The Stooshie: the politics podcast from DC Thomson

Week 25, 2021:The Stooshie ‘End of Parliament Quiz’!

It’s the week in which security footage purports to show Health Secretary Matt Hancock in an embrace with a woman who isn’t his wife, and in which we unmask a Twitter troll as a senior Tory Councillor. But, far more divertingly, the Scottish Parliament is about the break for summer and so there’s an end of term vibe in the Stooshie virtual studio. Perfect for a quiz; play along at home! 
You can get a free month of unlimited access to The Courier or The Press & Journal websites; just go to https://www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe or https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe to be better briefed. New customers only; you can cancel at any time; offer correct at the time of publication, and may not be available if you’re accessing this episode at a later date. 
So you don’t miss an episode, follow The Stooshie today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you know folk like you who want to understand politics in Scotland a little better, suggest they tune into The Stooshie too. 
Be better briefed, with The Stooshie from DC Thomson Media. 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/stooshiescot 
ⓕ https://facebook.com/stooshiescot 
Sound effects from Zapsplat.com 
Mariachi Snooze by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100166 
Artist: http://incompetech.com/ 

Week 24, 2021: PPE bottomed out, QCs get historic top jobs

It's the week in which top jobs were appointed. Dorothy Bain QC is approved for the role of Lord Advocate and the role of Solicitor General is held by Ruth Charteris QC. This is the first time that both of these positions are held by women making it a significant moment in Scottish history. In addition, Ms Bain will be involved in legislation surrounding the second independence referendum. Plus, the panel discuss Audit Scotland's findings into the Scottish Government's handling of PPE equipment last year when the pandemic began. Findings include that there was less than one day's supply of FFP respirator masks and that the government would have saved £37 million had they bought PPE earlier.
You can get a free month of unlimited access to The Courier or The Press & Journal websites; just go to https://www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe or https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe to be better briefed. New customers only; you can cancel at any time; offer correct at the time of publication, and may not be available if you’re accessing this episode at a later date. 
So you don’t miss an episode, follow The Stooshie today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you know folk like you who want to understand politics in Scotland a little better, suggest they tune into The Stooshie too. 
Be better briefed, with The Stooshie from DC Thomson Media. 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/stooshiescot 
ⓕ https://facebook.com/stooshiescot 

Week 23, 2021: Long Covid, new Covid, more Covid

It’s the week in which the delta variant (formerly known as the Indian variant) is growing in Scotland, sparking conversation about how this may impact the ‘coming out of lockdown’ plans. You’ll also find out about why the potential tariff free trade deal with Australia has caused concern among Scottish farmers. Plus, how will the Scottish government meet the energy transition targets? And, of course, with a familiar face in the chair, the familiar Stoosh of the Week returns, awarded to a familiar recipient…
You can get a free month of unlimited access to The Courier or The Press & Journal websites; just go to https://www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe or https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe to be better briefed. New customers only; you can cancel at any time; offer correct at the time of publication, and may not be available if you’re accessing this episode at a later date. 
So you don’t miss an episode, follow The Stooshie today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you know folk like you who want to understand politics in Scotland a little better, suggest they tune into The Stooshie too. 
Be better briefed, with The Stooshie from DC Thomson Media. 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/stooshiescot 
ⓕ https://facebook.com/stooshiescot 

Week 22, 2021: Exams chaos yet again

If you thought it was only the exams for 2020 that were thrown into chaos by the pandemic, think again. This year, confusion and stress about the exams – sorry, assessments – have reignited calls to examine how we assess pupils’ work, and who does that assessment. Plus, a mental health crisis, with key posts left unfilled, and the scourge – and opportunity – of fast fashion.
You can get a free month of unlimited access to The Courier or The Press & Journal websites; just go to https://www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe or https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe to be better briefed. New customers only; you can cancel at any time; offer correct at the time of publication, and may not be available if you’re accessing this episode at a later date. 
So you don’t miss an episode, follow The Stooshie today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you know folk like you who want to understand politics in Scotland a little better, suggest they tune into The Stooshie too. 
Be better briefed, with The Stooshie from DC Thomson Media. 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/stooshiescot 
ⓕ https://facebook.com/stooshiescot 

Week 21, 2021: Johnson unfit for office, says man who masterminded his route to office

It’s the week in which explosive testimony from Dominic Cummings cast the UK government in a very dim light indeed. Of course, a dose of scepticism is advised given his track record, as the team discuss, but this is still the most explicit picture we’ve yet got of Boris Johnson’s administration’s response in the early days of the pandemic. Plus, cooperation between the SNP and Greens, and more. Listen up.
You can get a free month of unlimited access to The Courier or The Press & Journal websites; just go to https://www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe or https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe to be better briefed. New customers only; you can cancel at any time; offer correct at the time of publication, and may not be available if you’re accessing this episode at a later date. 
So you don’t miss an episode, follow The Stooshie today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you know folk like you who want to understand politics in Scotland a little better, suggest they tune into The Stooshie too. 
Be better briefed, with The Stooshie from DC Thomson Media. 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/stooshiescot 
ⓕ https://facebook.com/stooshiescot 

Week 20, 2021: Cabinet reshuffle

It’s the week in which First Minister Nicola Sturgeon unveiled her new cabinet, with some familiar faces returning to front-line posts. It also saw beleaguered Education Secretary John Swinney moved into a new post; the new role is an important one, to be sure, but was the move simply to take the heat out of the exams scandal? Plus, our investigations continue into the deaths in care homes at the start of the pandemic. All this and more, on this week’s Stooshie.
You can get a free month of unlimited access to The Courier or The Press & Journal websites; just go to https://www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe or https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe to be better briefed. New customers only; you can cancel at any time; offer correct at the time of publication, and may not be available if you’re accessing this episode at a later date. 
So you don’t miss an episode, follow The Stooshie today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you know folk like you who want to understand politics in Scotland a little better, suggest they tune into The Stooshie too. 
Be better briefed, with The Stooshie from DC Thomson Media. 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/stooshiescot 
ⓕ https://facebook.com/stooshiescot 

Week 19, 2021: election hangovers, and the most diverse Scottish Parliament ever

It’s the week in which new MSPs were sworn into parliament after the elections, and the team reflects on the richness and diversity of the new cohort. Plus, the results of a rather macabre series of Freedom of Information requests put in by the P&J’s Investigations Editor, Calum Ross.
You can get a free month of unlimited access to The Courier or The Press & Journal websites; just go to https://www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe or https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe to be better briefed. New customers only; you can cancel at any time; offer correct at the time of publication, and may not be available if you’re accessing this episode at a later date. 
So you don’t miss an episode, follow The Stooshie today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you know folk like you who want to understand politics in Scotland a little better, suggest they tune into The Stooshie too. 
Be better briefed, with The Stooshie from DC Thomson Media. 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/stooshiescot 
ⓕ https://facebook.com/stooshiescot 

Special edition: Reflecting on parties, personalities and policies with Kez Dugdale and Chris Deerin

With the results not expected until the weekend, we knew we couldn’t report on who’s won the election on this week’s show. But there have been winners and losers of sorts all throughout the run-up, and so to reflect on the fortunes of the parties, personalities and policies in this oddest of campaigns, Courier Editor David Clegg is joined by the Director of the John Smith Centre and former Scottish Labour leader, Kezia Dugdale, and Chris Deerin, Director of Reform Scotland. There’s a lot of ground covered, so as you await the results, take a moment to look back.
You can get a free month of unlimited access to The Courier or The Press & Journal websites; just go to https://www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe or https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe to be better briefed. New customers only; you can cancel at any time; offer correct at the time of publication, and may not be available if you’re accessing this episode at a later date. 
So you don’t miss an episode, follow The Stooshie today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you know folk like you who want to understand politics in Scotland a little better, suggest they tune into The Stooshie too. 
Be better briefed, with The Stooshie from DC Thomson Media. 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/stooshiescot 
ⓕ https://facebook.com/stooshiescot 

Week 17, 2021: An odd campaign, plus, the Sturgeon interview

It’s the last Stooshie before the election, and the team reflect on the nature of a campaign in a pandemic. Plus, Courier Editor David Clegg rejoins the Stooshie to share insight from his long interview with Nicola Sturgeon, which you can watch on thecourier.co.uk and pressandjournal.co.uk. And finally, there’s a little Easter egg awaiting any Janey Godley fans…
You can get a free month of unlimited access to The Courier or The Press & Journal websites; just go to https://www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe or https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe to be better briefed. New customers only; you can cancel at any time; offer correct at the time of publication, and may not be available if you’re accessing this episode at a later date. 
So you don’t miss an episode, follow The Stooshie today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you know folk like you who want to understand politics in Scotland a little better, suggest they tune into The Stooshie too. 
Be better briefed, with The Stooshie from DC Thomson Media. 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/stooshiescot 
ⓕ https://facebook.com/stooshiescot 

Week 16, 2021: Manifestos and mailboxes — how can politicians best deliver their message?

All the political parties have now set out their manifestos, and with doormats and pigeonholes and mail baskets across the nation groaning under the weight of party political leaflets, we ask how effective campaign literature is at getting the message across. Plus, we restrain ourselves from making the obvious pun at about 16:20.  
You can get a free month of unlimited access to The Courier or The Press & Journal websites; just go to https://www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe or https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/subscribe to be better briefed. New customers only; you can cancel at any time; offer correct at the time of publication, and may not be available if you’re accessing this episode at a later date. 
So you don’t miss an episode, follow The Stooshie today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you know folk like you who want to understand politics in Scotland a little better, suggest they tune into The Stooshie too. 
Be better briefed, with The Stooshie from DC Thomson Media. 
ⓣ https://twitter.com/stooshiescot 
ⓕ https://facebook.com/stooshiescot