The Stooshie: the politics podcast from DC Thomson

SNP conference comes to Aberdeen

The SNP conference is being held in Aberdeen this weekend, and there’s an election around the corner.
SNP MP Graham Leadbitter joins the Stooshie to look at the big talking points.
We cover the ever-present focus of independence, the policies getting people talking and the challenges for John Swinney.
And we look at the political challenge from a bruised Conservative party and an upstart Reform group.

Time to cage dog thieves

Maurice Golden is calling time on dog thieves.
He hopes a new law that could seem them caged for five years will pass its first Scottish Parliament hurdle.
In the Stooshie, the North East MSP sets out why dog theft is different and describes surprising links to organised crime gangs.
First, the team discusses the impact of placing asylum seekers at a university campus in Aberdeen full of international students.
And how a wall of silence in Perth & Kinross led to important discussions about reporting immigration stories.

Labour conference preview as leadership campaign hits Scotland

Labour MP Graeme Downie talks to us about the health of the party before conference begins in Liverpool.
He was in Dunfermline with deputy leadership candidate Lucy Powell this week, after the resignation of Angela Rayner.
What do MPs think of Keir Starmer’s leadership?
How are they fighting Reform’s advance?
And what is the mood in Scottish Labour before a crucial Holyrood election next spring?

Aberdeen asylum controversy, and Kevin Stewart MSP interview

Asylum seekers are being moved from hotels to student halls of residence - what do people in Aberdeen think?
Why is the Home Office being so terrible at explaining what’s happening?
We look at a Reform/Tory turf war in an SNP target seat.
And what do changes to the law mean for victims of crime?
SNP MSP Kevin Stewart also joins to go over his high points and experience with mental health struggles as he prepares to leave parliament next spring.

The battle for energy, and flags, as everyone comes to Aberdeen

We look at the big Offshore Europe conference on the energy industry, hearing how there might be grounds for optimism despite upheaval.
Business journalist Kelly Wilson describes the changes over time and the mood in the “energy capital” of Aberdeen.
Also in the Granite City, Nicola Sturgeon was there to promote her book.
Political journalist Denny Andonova was in the audience to hear about everything from roller skating to the battle for Scotland’s flag.

Back to school in election year

The Stooshie team is refreshed from our summer break … in which we did a lot of work.
Things that got in the way of cocktails by the pool include:
Golf course chats with Donald Trump
Protests outside hotels for asylum seekers from Aberdeen to Perth
The rise of Reform, and trouble for Tories
Investigations into the future of Dundee university.
All that and a look ahead to a parliamentary election year in Scotland.

Married couple’s Aberdeenshire election bid

Some stark contrasts in this week’s episode as we look at splits and partnerships in politics.
We look at Fergus Ewing’s dramatic exit from the SNP after decades of service, only to stand against his former party next May.
And we speak to a husband and wife team who secured the top two slots for the Liberal Democrats on the North East Scotland regional ballot paper.

Dundee debt-busting scheme tries to tackle poverty

Dundee and the wider Tayside region has served as the pilot for a scheme to tackle public debt.National charity Aberlour have been helping families in poverty unable to pay their rent or council tax.But how has the project worked for the local community, and can it actually save taxpayers’ cash?

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay interview

Scottish Conservative chief Russell Findlay joins us ahead of his party’s conference in Edinburgh this weekend.
He speaks candidly about his first year in the job and addresses Tory council defections to Reform.
We also hear exclusively about his party’s proposals for an emergency law to fast-track A9 dualling.

Nigel Farage and Keir Starmer in Scotland

Two political heavyweights started the week in Scotland, and we went to speak to both.
In Aberdeen, Nigel Farage unveiled his latest north-east defector from the Tories. And in Glasgow, Keir Starmer outlined the impact of his defence spending plans.
We look through the developments - including a weird Reform attack on the media - to see what it means locally. And we look at the timing as voters in a crucial Holyrood by-election prepare to cast their ballots.