The Stooshie: the politics podcast from DC Thomson

Week 25: Maternity care special episode

It’s the week in which Ian Blackford has faced calls to resign and the country’s railways come to a standstill as workers go on strike over a pay dispute. We also speak to Marj Adams from the campaign group Keep Mum about their anger at the lack of maternity care in Moray.
Subscribe to the Courier or Press and Journal today to stay up to date on Local and Scottish news. Go to www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe/ or www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe/ to get unlimited access to the news that matters to you.

Week 24, 2022: IndyRef, freedom of speech and a tale of two ferries

It’s the week in which Nicola Sturgeon heralded a new dawn for independence but didn’t have a legal route or date to show for it. Conservatives continue to stand firmly against a second referendum and point to failings on domestic issues including two ferries on the Clyde. But there’s better news sailing down the Forth. And we rake over the eye-opening judgement in the strange case of ‘Lady Whistledown’.
Subscribe to the Courier or Press and Journal today to stay up to date on Local and Scottish news. Go to www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe/ or www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe/ to get unlimited access to the news that matters to you.

Week 23, 2022: Drug addiction special

It’s the week in which serious problems with the country’s approach to drug and alcohol abuse were sidelined by distractions at Westminster. Boris Johnson faced down a confidence vote which leaves his party bitterly divided from top to bottom and with the Scottish Tories. Meanwhile, we spoke with MSP Paul Sweeney about how Labour might tackle drug addiction. We also discussed exclusive coverage of a key drugs taskforce figure’s resignation and failings in Scotland’s minimum alcohol pricing policy.
Subscribe to the Courier or Press and Journal today to stay up to date on Local and Scottish news. Go to www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe/ or www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe/ to get unlimited access to the news that matters to you.

Week 22, 2022: Focus on autism in education

It’s the week in which Scotland’s finance secretary Kate Forbes got branded “Thatcher” for a spending review with harsh consequences for public services. Scotland’s census continued to limp along past the already-extended deadline, while critics feared it would be a dud for useful information. And we discuss a special investigation from our colleagues looking at autism in education, including a chat with SNP schools secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville.
Subscribe to the Courier or Press and Journal today to stay up to date on Local and Scottish news. Go to www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe/ or www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe/ to get unlimited access to the news that matters to you.
Subscribe to the Courier or Press and Journal today to stay up to date on Local and Scottish news. Go to www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe/ or www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe/ to get unlimited access to the news that matters to you.

Week 21, 2022: Has Boris Johnson ‘got away with it’?

It’s the week in which Boris Johnson said he’s staying put despite a horrendous report from Sue Gray detailing puking, fighting and boozed-up gatherings at the heart of government in lockdown. It’s all bad news for Douglas Ross too, who’s under pressure to turn on his boss. Nicola Sturgeon was meanwhile marking her long-service landmark as first minister while recovering from Covid. What’s her legacy, and what is she still planning to do in the job?
Subscribe to The Courier or Press and Journal today to stay up to date on local and Scottish news. Go to www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe/ or www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe/ to get unlimited access to the news that matters to you.

Week 20, 2022: Planes, trains and tax appeals

It’s the week in which Nicola Sturgeon went to the States to win friends and influence people, but annoyed her critics who point to big domestic problems at home. Tory MSP Murdo Fraser meanwhile skipped opportunities to grill the government by heading to Seville to watch Rangers. We also brought you the mystery of the sanctions-busting flight from Inverness to Moscow, and the ongoing tussle about whether wealthy oil and gas firms should pay more tax.
Subscribe to the Courier or Press and Journal today to stay up to date on Local and Scottish news. Go to www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe/ or www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe/ to get unlimited access to the news that matters to you.

Week 19, 2022: Alison Johnstone on a year in Holyrood

It’s the week in which Holyrood’s presiding officer, Alison Johnstone, marks a year in the job. It’s been a difficult one with pandemic restrictions, and next year is supposed to include deliberation of an independence referendum. Meanwhile, two ends of the political spectrum got caught up in a row about the place of profits and tax on big business, and we reflect on deals being done to set council administrations a week after the election.
Subscribe to the Courier or Press and Journal today to stay up to date on Local and Scottish news. Go to www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe/ or www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe/ to get unlimited access to the news that matters to you.

Stooshie special: Aberdeen election debate

Part five brings an end to our series of local election debates. Press and Journal political editor Adele Merson took your questions and put them to city leaders and candidates in robust exchanges about the way the council is run. Hot topics include the transformation of the city centre, the impact of the oil and gas industry and whether the region gets a raw deal from Holyrood.
Adele is joined by Alex Nicoll for the SNP; Guy Ingerson for the Scottish Greens; Ian Yuill for the Lib Dems; Jenny Laing, who is the current Labour leader; and Ryan Houghton for the Scottish Conservatives.
Subscribe to the Courier or Press and Journal today to stay up to date on Local and Scottish news. Go to www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe/ or www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe/ to get unlimited access to the news that matters to you.

Stooshie special: Fife election debate

Part four of the election series puts your questions to candidates in Fife. The Kingdom is currently run by an SNP-Labour administration which will come to an end after May 5. So what can people expect as councillors navigate their way around party HQ rules about coalitions and deals?
Courier political editor Derek Healey is joined by Tim Brett for the Liberal Democrats; David Ross for Labour; David Alexander for the SNP; and Dave Dempsey for the Conservatives
Subscribe to the Courier or Press and Journal today to stay up to date on Local and Scottish news. Go to www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe/ or www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe/ to get unlimited access to the news that matters to you.

Stooshie special: Perth and Kinross election debate

Part three of our election series takes us to Perth and Kinross, where Nicola Sturgeon hopes her SNP group could take control. There's more to the battle than national politics, as the panel of candidates point out in this one-off podcast. There are distinct rural concerns which puts housing and transport front and centre. And there's a strong indepedent influence on the authority too.
Courier political editor Derek Healey is joined by John Duff from the Conservatives; Alasdair Bailey for Labour; Willie Wilson of the Liberal Democrats; Grant Laing of the SNP and Xander Mcdaid, an independent.
Subscribe to the Courier or Press and Journal today to stay up to date on Local and Scottish news. Go to www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe/ or www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe/ to get unlimited access to the news that matters to you.