Unspun Live

In her first major interview since becoming MSP for Shetland and Minister for Public Finance, Hannah Mary Goodlad opens up about her background and her priorities in government. She also tells political correspondent Hannah Brown it is “very feasible” that construction work for Shetland's tunnels could get underway before the end of this Scottish Parliamentary term if funding can be agreed and...

Q Manivannan made history when they were elected to Holyrood in May. Their arrival at parliament brought international attention, security escorts, and a wave of abuse. But it also brought thousands of letters from migrants, artists and communities across Scotland who saw something of themselves in their story. Kathleen Nutt sits down with the Green MSP for Lothian to hear about the journey from a...

Shelter Scotland's assistant director Gordon Llewellyn-MacRae speaks to The Herald's political correspondent Hannah Brown about how he expects the housing crisis to deepen this year as he voices concerns around the Scottish Government's cabinet secretary role of  housing and social justice. The charity also tell us about worries around what they describe as "racists voices" f...

The SNP is the largest party in Holyrood by a significant margin - but missed out on the crucial majority - so what next for Scottish independence? The Herald's deputy political editor Rebecca McCurdy and political correspondent Hannah Brown dissects the election results - from Reform UK's breakthrough, a historic result for the Scottish Greens and the Lib Dems and disaster for Labour and...

The Herald's Brian Taylor sits down with First Minister John Swinney for his first interview since last week's Holyrood election. And it's a conversation only these two could have. Speaking at Bute House, Swinney opens up about what it means to finally hold a mandate in his own name, how close he believes the SNP came to collapse in 2024, and what a more personal, liberated second term might look...

A live recording of The Herald and Women in Public Affairs Holyrood hustings. Chaired by The Herald's editor Catherine Salmond, the panel brought together Shirley-Ann Somerville (SNP), Jackie Baillie (Scottish Labour), Sue Webber (Scottish Conservatives), Wendy Chamberlain (Scottish Liberal Democrats), Gillian Mackay (Scottish Greens) and Kim Schmullian (Reform UK) to debate the issues shaping...

The parties have set out their big promises on tax, spending and the cost of living. But how much of it adds up? In this episode of Unspun Live , Andrew Learmonth speaks to David Phillips from the Institute for Fiscal Studies to break down the numbers behind the manifestos. From tax cuts that “don’t add up” to spending plans with “big holes”, Phillips delivers a blunt assessment of what’s on offer...

In a busy election campaign, serious conversations around policy are few and far between. But with one in five children living in poverty, deputy political editor Rebecca McCurdy speaks to Chris Birt , the associate director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation about the "weaponisation" of welfare and those claiming benefits. But there is also calls for honesty over universal policies.

In the latest of The Herald’s leaders’ interviews, Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay weighs up the prospect of becoming first minister, following the endorsement of Ross Greer. But given that prospect is unlikely, she weighs up the likelihood of serving as deputy first minister under John Swinney in an SNP -led administration. As Scotland’s only female leader of a political party, Ms Mackay...

First Minister John Swinney joins Unspun Live as the Holyrood election campaign gathers pace. In this wide-ranging interview, the First Minister discusses the tough choices ahead for Scotland’s finances, including the need for substantial reform of public services, and sets out his economic pitch to voters. He also says why he thinks Reform UK is dangrous. And with polls suggesting the SNP could w...

In the latest of The Herald’s leader interviews, Russell Findlay sets out his pitch for the next month's election. He sets out his party's plans to cut the “vast layer of lanyard-wearing people who don’t appear to actually serve the public”. We also talk potholes, the NHS, tax and spending, as well as the challenge of rebuilding trust after the Conservatives’ 2024 defeat and the threat pos...

In the second of The Herald’s leader interviews, Anas Sarwar sets out his pitch for the election. He tells Kevin McKenna why he believes Scotland “can’t afford a third decade of the SNP” and insists his “first loyalty is always going to be to Scotland” after his public break with Keir Starmer. He talk's about the NHS, education, apprenticeships and inequality, as well as Labour’s struggle to w...

In the first of The Herald’s leader interviews, Alex Cole-Hamilton sets out his pitch for the Holyrood election. He also explains why he would refuse to back John Swinney to be FM under any circumstances. We talk NHS and social care, phones in schools, ferry disruption, energy bills, tactical voting, and whether a fragmented parliament could reshape Scottish politics. The Scottish Lib Dem leader a...

Christina McKelvie was the SNP MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse when she died of secondary breast cancer, aged 57, on March 27, 2025. Her partner, and SNP depute leader, Keith Brown speaks to Political Correspondent Hannah Brown to mark a year since her passing. He describes the last year as deeply difficult, but says the memories and stories people have of Christina help him celebrate he...

Reform UK’s Holyrood campaign is up and running but not without turbulence. In this episode of Unspun Live , we go inside the party’s manifesto launch in Renfrewshire, where Nigel Farage brought the showbiz and Malcolm Offord set out an ambitious pitch to voters. But within 24 hours, the campaign hit trouble with a candidate suspended and controversy swirling around others. We’re joined by The Her...

Last week a fire tore through a listed building on Union Street, just yards from Glasgow Central Station, shutting down Scotland’s busiest railway hub and sending more than 200 firefighters to battle the blaze. In this episode of Unspun Live , The Herald's political editor Andrew Learmonth is joined by reporters Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco and Gaby Mackay , who spent days investigating the story behin...

In an Unspun Live first, all four of The Herald's political journalists share their thoughts on how Scottish politics will change after the upcoming Holyrood election. Political Editor Andrew Learmonth is joined by Deputy Political Editor Rebecca McCurdy and Political Correspondents Kathleen Nutt and Hannah Brown as the election campaign heats up.

New polling suggests Anas Sarwar's Scottish Labour Party will slump to fourth in May's Holyrood election. Political Editor Andrew Learmonth and Deputy Political Editor Rebecca McCurdy break down the party's conference in Paisley, where Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was the elephant in the room.

Alba Party leader Kenny Macaskill said his party may be unable to field candidates in the upcoming Holyrood election because of financial issues. Christina Hendry - who is the niece of party founder Alex Salmond - is one of the prominent members now in a fight to save the pro-independence party. But will it work?

Ever wondered what Alex Cole-Hamilton's pot noodle of choice is? Then this is the podcast for you. The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader shares his thoughts on the upcoming Holyrood election, working with the SNP and Scottish Labour.

With less than three months to go until the Holyrood election, Unspun Live speaks to Iris Duane, the Scottish Greens’ 23-year-old candidate for Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill, who could become the youngest MSP in the next Scottish Parliament. Duane talks candidly about growing up in poverty, why she believes both the SNP and Labour have run out of ideas, and why tackling child poverty would be her to...

Deputy Political Editor Rebecca McCurdy interviews Richard Meade, the chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, as the organisation launches its Holyrood manifesto, demanding urgent funding to end the housing emergency.

Reform UK's only MSP Graham Simpson comes to the defence of his party leader Nigel Farage over claims he is "racist" and addresses the confusion over the party's stance on Scottish independence.

On Budget Day, the Office for Budget Responsibility unexpectedly released its economic forecasts before the Chancellor reached the despatch box — sending Westminster and the markets into a spin. In this episode of Unspun Live , Andrew Learmonth breaks down what the leak means, why it matters, and how Rachel Reeves’ second Budget will affect taxpayers, businesses and Scotland’s finances. Andrew is...

In this week’s episode of Unspun Live, Andrew Learmonth unpacks Holyrood's latest political and legal row. After the Scottish Government told Parliament it could not comment on its prison guidance court battle with For Women Scotland, opposition MSPs accused ministers of misleading the chamber about the limits of the law. To understand what the Contempt of Court Act, the Scottish Parliament’s...