The only podcast you need to keep your finger on the pulse of Scottish politics. Each episode, as well as an in-depth interview and top national and international politics headlines, political journalists from The Press & Journal, The Courier, Evening Express and Evening Telegraph discuss and explain the week’s biggest stories from Holyrood, Westminster and beyond. Be Better Briefed, with The Stooshie.
Episodes
Wednesday Sep 18, 2024
Scottish referendum 10 years on, with Better Together chief Blair McDougall
Wednesday Sep 18, 2024
Wednesday Sep 18, 2024
We look back at the pro-independence campaign in a two-part special featuring the leading figures from both sides.
In this interview, we hear from Blair McDougall, the chief strategist of pro-UK group Better Together.
He recalls working with the late Alistair Darling, political rivals, and considers if they took the right approach for a more definitive result.
Look out for our second interview, published at the same time, with Yes Scotland chief Blair Jenkins.
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
How Perth prison scheme aims to cut reoffending and ease prison overcrowding
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
Wednesday Sep 11, 2024
Prison overcrowding is back in the headlines as some inmates are released early.
But it’s not just prisoners serving their sentences, there are also big problems with the number of people on remand.
We speak to Hamish Robertson, from the Wise Group, about a new project to tackle root problems, starting with a mentoring scheme in Perth.
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
All change, no cash
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
The Stooshie team is back from summer break to find the Scottish bank account has been cleared out.
What do these cuts mean?
Does John Swinney’s SNP or Keir Starmer’s Labour have a plan?
Are the Conservatives really still scrapping over who should lead them back from election disaster?
Wednesday Jul 10, 2024
What next for the SNP and Tories, and what's it like to be an MP?
Wednesday Jul 10, 2024
Wednesday Jul 10, 2024
Scotland has had its say, and a week on from the election we survey the wreckage of the SNP and Conservative campaigns and try to work out what they might do next. We also hear from Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy's Melanie Ward, who shares an audio diary of her first days in Westminster as a new MP.
And finally, will John Swinney and Keir Starmer find some common ground after years of dysfunction and rivalry between the Scottish and UK governments?
Wednesday Jul 03, 2024
Polls and postal vote scandal
Wednesday Jul 03, 2024
Wednesday Jul 03, 2024
The opinion polls all agree who will be next prime minister.
But lots of local contests are still far too close to call.
What will the parties learn from crucial regional shifts in opinion?
Some people won't get a say at all because of postal vote delays.
We discuss the real-life impact and the anger building over the timing of this election.
Wednesday Jun 26, 2024
Rishi returns as Tories brace
Wednesday Jun 26, 2024
Wednesday Jun 26, 2024
The prime minister was back in Scotland to help Douglas Ross in a tight contest.
Were they words of encouragement or damage limitation?
Can Lib Dems pull of a Highland surprise?
And will Reform have any impact in Scotland?
All that and analysis of the latest election coverage from political reporters across the P&J, The Courier and the Sunday Post.
Wednesday Jun 19, 2024
Election latest, and an Aberdeenshire shock
Wednesday Jun 19, 2024
Wednesday Jun 19, 2024
We discuss how Labour suspended its candidate in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East after exclusive reporting from our politics team.
What happens next in the big contest between the SNP and Tories in the crucial region?
Does Gordon Brown's impact still resonate in Fife - and can the Kingdom turn red?
And we make some rash predictions about how many seats the Conservatives might win or lose in Scotland.
Wednesday Jun 12, 2024
Douglas Ross and the Tory turmoil
Wednesday Jun 12, 2024
Wednesday Jun 12, 2024
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross rocked his own campaign, leaving us to wonder what can possibly happen next.
We look at new polling on the picture in Scotland, and what's happening with Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak.
And we wonder if everyone's made up their mind already and just wants to watch Scotland at the Euros.
Wednesday Jun 05, 2024
John Swinney interview special
Wednesday Jun 05, 2024
Wednesday Jun 05, 2024
In an exclusive interview, John Swinney says he feared for his party when he stood to become leader earlier this year.
Speaking to David Clegg, the first minister reflected on the fast-paced first weeks in office, propelled from a think-tank event in London into the top job in Scottish politics.
Mr Swinney explains why he'd turned down a job from Humza Yousaf only a month before he resigned, and details why he thinks he's the right man to reverse his party's decline in the polls as voters become fatigued from 17 years of SNP dominance.
Wednesday May 29, 2024
General election fever, week 1
Wednesday May 29, 2024
Wednesday May 29, 2024
Rishi Sunak came to the Highlands where he doesn’t even have a candidate.
Keir Starmer promised Scotland the earth, but not a location for his fabled GB Energy HQ.
John Swinney found himself in an election moments after becoming First Minister.
We discuss week one, we test the water among the people of Perth, and all the rest in the first of our election podcasts.