HeyJaredThe Ponsonby and Massie Podcast
The two biggest names in Scottish political journalism, Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie, join forces to bring you a regular “must listen” insider briefing on the political and wider world.Bernard has been Scotland's leading TV political editor for many years while Alex is…
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 10
- Latest publication
- Sep 11, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 6, 2026
Latest episodes
SCOTTISH EDUCATION - NO LONGER BEST IN UK. WHY? (opens the original)
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Poor marks for Scottish Education in PISA figures, Burnham’s referendum blunder and a bad week for the SNP succession hopefuls? Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie examine Andy Burnham’s confusion over the route to a second Scottish independence referendum—and what it reveals about his command of constitutional politics. Scotland’s latest PISA results make grim reading. Why has Scottish education fallen behind England, and are John Swinney and Education Secretary Màiri McAllan confronting the scale
SCOTLAND'S £5bn ABYSS - Is Swinney Austerity Inevitable? (opens the original)
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In this edition of The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast, Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie analyse the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government and John Swinney’s radical plans for public-service reform. They examine the proposed restructuring of Scotland’s NHS, social care, councils and quangos; the £5 billion funding gap; and the prospect of conflict with public-sector trade unions. Turning to UK politics, they assess Andy Burnham’s early premiership, Keir Starmer’s resignation, the Holborn an
STURGEON & MURRELL TV DRAMA - Who will they cast? (opens the original)
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A new cost-of-living “winter of discontent”? Will Andy Burnham and John Swinney come clean on tightening budgets facing both Westminster and Holyrood The lighter question of casting the announced Sturgeon–Murrell Channel 5 drama. Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby an
INSIDE SCOTTISH LABOUR LEADERSHIP RACE (opens the original)
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Either Michael Marra or Joe Fagan will be the next leader of the Scottish Labour Party. What's happening in the race, what does the new leader need to do and will it make any difference in their goal of Labour unseating the SNP? PLUS - It's reported the John Swinney's World Cup junket with entourage cost the tax payer around £95k? Was it worth it? Anger in Glasgow over the state of the City. Why can't opposition parties hold the SNP to account? Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if y
FARAGE INVESTIGATION - Reopens After By-Election Farce (opens the original)
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Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie discuss Farage's post Clacton by-election propects as it's announced that the parliamentary investigation into substantial donations made to Mr Farage by a donor is active again. Plus - the Scottish Labour leadership contest is gathering pace. It's all smiles in public but what's really happening and who will emerge victorious. GERS figures - we've read them so you don't have to - Alex explains and Bernard takes a critical view. Focussing on UK, Scottish and Glob
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