Holyrood Sources

The Holyrood Sources podcast analyses Scottish politics through the experiences of those who have lived and breathed it as Special Advisers to the Scottish Government, SNP and opposition parties. Join hosts Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (Chief of Staff to the First Minister, 2007-2014) and Andy Maciver (Former Head of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives) as they take you inside Scottish politics. Their insight is second to none - they've been there, lived it, and maintain remarkable connections to Scotland's politicians and the world of Scottish politics.


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Recent Episodes
  • What is a woman? With Susan Smith
    Apr 23, 2025 – 54:20
  • Questions, answered
    Apr 16, 2025 – 32:12
  • Tory Defections and Alba’s Vision… with Jamie Greene and Kenny MacAskill
    Apr 9, 2025 – 58:32
  • Can the SNP win the Hamilton by-election?
    Apr 2, 2025 – 39:01
  • Ivan McKee: Reforming the Civil Service
    Mar 28, 2025 – 40:59
  • Sturgeon "Relieved", Sarwar's Change of Mind, Ross Aims for Westminster
    Mar 26, 2025 – 40:34
  • Getting Scotland working
    Mar 19, 2025 – 44:22
  • Sturgeon Quits, Labour & Welfare, Liz Smith MSP
    Mar 12, 2025 – 55:48
  • Scotland's role in a coalition of the willing
    Mar 5, 2025 – 46:58
  • Labour Debrief, MSPs Standing Down
    Feb 26, 2025 – 41:04
  • Anas Sarwar & Jackie Baillie
    Feb 19, 2025 – 1:10:47
  • Labour's Promises and Your Questions Answered
    Feb 12, 2025 – 44:55
  • Sarwar's Dilemma; Swinney's Past
    Feb 5, 2025 – 46:54
  • Getting Stuff Done - the budget and coalitions
    Jan 29, 2025 – 50:57
  • Anthony Scaramucci... on Trump and Scotland
    Jan 26, 2025 – 34:48
  • Optimistic Vision, Trump's Inauguration, Coalition Benefits
    Jan 22, 2025 – 35:41
  • Reform UK Defection... and Coalition Polling
    Jan 19, 2025 – 48:47
  • Exclusive: Scotland-wide Polling... with Prof Sir John Curtice
    Jan 15, 2025 – 39:39
  • Exclusive: The First Minister and Deputy First Minister
    Jan 8, 2025 – 1:26:47
  • Scotland’s Ageing Population… and how to pay for it
    Jan 1, 2025 – 1:20:33
  • Christmas Special 2024
    Dec 23, 2024 – 1:15:21
  • Humza Yousaf, WASPI vs Sarwar and the A9
    Dec 18, 2024 – 46:29
  • “Hope” for 2026 & Talking to Trump
    Dec 11, 2024 – 41:20
  • The Scottish Government's Budget - Analysed
    Dec 5, 2024 – 30:06
  • The Scottish Budget Preview
    Dec 4, 2024 – 47:28
  • The Rise of Reform UK in Scotland
    Nov 27, 2024 – 58:16
  • Double Jobbing & Vote Labour to Stop Labour
    Nov 21, 2024 – 40:12
  • Stephen Flynn's MSP Bid: The Dual Mandate
    Nov 13, 2024 – 55:12
  • Trump and Problems for Scottish Labour
    Nov 6, 2024 – 40:56
  • The UK Government Budget
    Oct 30, 2024 – 1:34:12
  • Salmond Protocol; MSPs in the USA; Education staff on strike
    Oct 23, 2024 – 47:16
  • Remembering Alex Salmond
    Oct 16, 2024 – 43:18
  • The Islands Tour: Lerwick
    Oct 9, 2024 – 1:33:35
  • Housing, Climbing The Tory Mountain and The Zeitgeist
    Oct 2, 2024 – 50:17
  • Michael Moore, Former Secretary of State for Scotland
    Sep 27, 2024 – 52:39
  • A New Proposition for Independence and the Parliament?
    Sep 25, 2024 – 59:08
  • IndyRef 10 Years; Devolution 25 Years - Brian Taylor and Bernard Ponsonby
    Sep 19, 2024 – 19:58
  • IndyRef 10 Years; Devolution 25 Years - Alex Salmond
    Sep 18, 2024 – 23:39
  • IndyRef 10 Years; Devolution 25 Years - Jack McConnell
    Sep 17, 2024 – 24:41
  • IndyRef 10 Years; Devolution 25 Years - The Origins
    Sep 16, 2024 – 51:10
  • Salmond and Sturgeon, Greens vs SNP
    Sep 11, 2024 – 34:16
  • Cuts or Savings? The Programme for Government
    Sep 6, 2024 – 47:34
  • Scottish Conservative Leadership Special
    Sep 4, 2024 – 1:14:30
  • SNP Conference: Kate Forbes, Michelle Thomson, John Boothman
    Aug 31, 2024 – 1:00:14
  • Sarwar, Swinney and Salmond - How to Win in 2026
    Aug 28, 2024 – 48:07
  • A Quiet Summer... with Angus Robertson
    Aug 21, 2024 – 1:04:20
  • The Islands Tour: Kirkwall
    Aug 14, 2024 – 1:44:40
  • The Politics of Riots, Results and Murdo Fraser Enters The Race
    Aug 7, 2024 – 36:28
  • Who Should Lead The Scottish Conservatives?
    Jul 31, 2024 – 30:49
  • The Future of Scottish Conservatives...with Liz Smith and Murdo Fraser
    Jul 24, 2024 – 43:30
Recent Reviews
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