The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast

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SCOTTISH EDUCATION - NO LONGER BEST IN UK. WHY?

Episode 129

Friday, September 11, 2026 • Duration 42:32

Poor marks for Scottish Education in PISA figures, Burnham’s referendum blunder and a bad week for the SNP succession hopefuls?

Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie examine Andy Burnham’s confusion over the route to a second Scottish independence referendum—and what it reveals about his command of constitutional politics.
Scotland’s latest PISA results make grim reading. Why has Scottish education fallen behind England, and are John Swinney and Education Secretary Màiri McAllan confronting the scale of the problem?
A difficult week for possible SNP successors Màiri McAllan and Stephen Flynn leaves John Swinney looking increasingly secure—while Glasgow’s new council leader Ricky Bell inherits a formidable set of problems.

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, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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SCOTLAND'S £5bn ABYSS - Is Swinney Austerity Inevitable?

Episode 128

Friday, September 4, 2026 • Duration 49:18

In this edition of The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast, Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie analyse the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government and John Swinney’s radical plans for public-service reform. They examine the proposed restructuring of Scotland’s NHS, social care, councils and quangos; the £5 billion funding gap; and the prospect of conflict with public-sector trade unions. Turning to UK politics, they assess Andy Burnham’s early premiership, Keir Starmer’s resignation, the Holborn and St Pancras by-election and the changing fortunes of Labour, the Greens, Reform UK and the Conservatives.

Topics discussed:

Scottish Government’s public-service reform agenda
NHS, social-care, council and quango restructuring
Scotland’s £5 billion funding gap and trade-union conflict
Political support and opposition to John Swinney’s reforms
Bus-fare caps, supermarket price controls and GP walk-in centres
Andy Burnham’s early premiership and the UK economic outlook
Keir Starmer’s resignation and the Holborn and St Pancras by-election
The Greens, Reform UK and Britain’s increasingly fragmented politics

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, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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STURGEON & MURRELL TV DRAMA - Who will they cast?

Episode 127

Friday, August 28, 2026 • Duration 35:02

A new cost-of-living “winter of discontent”?
Will Andy Burnham and John Swinney come clean on tightening budgets facing both Westminster and Holyrood
The lighter question of casting the announced Sturgeon–Murrell Channel 5 drama.

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, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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INSIDE SCOTTISH LABOUR LEADERSHIP RACE

Episode 126

Friday, August 21, 2026 • Duration 45:41

Either Michael Marra or Joe Fagan will be the next leader of the Scottish Labour Party. What's happening in the race, what does the new leader need to do and will it make any difference in their goal of Labour unseating the SNP?

PLUS

- It's reported the John Swinney's World Cup junket with entourage cost the tax payer around £95k? Was it worth it?

Anger in Glasgow over the state of the City. Why can't opposition parties hold the SNP to account?

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, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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FARAGE INVESTIGATION - Reopens After By-Election Farce

Friday, August 14, 2026 • Duration 43:26

Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie discuss Farage's post Clacton by-election propects as it's announced that the parliamentary investigation into substantial donations made to Mr Farage by a donor is active again.

Plus - the Scottish Labour leadership contest is gathering pace. It's all smiles in public but what's really happening and who will emerge victorious.

GERS figures - we've read them so you don't have to - Alex explains and Bernard takes a critical view.

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, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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STURGEON V SWINNEY

Episode 124

Friday, August 7, 2026 • Duration 46:41

What's going on? Former SNP FM Nicola Sturgeon criticising John Swinney's SNP? Is this a serious analysis or part of the latest round of book promotion?

The SNP hit back saying John Swinney is the best First Minister yet.

Also, the race for the Scottish Labour leadership is warming up. Michael Marra looks like the front runner with Joe Fagan also in contention but Monica Lennon may struggle to get the required nominations to stand in the vote.

Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie discuss.

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, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Can Burnham Follow up the Good Comms with Effective Strategy?

Episode 123

Friday, July 24, 2026 • Duration 40:33

Bernard and Alex discuss a good start for Andy Burnham in terms of communications but does it really change any of the fundamental issues facing the country.

Also, who are the runners and riders for the Scottish Labour leadership after Anas Sarwar accepted a peerage and is not a Westminster Trade Minister? Michael Marra? Monica Lennon? Paul Sweeney? Daniel Johnson?

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, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Sir Anton Muscatelli - The Reality Scotland's Politicians Refuse to Face

Episode 122

Thursday, July 16, 2026 • Duration 52:04

Sir Anton Muscatelli, President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, academic and leading economic advisor, joins Bernard and Alex to give his view on some of the real issues that are facing Scotland but politicians seem unwilling to discuss, particularly around election time.

Scotland faces £4.8bn gap and it was hardly mentioned at the recent election.

Slower Scottish tax growth means £728m less.

What can be learned from "Manchesterism" and what can Andy Burnham's administration do for Scotland?

Does Scotland need more immigration?

Will efficiencies really save billions and will services inevitably be affected.

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, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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SILLY SEASON - Can Count Binface Win Farage's Backfiring By-Election?

Episode 121

Friday, July 10, 2026 • Duration 49:00

It's Silly Season for the political media and, after forcing a by-election in his own seat, Nigel Farage discovered many of the parties were unwilling to play his game. Now, his most serious competition appears to be from by-election regular, Count Binface. Also, the latest on the SNP money and potential court cases, Andy Burnham swooping into Downing Street and the passing of some significant political figures in the past few days.

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, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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HAS FARAGE CRISIS HALTED THE REFORM JUGGERNAUT?

Episode 120

Monday, July 6, 2026 • Duration 41:07

Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie look at how Nigel Farage is dealing with his first real crisis and also - is Andy Burnham making unsustainable promises before he even becomes Prime Minister?

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, Holyrood Sources, Planet Holyrood, The Stooshie, The Steamie, Scotcast, Americast etc etc then The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast could be a great show to add to your list of favourites.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

The Ponsonby and Massie Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

X7

Other2

Facebook1

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

X7

Other2

Facebook1

Apple Podcasts

Spotify