The Stooshie: the politics podcast from DC Thomson

Week 51, 2020: What Christmas really needs is a buncha confusing rules

It’s the final episode of 2020, and like everyone, the Stooshie team are trying hard to understand the different rules in effect across the country about mixing over the festive period. Plus, we have the latest revelations from the Salmond inquiry, and news of a new suspect in the Lockerbie bombing.
The Stooshie will be taking a short break over Christmas, but we’ll be back in the new year. From everyone on the team, and across DC Thomson, if you’re celebrating we wish you a happy, peaceful Christmas, and if you’re one of the legions of key workers helping keep the country running, a huge thank you from all of us. Here’s to a happier 2021!
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Week 50, 2020: Brexit looms (again), plus SNP chief exec speaks at Salmond inquiry

It’s the week in which Brexit crashed towards its final deadline (and if it feels like you’ve read that sentence a million times before, imagine how it feels writing it), in which the Scottish government came in for criticism over its handling of ferries and Bifab, and in which SNP CEO Peter Murrell, husband to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, appeared before the Salmond inquiry.
Join journalists from across the DC Thomson Media folio of newspapers, and from all across the country, to help you understand the implications of what’s happening in Holyrood, Westminster and beyond. 
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Week 49: Vaccines! Plus, the SNP’s Cold War heats up

It's the week in which we learned that the coronavirus vaccine was to start almost-immediate roll-out – though there are lots of logistical challenges to be overcome. We also discuss the schisms in the usually-disciplined SNP, explain the latest on lockdown tiers and plans for Christmas, and there's a new Stoosh of the Week.
Join journalists from across the DC Thomson Media folio of newspapers, and from all across the country, to help you understand the implications of what’s happening in Holyrood, Westminster and beyond. 
Subscribe to The Stooshie today, recommend us to friends and family, rate and review if you have a moment, and let us know what you think of what we cover and how we cover it, on Twitter and Facebook. 
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Week 48, 2020: The implications and controversy of the Spending Review

It's the week in which the Chancellor gave his Spending Review – but there were plenty of controversies in the decisions, especially for Scotland. Plus, we look ahead to the SNP conference, and with our regular host absent, Courier Political Editor Paul Malik finally gets his way, and awards his inaugural Stoosh of the Week to Ian Blackford.
Join journalists from across the DC Thomson Media folio of newspapers, and from all across the country, to help you understand the implications of what’s happening in Holyrood, Westminster and beyond. 
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Week 47, 2020: Johnson’s latest devolution gaffe, plus: vaccines!

Another Boris Johnson gaffe kicks off this week’s show, with him having called devolution “a disaster”, but there’s more on the agenda than just that. We update you on the Hate Crimes Bill, explain how the Black Watch gets to fight another day and – oh, the joy! – while there are logistical challenges to rolling out the covid vaccine, that we now have two strong candidates must be the best news of 2020.
Join journalists from across the DC Thomson Media folio of newspapers, and from all across the country, to help you understand the implications of what’s happening in Holyrood, Westminster and beyond. 
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Week 46, 2020: Salmond ‘plot’, racism in Police Scotland, and the Covid latest

Source close to Mark McDonald suggest there’s a link between his resignation – following allegations of sexual misconduct – and the policies that resulted in Alex Salmond’s resignation and prosecution, as the Salmond inquiry rumbles on. Plus, distressing reading from a 500-page report into racism in Police Scotland, and Courier Country locking down further as coronavirus cases rise — but we allow ourselves a little jubilation at the Scotland men’s football result last night!
Join journalists from across the DC Thomson Media folio of newspapers, and from all across the country, to help you understand the implications of what’s happening in Holyrood, Westminster and beyond. 
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Special edition: Professor Sir John Curtice on independence, Brexit, and the US elections

We are delighted this episode to be joined by the prince of polls, Professor Sir John Curtice, who gives us his inimitable insight into the surge in popularity for independence, the role of the pandemic and our leaders’ handling of it on that swing, the upcoming Holyrood elections, and the results of the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey. We start, though, with an analysis of the race for the US Presidency, and what it means for everyone. A vital snapshot briefing on the world at a crossroads.
Join journalists from across the DC Thomson Media folio of newspapers, and from all across the country, to help you understand the implications of what’s happening in Holyrood, Westminster and beyond. 
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Special edition: Generation Next

The Courier and Press & Journal have been showcasing 35 of the brightest political prospects north of the central belt in a series of interviews and features, and in this special episode of The Stooshie, P&J Investigations Editor Calum Ross sits down – virtually, of course – to talk to five of them, one from each of the major parties. There’s passion, articulacy, kindness, conviction and much more; we challenge you not to feel just a little bit more hopeful about the political future of Scotland – and indeed the world – after you hear this conversation.
Read all 35 profiles at thecourier.co.uk/generation-next
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Week 43, 2020: Independence referendum heavyweights on the new independence movement

With polls suggesting the independence movement is gathering momentum, this week we’re delighted to welcome two veterans of the first independence referendum. Blair Jenkins, former chief exec of Yes Scotland, and Ramsay Jones, special adviser to David Cameron at the time, join our journalists to discuss why ‘no’ won in 2014, the effect of the UK and Scottish governments’ handling of the pandemic on voting intentions, personalities, the rallying cry of currency, lessons learned by both sides, and much more. 
Join journalists from across the DC Thomson Media folio of newspapers, and from all across the country, to help you understand the implications of what’s happening in Holyrood, Westminster and beyond. 
Subscribe to The Stooshie today, recommend us to friends and family, rate and review if you have a moment, and let us know what you think of what we cover and how we cover it, on Twitter and Facebook. 
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Week 42, 2020: Independence Special – with pro-indy polling at 58%

With poll after poll after poll showing an increase in support for Scottish independence – and with the latest from Ipsos MORI putting it at 58% – we discuss where the surge in support is coming from, what role the leaders in Holyrood and Westminster are playing, the consistent rise in the pro-indy female vote, and what it all means for Brexit, for Europe, for Scotland – for all of us. 
Join journalists from across the DC Thomson Media folio of newspapers, and from all across the country, to help you understand the implications of what’s happening in Holyrood, Westminster and beyond. 
Subscribe to The Stooshie today, recommend us to friends and family, rate and review if you have a moment, and let us know what you think of what we cover and how we cover it, on Twitter and Facebook. 
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