The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast

Bernard and Alex retreat to their natural habitat in Glasgow's famous journalists' haunt, The Press Bar on Albion Street, to ponder the stories of the day over a sociable refreshment. Trump's Big Mistake - Alex reckons Trump made a big mistake in his singular determination to unseat Joe Biden before the election. Tory Leadership Battle - Insight into the candidates and implications for the UK and...

Matt joins Bernard and Alex with excellent impressions of ... Keir Starmer Angela Rayner Rachel Reeves Tony Blair Ed Miliband Also What makes Scottish audiences different What makes people walk out Who's taken offence to his impressions His hopes for the new government You can catch Matt's show at the Edinburgh Festival here https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/matt-forde-the-end-of-an-era-tour F...

Bernard and Alex tackle the stories of the week; JOE BIDEN - Both Bernard and Alex are keen observers of US Politics - their thoughts on Joe Biden agreeing to step down as Presidential Candidate. MHAIRI BLACK - After standing down at the General Election, the former SNP MP announced her Edinburgh Festival show "Politics Isn't For Me" as well as words for Kate Forbes and John Swinney PUBLIC SECTOR...

Bernard and Alex bring you an instant briefing on the King's Speech with the first legislative agenda for Keir Starmer's new Labour Government. Is it a return to big Government (as some critics have said) or a different type of intervention? Headlines on the bills Watch No11 Downing Street not No10 to gauge the success of this government. Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like...

Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie speak to Stewart McDonald, SNP front bencher who lost his seat at the General Election ..... and he had a lot to say. ON 2026 HOLYROOD ELECTION 25:32 MASSIE: "Do you think getting "horsed" in 2026 is now the most likely outcome of the Holyrood election?" McDONALD: "Yes" ON INDEPENDENCE 35:07 "The hard pause has been delivered for us whether we like that or not. Tha...

Your questions on the General Election result directly to Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie This episode, questions from: Peter Hardy - @PeterHardyAG (X) Ian Jones - @Salop_Ian (X) Michael Apter - @Michael_Apter (X) Andrew Brophy - @AndrewBrophy3 (X) LTW Anderson - @ltwanderson (X) Mark Brown - Via Email Gordon Dudman - Via Email Andrew McCall - Via Email Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politi...

In this episode, Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie discuss The new Labour Cabinet The future propects for the Conservatives and SNP .....and the former TV cameraman who out-predicted the pollsters. Bernard and Alex also reference a previous episode with Tom Baldwin discussing Keir Starmer in great detail. It's really worth a listen and gives unrivalled insight into the new Prime Minister Focussing...

We've been up all night. Here is the hot-off-the-press take on the UK General Election result from Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie. Labour joy Conservative and SNP election woes. What will the parties do next? What should they do next? Plus, highlights of selected seats and stories. #generalelection2024 Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like...

YOU CAN GET OUR FREE WALLCHART HERE - https://x.com/PonsonbyMassie/status/1806349078093087015 This Episode is in 2 parts PART 1 - 0 mins - 17 mins - ELECTION NIGHT INSIGHTS - Alex asks Bernard to share his insights on how presenters cope with overnight election programmes. PART 2 - 17 mins - 39mins - WHAT TO WATCH FOR - Bernard and Alex give you a brief on what to watch out for on the night (from...

With some recent polls predicting the SNP and Conservatives will be reduced to a rump of MPs at the General Election on Thurs 4th July, Bernard and Alex have a health warning for pollsters and politicians alike. Can these polls be trusted and do they have the nuance to pick up on constituency level sentiments? Plus, it was the issue the Democrats didn't want to face up to but after a challenging a...

Bernard and Alex do their best to answer your questions sent in to ponsonbymassie@gmail.com Questions this episode from; Darren McGarvey @lokiscottishrap (X) Rob Shorthouse @bobtwopointoh (X) John Duffy @johnduffy512 (Youtube) Colin Thompson @colinthompson3111 (Youtube) Argyll Loon @argyllloon (X) Luca Brasi @hickslike22 (X) Ewen Kennedy @ewangkennedy (X) Skegness Grammar School - @PoliticsSgs (X)...

Bernard and Alex on ..... The effect of Farage and Reform Will JK Rowling's gender recognition reform criticism of Labour come back to haunt the party? Stampgate - Will allegations of the SNP using MSPs expenses to pay for election campaign stamps re-ignite memories of previous scandals for voters? ... and Scotland exiting the Euros. Bernard and Alex said they weren't going to speak about football...

Yougov sampled 39,979 in a super poll that shows the Conservatives reduced to 108 seats. The SNP & Labour Manifestos are out. Bernard and Alex give insight and analysis into the latest developments in the UK General Election 2024. Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is Politics, The News Agents, Newscast, Questions Time, Holyr...

Bernard and Alex discuss the SNP's electoral chances and what the election result means to the SNP's cause of independence. They are joined by former SNP MSP, investigative journalist and life-long independence campaigner, Dorothy-Grace Elder who doesn't hold back in her criticism of John Swinney. DGE describes John Swinney as a "Sturgeonista" who "slides and slithers" and "is very much an acolyte...

"MUST LISTEN" EPISODE - An incredible insight into the man who will most likely be Prime Minister from the man who knows him better than most - his biographer, Tom Baldwin. Tom discusses what makes Keir Starmer tick, his background, his politics and what we can expect from him in Government. Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts like The Rest is...

SCOTTISH LEADERS DEBATE - TORY MANIFESTO - EURO FEVER  * SCOTTISH LEADERS DEBATE - Bernard thinks there may have been a few plants in the audience * CONSERVATIVE MANIFESTO - Massie - Family visa policy is a "Love Tax" * EURO FEVER - Do marginal factors effect marginal constituencies as Scotland and England prepare for the Euros ahead of election? Massie - "Scotland will be home before the pos...

Alex and Bernard attempt to answer your questions. *Spoiler Alert" They had 30 or 40 questions to get through and managed about 5 or 6 because they chatted so much. Apologies if you sent in a questions and didn't get it answered! * Alex reminds Bernard of the time he stood as a candidate .... and lost his deposit. * Turnout? * General Election implications for Holyrood election in 2026 Focussing o...

Bernard and Alex summarise the General Election campaign to date and analyse the implications. * Is the Tory campaign the worst in living memory? * Westminster and Holyrood Tories are circling their leaders. * Ponsonby lambasts Sunak over D-Day. * Massie casts the SNP's Stephen Flynn as Cassius with a "lean and hungry look" towards his Caesar, John Swinney.  * The Impact of Farage and Reform....

Three very educated guesses on the outcome of the UK General Election as Professor Ailsa Henderson of the University of Edinburgh joins Bernard and Alex to talk polls, constituency boundaries and possible Conservative oblivion, a la Canada '93. WARNING - This is a real deep dive. You may wish to don your political anorak, make some strong coffee and have a pencil and paper at the ready. If you're...

Bernard and Alex do not hold back in their criticism of the first Leaders Debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer on ITV. "This was not a serious debate" "entertainment TV" and "a disservice to the viewer". Plus Bernard and Alex give detailed reaction to the performances of Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak. Focussing on UK, Scottish and Global politics, if you like other great political podcasts l...

Welcome to the NEW Ponsonby and Massie Podcast This week, the two biggest names in Scottish political journalism, Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie, review the General Election campaign so far and preview the upcoming leaders debates. Included in this episode PONSONBY - "Starmer is the most anti-left Labour leader since Gaitskell" MASSIE - "Every SNP seat south of Stirling is now a marginal constit...