Scotcast

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘What’s really going on in our schools?’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002dl4q Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has proposed a ban on phones in all classrooms and backed an Australia-style social media ban for young people. We ask Sam Rice from Smartphone Free Children about the growing campaign to keep children away from smartphones....

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Meet the new Scottish Green leaders’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002j5l7 David, Natalie and Phil talk about a change in the relationship between the Scottish Greens and Zack Polanski (pictured), fresh claims about political ‘pressure’ over the opening of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) and the SNP’s election messaging....

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Is AI coming for your job?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002dl6n North Lanarkshire is to become home to a vast data centre – with the aim of turning the area into one of the world’s most advanced AI sites. But what actually is a data centre, why is Big Tech looking to Scotland and will their massive energy demands push our bills up? We...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also be interested in Martin’s extended interview with Malcolm Offord: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002n9d4 Martin and Laura talk about the significance of a row between Reform UK’s Scottish leader Malcolm Offord and Deacon Blue (pictured) over the meaning of the band's hit song Dignity. And the BBC’s Kirsten Campbell explains how the Scottish Ch...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘What would it take to trigger a World Cup boycott?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002q34v An inquest has found repeatedly heading a football is 'likely' to have contributed to the brain disease which was a factor in the death of former Scotland international Gordon McQueen (pictured). Ex-Dundee defender Jim Duffy and the BBC’s Chris McL...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Are Starmer’s Scottish MPs sick of him?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mz40 Sir Keir Starmer has defended Labour’s decision to block Andy Burnham (pictured) from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election. We ask the BBC’s David Wallace Lockhart and Iain Watson what impact the National Executive Committee (NEC) ruling will have on...

David, Natalie and Lynsey discuss Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s (pictured) calls for a criminal investigation into failures at an NHS hospital, how MSPs are shifting on Liam McArthur’s (also pictured) assisted dying proposals and the so-called ‘Alex Salmond files’. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show, recorded on Thursday 22 January, is hosted by D...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Priced out? The cost of the World Cup’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002n03l Has Donald Trump’s promise not to use force in Greenland removed the threat of a World Cup boycott? Former footballer Pat Nevin gives us his take on politics and the beautiful game - and sets the bar for when fans should protest. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also be interested in ‘The NHS surgeon who butchered his patients’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002j6zd Labour’s Anas Sarwar has branded failures at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) as “the biggest scandal in the history of the Scottish Parliament”. Lisa Summers (pictured), who investigated design flaws at the hospital for a BBC doc...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002pdx6 Last month, the Scottish Government dropped plans to reduce the national speed limit on single carriageway roads after an external consultation demonstrated it was unpopular. The BBC’s David Henderson, Martin and Natalie discuss whether we take speeding seriously enough and how safe Scotland’s roads...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Is the Sandie Peggie ruling discredited?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002njyw Campaigners For Women Scotland (pictured) are taking the Scottish Government to the Court of Session over where transgender prisoners are housed. We ask legal expert Dr Nick McKerrell from Glasgow Caledonian University whether John Swinney’s government is re...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0mt1p0s Natalie, David and Phil discuss Robert Jenrick's defection to Reform, the fallout from the Scottish Budget and Holyrood's new cocktail menu. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by David Wallace Lockhart, Natalie Higgins and Phil Sim. Get in touch:...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Malcolm Offord: I can be a Reform First Minister’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002n9d4 Nigel Farage has made Malcolm Offord Reform UK’s new leader in Scotland ahead of the Holyrood election. We ask the BBC's David Wallace Lockhart whether Farage's political priorities align with Offord's. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. Th...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Why we need more babies’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002brz9 The Scottish Budget for 2026/27 includes measures to boost after-school care and provide breakfast clubs in all primary schools – but no new childcare funding. Carole Erskine from campaigning charity Pregnant Then Screwed explains why she believes the 'hugely expensive' cost...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002pr29 Finance Secretary Shona Robison (pictured) has outlined the Scottish Government's draft Budget for 2026/27. David Wallace Lockhart and Professor Mairi Spowage from the Fraser of Allander Institute react to the key announcements ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Kezia Dugdale on Labour, trust and Rachel Reeves’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mz87 Ministers are warning of 'tough choices' on tax and spending ahead of finance secretary Shona Robison’s (pictured) Scottish Budget. We ask the BBC’s Lynsey Bews about rumours of a tax cut for higher earners and why Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar (also...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like 'What we’ll be talking about in 2026' https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002pdt5 Natalie, Paris and Phil discuss Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour's Holyrood election strategy, Justice Secretary Angela Constance's breach of the ministerial code and the prospect of a new Reform leader in Scotland. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. Thi...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Should Scots pay for uni?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0029q4f Dundee University has been bailed out of financial collapse, Edinburgh University is in the middle of £140m in cuts, and now staff at Aberdeen, Heriot-Watt, Stirling and Strathclyde uni are being balloted on strike action over job cuts. Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, princ...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Is Gen Z ready to fight a war?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002cy9d Donald Trump has discussed using the US military to acquire Greenland while the UK has pledged to send troops to Ukraine if a peace deal is made with Russia. We ask Stewart McDonald, the SNP’s former defence spokesperson, whether the recent flurry of geopolitical twis...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002c1fk Ahead of Storm Goretti hitting the UK and Aberdeenshire Council declaring a 'major incident' due to snowfall, Martin and Natalie speak to Nick Russell, one of the men who manages much of Scotland's gritter system. They talk about how Nick and the team keep the country moving, what it’s like behind th...

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Are Starmer’s Scottish MPs sick of him?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mz40 Party leaders including John Swinney of the SNP and Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar (both pictured) have kicked off 2026 with a pitch to voters ahead of May’s Holyrood election. David Wallace Lockhart explains what their speeches told us about the upcoming camp...

Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins choose their top five news stories of the year. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins look back on the year’s news and pick their biggest stories of 2025. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Two Doors Down is back with a Christmas special and live shows. Co-creator Gregor Sharp talks to Laura and Martin about writing them after the death of his friend and colleague Simon Carlyle. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller and Martin Geissler. Get in touch: scotcast@bbc.co.uk Two Doors Down is a BBC Studios Comedy production.

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘What STV cuts tell us about the mainstream media’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002kd3k STV bosses felt the backlash from staff, politicians and the public when plans to axe a bespoke north of Scotland news programme were announced. Martin and Laura ask chief executive Rufus Radcliffe why those plans have been watered down, and if holdi...