The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast

Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie reflect on Keir Starmer surviving last week's back bench mutiny but has he quietly lost the crew? Will this be regarded as a moment that instigated further ferment? Also, reflections on the death of Tory grandee, Lord Norman Tebbit at the age of 94.

The 4th of July marks the first anniversary of Keir Starmer's election victory and time as Prime Minister. Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie evaluate his first 12 months in No 10 Downing Street, breaking down performance into domestic and foreign affairs performance.

Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie discuss the news today that Fergus Ewing is leaving the SNP and standing as an independent candidate at the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election, bringing to an end an era of constant representation under the SNP banner for the Ewing dynasty since the Scottish Parliament was formed. Also - What is the role of independents in the Scottish Parliament and why do so few succeed? Only 3 have been elected as independents but can you name them?Scottish Disability numbersThe Winter Fuel AllowanceAssisted dying.... and Bernard cutting the podcast a little shorter to get out for a pint in the sun!

Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie run the rule over each of the Scottish political party leaders and give them a mark out of ten for how they are performing. Including:John SwinneyAnas SarwarRussell FindlayAlex Cole-HamiltonLorna Slater & Patrick HarvieReform? Who is the Scottish Leader?

Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie are joined by Paul Sweeney of Labour and Cllr Thomas Kerr of Reform UK to ask what the result means?Labour GAIN from SNP Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election resultLAB: 31.5% (-2.0) SNP: 29.4% (-16.8) REF: 26.2% (+26.2) CON: 6.0% (-11.5) GRN: 2.6% (+2.6) +/- 2021

On support for independence in poll: "54% of people supporting independence and 46 supporting the unionist status quo... a record high for Norstat in the last four or five years." — Alex MassieOn Reform UK's rise in poll: "Reform are plus four at 18%. And of course, when you translate all of this into seats, I mean, it is really quite extraordinary." — Bernard PonsonbyOn Labour's struggles: "If Labour are way, way, way behind the SNP... it would be a complete humiliation if they can't come second." — Bernard PonsonbyOn the SNP’s longevity: "By the time we go into the election next year the SNP will have been in government for 19 years. I mean, it really is embarrassing from the Labour Party's point of view." — Bernard PonsonbyOn Farage and political consistency: "Farage has just decided, I won't bother about the Tories... he's now going after Labour. But he's doing it not by enunciating what he really has traditionally believed." — Bernard PonsonbyOn Reform’s strength: "It is an expression of a sensibility of dissatisfaction with politics as they've been." — Alex MassieOn Labour’s disconnect: "The people Labour are really struggling with in Scotland are people who live on the housing estates... reform are now at around one in four in council housing." — Alex MassieOn race politics in the by-election: "Anybody who knows Anas Sarwar will know that he would not prioritise the interests of any community over the other." — Bernard PonsonbyOn Farage’s ignorance of Scotland: "I remember... he said, 'the SNP won that famous Falkirk by-election'... they didn't." — Bernard Ponsonby

Speculation is rife that the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, will be privately pleased that details of her tax reform memo to Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, have been leaked to the Telegraph. Is she on manoeuvres and is she a credible candidate for the top job?AlsoThe SNP has criticised the Prime Minister's EU deal - but aren't these things that the SNP would need to agree to if they were to apply to rejoin the EU in an independent Scotland?And...Where is Labour's camera shy candidate for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by election? He hasn't agreed to go on TV to debate the other candidates.

Bernard and Alex discuss the danger for Labour of dancing to the right-wing's tune on immigration. What does it mean? What (if anything) does Keir Starmer stand for? What does Labour now stand for?