The Stooshie: the politics podcast from DC Thomson

Maybe the public don't like honesty after all

The polls are in, and it’s grim reading for Keir Starmer.
Reform are on the rise, and the SNP shows no sign of rolling over for Scottish Labour.
As Scottish Secretary Ian Murray wonders aloud if the public like honesty after all, we look at the tough road ahead.
We also take a look inside Donald Trump’s mind and wonder what’s in store for us after his inauguration this month.
And is it really true he’s the one making the case for oil and gas jobs in Scotland?

What’s coming up in 2025?

The team returns for a new year to consider what the big stories will be. 
Budgets take centre stage, including alarm over university finances and the NHS. Money can be found for a broken mountain railway in the Cairngorms, so why not everywhere else?And will our politicians find a way to respond to Donald Trump and social media doomscroller-in-chief Elon Musk?

2024 Politics Quiz

When you really think about, 2024 seems more like a fever dream than anything else.
Remember Rishi Sunak’s rain-drenched resignation?
Ed Davey’s bizarre attention grabbing stunts?
Humza Yousaf’s abrupt, self-inflicted implosion?
Play along with our team of politics reporters in our end-of-year quiz to see if you’ve been switched on or turned off.

University crisis and featured interview on cancer surgery

We discuss the crisis at Dundee University after weeks of difficult headlines over finances and senior leadership.
Is there a problem in Scottish higher education?
We also have a featured interview with a Stonehaven cancer survivor who spent £30,000 on a private breast reconstruction op to avoid the prospect of years waiting on NHS.
Why are so many women faced with this difficult choice in the first place?

Skye shooting gun control, ferry to Europe, and NHS crisis

This week’s Stooshie focuses on the political questions for gun control in the wake of the Skye shooting spree, which ended in court last week.
We hear from P&J investigations reporter Dale Haslam for the inside story.
We also speak to Labour MP Graeme Downie about his hopes to restart talks to bring back the ferry link between Rosyth and Europe.
And we look at the budget crisis engulfing NHS services, including troubled Grampian health board.

Dundee and Angus College plans - and the university funding crisis

We are joined by The Courier’s Dundee Area Editor Laura Devlin to discuss her exclusive on Dundee and Angus College’s £265 million transformation plans.
The college’s ambitious plans involve creating two new campuses, in the City of Discovery and Angus, and expanding its third campus at Gardyne.
We also discuss some of our exclusive coverage on the funding crisis hitting Scottish universities, including Dundee and RGU. 
And we look at SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn’s decision to ditch his double jobbing plan.
Finally, we discuss calls for a general election – after a new petition attracted almost three million signatures. 

SNP justice secretary on prisoner release

Scotland’s justice secretary, Angela Constance, explains plans to release more prisoners earlier in their sentences.
We hear about aims to improve prisons in places such as Inverness, as well as her hopes to focus on community-based justice.
The team wraps up a week of SNP intrigue sparked by our exclusive coverage of Stephen Flynn’s ambition to sit at Westminster and Holyrood.
And we look at Scottish Labour’s change of plan on the the UK party’s approach to winter fuel payments, just as the snow starts falling

SNP election drama and oil in the dock

We discuss our exclusive on SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn hoping to move to Holyrood.
We hear from energy historian Ewan Gibbs on lessons from the past on a “just transition” for oil workers.
And we hear climate lawyer Tessa Khan as the Court of Session looks at the future of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields off the Scottish coast.
Finally, we look at the annual ambulance service review and hear from its chief executive on the strains in the NHS.

Andrew Bowie interview, Donald Trump, and Holyrood comes to Aberdeen

Conservative MP Andrew Bowie joins us to talk about his new role shadowing the Scotland Office, and admits they promised lots but fell short in government.
The Aberdeenshire politician is also quizzed on his energy brief as rural pylon plans generate opposition.
We look at Donald Trump’s shock return, the Scottish reaction, and the way-off predictions of a Kamala Harris victory.
And we join Holyrood presiding officer Alison Johnstone in Aberdeen, also taking to Ross Mackay of the Grampian Regional Equality Council.

Human cost of budget cuts

While MPs debate small fixes to budgets, we look at the human cost of years of cuts and austerity.
From hollowed out health services, to public sector strikes, the problems run deep.
The team also looks at Unison’s targeted industrial action in Perthshire, as council staff look for elusive money.