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The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast

Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie view the world of politics at home and abroad from a Scottish perspective


Latest episode

  • 101. LORD ADVOCATE DENIES CORRUPTION

    43:04||Ep. 101
    Bernard and Alex discuss political accusations made of the Lord Advocate, Dorothy Bain KC. They explain the nature of her role, the controversies and pontential conflicts of interest and ask if it's time for reform of the Lord Advocate's position.

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  • 100. SCANDALS! Murrell/Sturgeon/Mandelson/Starmer/Sarwar

    46:37||Ep. 100
    What a week in politicsBernard and Alex discuss the newspaper reports on the charges Peter Murrell (Nicola Sturgeon's former husband) will face in court and analyse where Anas Sarwar's calls for the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, to resign in the wake of the Epstein / Mandelson scandal have left the Scottish Labour Leader in the run up to the Scottish Parliament Elections.

  • 99. STARMER IS FINISHED

    45:32||Ep. 99
    Recorded on the morning of Friday 6th Feb 2026 (It may all have changed by lunchtime)Includes a moment to reflect on the life of Alex's Father, Allan Massie, who died earlier this week.

  • 98. NEW POLLS - 100 DAYS TO SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS

    50:30||Ep. 98
    New polls report that 1 in 5 Scots claim they will vote for Reform UK at the Scottish Parliament Elections in May. Bernard and Alex analyse what is ahead. Tributes to Lord Jim WallaceScottish Parliament PollingBurnham and StarmerWill unpopular Tories be any more popular in Reform?

  • 97. WE'RE BACK - A Momentous Political Year Ahead

    47:26||Ep. 97
    We only took a well earned holiday in the cold months in advance of a busy year with the Scottish Parliament Elections. We're back and in this episode we look at the political year ahead domestically and Internationally.

  • 96. WHO IS LORD OFFORD? Reform UK's New Leader in Scotland?

    49:57||Ep. 96

  • LIVE FROM UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW + Q&A - With Professor Chris Carman

    01:29:40|
    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