish MSP
28:37 Why did Amanda Bland leave Reform?
30:27 Should defecting list MSPs lose their seats?
33:21 Bernard's verdict on Amanda Bland
34:31 Will Malcolm Offord survive as Reform's leader?
36:04 And Then There Were None? Reform's future
36:14 Closing thoughts and next week's Budget
Join the conversation: Is the SNP trying to have it both ways on oil and gas? Can Labour deliver a meaningful Budget? And will Reform UK hold together at Holyrood?
Tell us what you think in the comments.
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