Scot Goes Popcast

The Scottish subsample from the latest GB-wide YouGov poll is extraordinary, not just for the scale of the SNP lead, but also because it shows Labour on course to lose all of their Scottish seats at Westminster - not even Ian Murray would be left standing. The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at: scotgoespop.blogspot.com

Nicola Sturgeon's new allegations about Alex Salmond are unwelcome, because as Gerry Hassan has pointed out, the Salmond-Sturgeon war is completely toxic and the independence movement desperately needs to just move on from it. In this episode of the podcast I recall the lengthy conversation I had with Mr Salmond in 2020 just after his acquittal, and explain why - in spite of everything that has ha...

I suppose on some level you have to admire the chutzpah of John Swinney, winner of the coveted 100% rating in the "2025 Guide To The World's Worst Plans For Winning The Independence Of A Country", in criticising someone's else's independence plan for being "unworkable", but that's what he's just done. In this episode of the podcast I explain why the plan of the so-called "SNP rebels" is self-evide...

The shock decision of Scotland's Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, to step down from parliament next year feels like a setback for the independence cause - but can someone seize the moment and turn it into an opportunity? One thing is for sure, though - it's a big setback for the Scottish Gaelic language, which Forbes is a fluent speaker of, and a tremendous advocate for. The home of Scot Goes P...

To my astonishment, some Scot Goes Pop readers actually believe that "nuclear deterrence" is a valid concept that works. In this episode of the podcast, I challenge them to consider the following: if a hypothetical and highly debatable "threat" from Russia is enough to mean that the UK must have an independent nuclear deterrent, surely the State of Palestine, which faces a much more imminent and p...

In this episode of the podcast I go through the full text of the independence strategy motion John Swinney will be presenting to the SNP conference. I point out the numerous logical contradictions in it, and the ways in which it seems to be designed to fail. The motion should be defeated, with a plan for using the 2026 election as a de facto independence referendum, with votes for all pro-indy par...

Drama as group of "eminent lawyers" identify disturbing evidence that recognising the State of Palestine may leave Britain in full compliance with an international convention that it hasn't actually signed anyway. The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at: scotgoespop.blogspot.com

"Pro-independence tactical voting" on the Holyrood list is a mug's game, and the arithmetical claims made in favour of it simply do not stack up. But when Stuart Campbell admits that his ultimate aim in calling for tactical voting is to completely destroy the SNP, something which is utterly impossible as well as being undesirable, the issue ceases to be an arithmetical one and becomes a psychologi...

It's not just symbolism - here's why the UK and France will make a concrete difference by recognising the State of Palestine. The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at: scotgoespop.blogspot.com

All the details from this week's GB-wide voting intention poll, and its Scottish subsample. Also commentary on the dilemma faced by the pro-independence Scottish Greens if their English sister party goes into an electoral pact with the new Corbyn/Sultana party, which at best is likely to be neutral on the subject of indy. The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at: scotgoespop.blogspot.com

My verdict on John Swinney's unexpected statement that only a single-party SNP majority at next year's Scottish Parliament election will be enough to request an independence referendum. The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at: scotgoespop.blogspot.com

Why it would be strategically smart for the new left-wing party of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana to back a change to the voting system for UK general elections. The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at: scotgoespop.blogspot.com

My thoughts on Mhairi Black's departure from the SNP. The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at: scotgoespop.blogspot.com

News of a YouGov poll on Scottish independence from June that you should know about but probably don't. The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found here: scotgoespop.blogspot.com

For tonight's audio commentary, I turn my attention to the 'soft launch' of the new Jeremy Corbyn / Zarah Sultana left-wing party that looks set to start with at least 6 MPs. The home of Scot Goes Pop can be found at: scotgoespop.blogspot.com

A round-up of polling news - surprisingly high support for Scottish independence in England, large opposition throughout the UK to Israel's actions in Gaza, plus Scottish voters are keener on votes at 16 than their English counterparts. The home of Scot Goes Pop is here: scotgoespop.blogspot.com

In the latest edition of the Popcast, I speak to Jason Baird, Lynn Hastie, Sheena Jardine and Andy Oliver about the new #GetCounted campaign for independence, which asks Yessers to register their support for indy via the IndyApp. For more information about this podcast, please visit scotgoespop.blogspot.com

In this very brief episode of the Popcast, I read out a controversial tweet posted by the Alba Party's General Secretary Chris McEleny. Was he unwise to use these words?

A lightning-quick scene-setter for the grand final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, taking place tonight in Sweden, with thoughts in particular about the controversy over Israel's participation.

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 18: Verdict on English Local Elections by James Kelly

For Episode 17 of the Popcast, I set out to discover how much of a swing from SNP to Labour there would need to be for the SNP to lose a significant number of seats at the next UK general election. But instead, I discovered a much more interesting story: the more votes Labour take from the SNP, the more Scottish seats the Tories would retain. In a very close election, a Labour surge in Scotland co...

In Episode 16 of the Popcast, I'm making a plucky effort to explain the notoriously hard-to-understand Single Transferable Vote (STV) system that will be used to elect Scotland's local councillors this week. I've also tried to bust some of the stubborn myths about the system, and to set out the best voting strategy for supporters of independence. For the home of the Popcast, please visit: https://...

Lisa Keogh is the Alba Party's candidate for the Arbroath West, Letham and Friockheim ward for the forthcoming elections to Angus Council. She is also very well known for her ordeal last year when Abertay University opened disciplinary proceedings against her for expressing gender critical views in an online seminar. She was eventually exonerated, but not before her preparations for her final exam...

Ken McDonald is the editor of iScot magazine - a unique publication, because it's a high-quality print magazine in wide circulation that is explicitly pro-independence and run by grass-roots Yes supporters. Hear him explain how he started the magazine as an alternative to shouting at the TV when "Jackanory" Jim Murphy was being interviewed, and his thoughts on the vital importance of having a pro-...

For the latest episode of the Popcast, I was joined once again by Denise Findlay - a fellow member of the Alba Party's NEC, and a passionate supporter of the rights of women and girls. We discussed the latest coordinated bullying campaign against Joanna Cherry, the results of the Scot Goes Pop / Panelbase poll about GRA reform and related gender matters, and also the Alba Party's potential route-m...