Scotland's Choice

Founder of Business for Scotland and head of Believe in Scotland Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp is Drew Hendry's guest on the Scotland's Choice podcast this time. Gordon set up Business for Scotland in 2011 and now has 4,000 associated members. They describe themselves as "an agenda setting, independent and political party neutral business network and business policy think tank." A key argument in the refe...

Fine Gael TD (that's a Teachta Dála - a member of the Irish Parliament) Neale Richmond is Drew's guest on Scotland's Choice this week to provide a view from Ireland. Having international guests on the podcast has been an ambition of ours for a while now - we want views from around Europe, and possibly even beyond, as to why they think Scotland would flourish as an independent country. After all, a...

The first of two episodes looking at the current state of the Union. From corruption and sleaze scandals to an outdated, archaic form of political discourse, there's plenty to be said. Joining Drew this week are fellow SNP MPs Carol Monaghan and Brendan O'Hara . Together, they discuss areas such as the UK's immigration policy and the hostile environment it's created, nuclear weapons based on the C...

This special edition of the Scotland's Choice Podcast was recorded in front of a live audience at the Aberdeen Independence Movement's (AIM) conference in Aberdeen. It's the first-ever live recording Scotland's Choice has done and we really enjoyed it - let us know if you'd like to hear more like this! Joining Drew on the panel are friends of the podcast, Stephen Gethins and Stewart Hosie MP - bot...

On this episode of Scotland's Choice, Drew is joined by polling expert and doctoral researcher  Mark McGeoghegan  to discuss how important good and accurate polling is in politics. Mark has extensive experience in the polling industry and is currently working towards his PhD at the University of Glasgow, researching secessionist movements from around the world. He explains how certain is...

In this second of a two-part Local Government election special of Scotland's Choice, Drew is joined by: Fergus Mutch  & Laura Doherty   Local Councils decide how to deliver education in our schools, where to develop housing, how much to invest in roads and what local services to support. These are important decisions that impact our communities and Laura and Fergus delve into the opp...

With Local Government elections fast approaching, Drew sits down with three candidates standing for election on the 5th of May.  In this first of a two part election special of Scotland's Choice, Drew is joined by: Emma Knox (Aird & Loch Ness SNP candidate) Lloyd Melville (Monifieth and Sidlaw SNP candidate) Olaf Stando (Burntisland, Kinghorn & Western Kirkcaldy SNP Candidate) Local C...

With Toni Giuliano. Scotland voted overwhelmingly against Brexit. All 32 local authorities voted to remain in the European Union and every poll since has shown this number only increases. Yet, we are having to ensure the fallout of a Tory Brexit with its empty Global Britain rhetoric. The UK’s exit from the EU has made the case for independence and Westminster continues to make the case on a daily...

Cost of Living Crisis with David Linden MP & Councillor Jen Layden.  The Office for National Statistics recently reported those earning below the UK average wage will pay up to an extra £255 per year, with the forthcoming Tory national insurance hike.  The lowest earners have seen their universal credit cut by £20 a week by the Tories, all while they were trying to grapple with infla...

What better way to celebrate International Women's Day (8th of March 2022) than to hear from three talented and inspiring activists in the Independence movement. In this episode Drew is joined by independence campaigners and women's rights champions Sue Lyons, Sally Donald and Charlotte Armitage.  We hear from all three on why International Women's Day is such an important day to them and fin...

In Conversation with Fergus Ewing MSP & Emma Harper MSP Few sectors have been harder hit by Brexit than agriculture and farming. Drew sits down with Fergus Ewing MSP and Emma Harper MSP to talk about Westminster's role in the fate of rural economies and the farming community on this week's podcast. Scotland's farmers and crofters are having to deal with the impacts of labour shortages, barrier...

There are few words so synonymous with Scottish Independence than the phrase Devo Max. Over the years, Devolution Max - a full fiscal autonomy alternative to Independence has been floated by many a unionist. Unsurprisingly, their Devo Max musings always seem to coincide with growing support in the polls for Scottish Independence. Like clockwork, when there is a rise in the polls for support for In...

With Gillian Martin MSP and AIM activists Fatima Joji and Theo Forbes. Drew sits down with Aberdeen Independence Movement organisers Fatima Joji, Theo Forbes and North East MSP Gillian Martin in this Yes Places series episode of Scotland's Choice. The guests share their views on the opportunities ahead for Scotland as an independent nation, and we hear more about their thoughts on the work ahead o...

With Kate Forbes. In this Scotland's Choice episode Drew sits down with Kate Forbes to the discuss economic opportunities for an Independent Scotland. Kate is the MSP for Skye, Lochaber, and Badenoch (which includes Dingwall, the Black Isle, and the Great Glen). Kate is the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy in the Scottish Government, which means she can offer a unique insight into the...

Some of the best bits of Scotland's Choice. Part Two of our special episodes showcasing some of the key points made on Scotland's Choice. With 2022 set to be a huge year for the independence movement, it's vital that we familiarise ourselves with the facts. Ahead of us is a year in which plans for the referendum will be published. Let's not let it slip now! Listed below are links to each of the ep...

Some of the best bits of Scotland's Choice. Part One of two special episodes showcasing some of the key points made on Scotland's Choice. With 2022 set to be a huge year for the independence movement, it's vital that we familiarise ourselves with the facts. Ahead of us is a year in which plans for the referendum will be published. Let's not let it slip now! Listed below are links to each of the ep...

With Hannah Bardell MP and Sally Donald. With Hannah Bardell MP and Sally Donald. According to UN analysis early this year, at the current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be reached for another 130 years. This shows just how much work is needed to create more gender-balanced and better functioning governance around the world. Here in Scotland, we have a gender-bala...

With Alyn Smith MP, and Yes Stirling activists Greg and Gerry. A view from Stirling. In this episode, the first of our Yes Places series, Drew talks with members of the Stirling independence movement about their activism, their views on the route to Independence and the relationship between grassroots activism and political representation. Local Yes teams were at the heart of the last independence...

Few areas of policy were more divisive in the lead up to the 2014 Independence Referendum than Pensions. People were told repeatedly that one of the most significant risks of independence was losing pension security and the infamous ‘triple lock’. We know this issue was hugely influential in shaping the views of older voters who naturally were concerned about the perceived risk to their pension co...

Twelve-month waits for payment,  a culture of suspicion, punishing bureaucracy are just some of the features of the UK Social Security system people living with disabilities face. In this episode, Drew chats to Councillor Laura Brennan-Whitefield, a SNP Councillor for North Ayr, a mother, a disabilities campaigner, a trekie and someone who lives with a disability. Laura, who has lived with Mu...

When we think of politics we probably think of the grand halls of Westminster Palace or the postmodern structure of the Scottish Parliament. With that, we also likely think of key political figures in the main parties. The First Minister, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Presiding Officer. Cast your mind back to the 2014 referendum, which figures stand out? Probably high-profi...

Wellbeing is something we're all a lot more in tune with today. And there is a growing number of people who support the idea of a well-being economy - one that promotes looking after individuals and the environment. To discuss the (not so new) idea, Ariane Burgess, Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands Region, joins host Drew Hendry MP. Much of today's economic measures are focused on tracking G...

Trade is the beating heart of any economy. In its simplest form, it allows goods or services to be transferred between one party to another, in return for other goods/services, or, more commonly, money. So where has the UK lost its way with regards to trade? What's changed in recent years that's had such a disastrous effect? Stewart Hosie MP has been MP for Dundee East since 2005. Now serving as t...

Grassroots activism has an extremely important part to play in politics. When we think of politics we probably think of the grand halls of Westminster Palace or the postmodern structure of the Scottish Parliament. With that, we also likely think of key political figures in the main parties. The First Minister, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Presiding Officer. Cast your m...