The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast

With a live audience at the University of Glasgow Stevenson Trust for Citizenship, Bernard and Alex are join by Professor Chris Carman and questions from the floor, including Prof Sir John Curtice. PONSONBY & MASSIE – STEVENSON LIVE PODCAST00:00 – 00:01:16 | Intro & Format00:01:16 – 00:03:34 | Early Predictions & Polling Landscape00:03:34 – 00:05:55 | Labour’s Misread of Momentum (2010 vs 2024)00:05:55 – 00:12:15 | Reform UK: Mood, Populism, Immigration00:12:15 – 00:18:45 | Starmer’s Weakness & Impact on Scottish Labour00:18:45 – 00:23:34 | Independence as Tactical Messaging00:23:34 – 00:33:00 | 27 Years of Devolution: Has It Delivered?00:33:00 – 00:40:00 | State Size, Means vs Ends, and 2026 Prospects00:40:00 – 00:41:47 | Election PredictionsAUDIENCE Q&A (Chaired by Prof. Chris Carman)00:41:47 – 00:44:48 | Q1 – What’s the Offer to Young Voters?00:44:48 – 00:49:50 | Q2 – State Size & Social Democratic Mission (Sir John Curtice)00:49:50 – 01:01:35 | Q3 – Scrutiny, Misinformation & Media TrustAudience question.01:01:35 – 01:09:20 | Q4 – Social Media, Democratic Innovation & Greens’ Prospects01:09:20 – 01:20:29 | Q5 – Edinburgh vs Glasgow & Sustainability of ‘Free Scotland’ Model01:20:29 – 01:27:00 | Q6 – Is Social Democracy Still Represented?01:27:00 – 01:29:10 | Q7 – MSP Exodus & Legislative Overload01:29:10 – End | Closing

Bernard Ponsonby:“I’m not sure in a sense who would lead them. I’m sure that… …Wes Streeting would run.I suspect that there would be some people within the PLP — because the minute somebody says they’re running, there’s always an alternative campaign which is not really about supporting one candidate, it’s about stopping another.John Major effectively became prime minister because he wasn’t Michael Heseltine.So I think there would be people who would start looking at Ed Miliband.And then, of course, there’s Angela Rayner……and at that point, the markets will collectively take to their lavatory pans.”Alex Massie:“Yeah, I mean, I think, although he says he’s done the job before and he doesn’t want to do it again, I think Ed Miliband is the one to keep an eye on there.It seems to me that Miliband occupies a sort of comforting place on the political spectrum for a lot of the parliamentary Labour Party and indeed for the Labour Party membership.I do not see Wes Streeting being acceptable to either the parliamentary party or the membership.And there’s the further complication for him that his parliamentary majority is only 500 votes — there is a really good chance he could lose at the next election.And I think that would also concentrate minds in an anti-Streeting kind of way.”Bernard Ponsonby:“I genuinely have no idea who would actually win it… I don’t think the PLP has coalesced around any one individual yet.But yes — there will always be people trying to stop someone rather than elect someone.And Miliband will be looked at.”

Bernard and Alex dig into the editorial crisis at the BBC, Comcast/SKY's potential takeover of ITV and Bernard (STV's former Political Editor and longest serving journalist of 34 years) says he no longer thinks the company has a future.

Bernard and Alex delve into one of the bigget topics of the modern political age. Why can't Westminster or Holyrood seem to manage our public finances?

In Part Two, in marking the 25th anniversary of the death of Donald Dewar, Bernard and Alex reflect on the Office of First Minister and how it has changed since Dewar's time as the first office holder. Plus they rate every First Minister out of 10. PART ONEDonald DewarHenry McLeishJack McConnellAlex SalmondPART TWONicola SturgeonHumza YusafJohn SwinneySummary and Ratings

In Part One, as we approach the 25th anniversary of the death of Donald Dewar, Bernard and Alex reflect on the Office of First Minister and how it has changed since Dewar's time as the first office holder.