The Stooshie: the politics podcast from DC Thomson

We search for words of wisdom as John Swinney becomes First Minister

Becoming first minister was the easy bit for John Swinney.
Now the handshakes and warm words are over, the hard work of governing begins.
We speak with Kayleigh Quinn, who knows a thing or two about wrangling a difficult group at Holyrood.
The former Scottish Labour organiser tells us what might be going through the new leader’s head as he looks at reshaping the SNP.

Humza Yousaf quits - what next for the SNP?

Humza Yousaf folded on April 29 after losing authority by ditching his Green coalition partners.
We ask people in the outgoing first minister’s home city of Dundee what they think of his year in charge.
We also hear from Green MSP Maggie Chapman, who was asked if she still has confidence in her own party leaders.
Our political reporters look at the wreckage and discuss what might happen next as another SNP leadership contest looms.

Alistair Greig’s £13m Ponzi fraud

A long-running plea for justice in the north of Scotland is being described as similar in scale to the Post Office scandal.
At its heart are the dozens of families devastated by conman Alistair Greig.
He was a respected financial advisor based in Aberdeen who ended up duping 184 victims out of £13 million.
Now they want justice.
To tell the story, we’re joined by Dale Haslam, an investigations reporter with the Press and Journal newspaper.
He has just returned from Westminster to hear from MPs including Alistair Carmichael pushing the campaigner’s case for answers.

Is Labour ready for power?

Jennifer Lees-Marshment has studied political marketing and management since the rise of Tony Blair.
In this episode, she tells us how the main parties are approaching the phony war before the election date is set.
She also describes concerns that politicians are simply not trained to actually do their job when in power.
Would you go to a surgeon who hasn’t been trained? Why should we expect to be governed well by people who don’t know how to put their promises into practice?

Scotland's trade unions chief on hopes for a Labour government, equal pay and the future for oil and gas

Ahead of their conference in Dundee next week, Justin Bowie sits down with Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, to discuss what she thinks a potential Labour win in Westminster will mean for workers in Scotland. 
 
Roz Foyer also shared her passion for ensuring Dundee women subject to years of unequal pay finally receive compensation from the city council after a years-long battle for justice. 
 
And Justin asks what trade unions want see for those working in Scotland's oil and gas sector as politicians debate what comes next in our commitment to net zero. 

Recess rewind: Hate crime, budget cuts and election fever

Our team takes stock of a turbulent end of term at the Scottish Parliament.
We look at the reaction to the Hate Crime Act, and the high profile interventions from JK Rowling to Ally McCoist.
Meanwhile, there's an election looming - are social policy problems like housing making an impact?
And we speak to North East Scotland College principal Neil Cowie for a featured interview on the impact of cuts regionally and nationally.

Assisted Dying: Scotland prepares for third attempt at law change

We speak to Liam McArthur, the MSP steering controversial assisted dying laws through Holyrood at the third time of asking.
Are the safeguards enough to convince sceptics?
Has Scotland’s parliament changed its mind since the last time it was debated?
The Bill will be lodged at Holyrood on Friday - and then the serious job of scrutiny will begin.

Fornethy House abuse survivors on their fight for justice

Description: Survivors of historical abuse at Fornethy House in Angus tell us about their experience, and fury at being snubbed for compensation.
Four women join us to explain what happened to them as children, with harrowing memories.
And they react to Deputy First Minister Shona Robison’s comments in the Scottish parliament about why they can’t get access to a financial compensation scheme.

Alex Cole-Hamilton interview special

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton speaks to The Stooshie about his party's hopes for the General Election, and how they want to oust the SNP as the third largest party in Westminster. 
 
We also discuss his position on the windfall tax for oil and gas giants, and how he thinks "fair minded" voters in the north east will understand the need to tax their profits. 

Budget blues and climate crisis

Alarm bells are ringing that people don’t realise the sheer scale of lifestyle changes needed to meet climate targets and “net zero”.
At the same time, voters see governments balance the books off their backs, and fail to hit the big targets and big business.
The authors of an annual “state of the state” report pull all that together in our featured interview with the backdrop of another painful budget.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. But where do they find the positives?