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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

  • 112. SCOTTISH ELECTIONS - Results & Verdict

    48:53||Ep. 112
    SNP wins again — but the victory comes with serious caveatsJohn Swinney secures a remarkable third decade of SNP governmentLabour and Reform tied for second in seats - a brutal night for the old partiesScottish Labour’s decline continues — and the damage may have been made in LondonAnas Sarwar’s future: safe for now, but questions are unavoidableKeir Starmer under mounting pressure after disastrous UK-wide resultsReform’s Scottish breakthrough: from nowhere to 17 MSPsHas Farageism now found a place in Scottish politics?The Conservatives collapse from second place to fifthCalls to ‘unite the right’ may grow after Reform splits the unionist voteThe Greens surge with breakthrough wins in Edinburgh Central and Glasgow SouthsideRoss Greer’s targeted campaign hailed as one of the most effective of the electionLib Dem revival gives them real leverage in the next parliamentLiam McArthur tipped as possible next Presiding OfficerWill SNP deal with Lib Dems rather than Greens on budgets?Stephen Flynn’s arrival at Holyrood could reshape SNP politicsOil and gas tensions expose a divide between North East SNP and Central Belt SNPTurnout falls sharply — nearly half of voters stayed at homeA parliament transformed beneath the surface, even if the SNP still dominatesThe next Holyrood term may be the most difficult of the devolution era

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  • 111. SCOTTISH ELECTION - Final Polls, Predictions & Campaign Verdict

    47:28||Ep. 111
    Final polls before Scotland votesSNP on course to be largest party - but can they form a government?Reform tipped for a major breakthroughCould Reform become the main opposition?Polls say Labour facing a potentially disastrous night but how will electoral quirks effect this? What a bad result means for Anas SarwarConservatives under pressure as support fallsTurnout fears and the “don’t know” votersWhy the campaign failed to inspireGreens and Lib Dems eye influence at HolyroodWhat happens if the SNP fall short of a majorityCould Scottish results deepen Keir Starmer’s crisis?
  • 110. SCOT PARL 2026 - ONE WEEK TO GO - Electoral Maths and Key Seats

    40:22||Ep. 110
    SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS 2026 Why boundary changes make election-night swings harder to readProf Chris Hanretty explains “notional results” — the hidden baseline for 2026Reform’s zero-start problem: easy for notionals, difficult for interpretationCould a split unionist vote hand the SNP a majority on a third of the vote?Knife-edge seats: Edinburgh South, Glasgow list battles and the local-factor problemIs Holyrood’s voting system still proportional enough for a six-party Scotland?
  • 109. SCOT PARL 2026 - 2 WEEKS TO GO - Is this the most boring campaign ever?

    34:31||Ep. 109
    Scottish election campaign is being eclipsed by Westminster politics and feels flat:Starmer’s Mandelson/Olly Robbins row is deepening:Labour MPs appear to be losing faith in Starmer:The real damage is about competence and cronyism:Low turnout could be the big story of the Scottish election:SNP still look best placed despite a lacklustre campaign:
  • 108. SCOT PARL 2026 - 3 WEEKS TO GO - Latest Polling Insights With Mark Diffley

    48:10||Ep. 108
    With 3 weeks until the Scottish Parliament Elections 2026, leading pollster, Mark Diffley, joins Bernard and Alex with the latest insights. What are the latest polls saying?Why there is much to play for in marginal seats?How vote share translates to seats and the big changes that can come from small marginsWhich seats to watch for upsets?
  • 107. SCOT PARL 2026 - 4 Weeks To Go - Latest Polls and Leaders Debate Preview

    39:23||Ep. 107
    New polls suggest the SNP remains on course to win comfortably, but key questions remain over whether John Swinney secures a majority or must rely on support from other parties.Is Reform UK Scotland losing some momentum, with recent polling and campaign controversies raising doubts about whether it can sustain earlier advances.Sunday’s televised leaders’ debate is especially high-stakes for Malcolm Offord, while Anas Sarwar, John Swinney and Russell Findlay each face different political and performance pressures.After the election the real challenge may be Scotland’s fiscal crunch, with all parties accused of avoiding hard truths about spending, deficits and the affordability of manifesto promises.
  • Scottish Campaigning Begins - What Chance of an Upset?

    43:35|
    The Scottish Parliament is winding up ahead of the election in May. Is there any chance of a real upset ofr is it another SNP shoo-in?