UofG Spotlight – Details, episodes & analysis

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UofG Spotlight

University of Glasgow, Centre for Public Policy

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Frequency: 1 episode/19d. Total Eps: 100

A podcast discussing public policy and the political process – at a local, national and international level – through a Scottish lens.

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Data updated on 10/09/2026

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https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/elections/
16 shares
https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/stayintouch/
7 shares
https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/about/
3 shares

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_3SRvbIiv4
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Score global : 38%

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Scotland's Programme for Government

Season 8 · Episode 1

Monday, September 7, 2026 • Duration 42:56

UofG Spotlight is back for series 8! And we're starting with the Scottish Government's Programme for Government, announced by First Minister John Swinney on 1 September.

We discuss what's in (and not in) the new five-year Programme for Government, from the four over-arching themes and nine new Bills, to the detail of public service reform, independence and devolution, prevention, food price caps, and lots more.

Regular podcast hosts Professor Nicola McEwen and Professor Kezia Dugdale are joined by leading voices in Scottish public policy and politics:

Sarah Davidson, CEO of Carnegie UK and Honorary Professor at the Centre for Public Policy
Peter MacMahon, writer, broadcaster and commentator on Scottish and UK politics

A brilliant conversation on what this announcement means for politics and policy in Scotland in the coming terms.

Tune in and subscribe.

Hear more from the Centre for Public Policy – sign up to our newsletter:
https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/about/

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The Future of Foreign Aid: Retreat or Reinvention?

Season 7 · Episode 14

Friday, June 5, 2026 • Duration 39:23

In this episode of Spotlight, we turn from devolved politics to global challenges, asking the important question: do we still value development aid?

Host Nicola McEwen is joined by leading researchers from the University of Glasgow and Queen Margaret University to unpack the changing landscape of international development. Together, they explore the long-term decline in UK and global aid commitments, the real-world consequences for communities in some of the world's most vulnerable settings and the new approaches to development finance emerging. This work is being supported by the Scottish Council for Global Affairs.

Later in the episode, Nicola speaks with SCIAF's Director of Public Engagement, Ben Wilson, about Scotland's distinctive role, the Scottish Government's commitments, and whether initiatives like aid match funding could create a different path forward.

As global pressures mount and political priorities shift, what does the future hold for development aid - and for the communities who depend on it?

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Power, Policy and the Next Five Years - After the Elections Ep.8

Season 7 · Episode 13

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 • Duration 38:21

In the final episode of our election podcast series, now 'After the Elections', we look at the results of the Scottish election, what it means for the future of public policy, and how soon we might see the impact of challenging public finances.

We're joined by two guests, Graeme Roy, Professor of Economics at the University of Glasgow and Chair of the Scottish Fiscal Commission, and Kate Higgins, former Special Adviser to the Scottish Government.

How hard is it to deliver change in government?
What is the fiscal context facing the new administration?
What is the likelihood of an independence referendum?
Can the MSPs find common ground, in a parliament that is more diverse and ideologically fragmented than ever before?

Tune in and subscribe.

Over the last month, the Centre for Public Policy has published a range of academic insights from University of Glasgow experts, on justice, the economy, migration, the constitution and more.

Visit our website to find out more:
https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/elections/

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In England and Wales - On the Elections Ep.7

Season 7 · Episode 12

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 • Duration 38:08

In this episode of our On the Elections podcast series, we're looking to England and Wales, where elections are also being held tomorrow, 7th May.

In England, almost 5,000 councillors will be elected across 134 of England's 317 councils. And the Welsh Parliament – or Senedd – is also holding its election, with a new voting system and a 50% increase in the number of Senedd members being elected.

We're joined by Professor Jane Green, Director of the Nuffield Politics Research Centre and Co-Director of the British Election Study, and Professor Laura McAllister from Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre and one of Wales' leading academics.

With Jane, we discuss England, from whether this election will be a test for Keir Starmer's government, to bloc voting, how well we expect to see individual parties do from Reform UK to the Greens, and more. And with Laura, we talk about Wales, from how the new electoral system might play out in the Senedd election, to the latest polls and frontrunners, and what has gone wrong for Welsh Labour.

Tune in and subscribe.

Read our joint report with Ipsos - Does Independence Still Matter?:
https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/news/headline_1264446_en.html

Visit the Centre for Public Policy for more expert insights, from justice, to migration, the constitution, the economy, and more:
https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/elections/

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Can the Next Scottish Government Fix Public Services? On the Elections Ep.6

Season 7 · Episode 11

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 • Duration 29:31

This week on the UofG Spotlight On the Elections podcast, we're talking about whether the next Scottish government can fix public services.

What are the parties proposing to fix the problems in public services and help to sustain them into the future? What should they be doing?

To talk about this, hosts Nicola McEwen and Kezia Dugdale are joined by Frances Mair, the Norrie Miller Professor of General Practice and Head of the School of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow, and Sarah Davidson, Chief Executive at Carnegie UK, and Honorary Professor here at the Centre for Public Policy.

Tune in and subscribe.

Follow the election day by day with the Centre for Public Policy on our website including live lunchtime webinars on key issues in the campaign, and written insights on policy issues facing the country.

https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/elections/

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Can the next Scottish Government Revive the Economy? On the Elections Ep.5

Season 7 · Episode 10

Thursday, April 23, 2026 • Duration 32:58

In today's episode, we're talking about the economy, and particularly whether the next Scottish Government can revive the economy in Scotland.

Host Professor Graeme Roy is joined by three experts. Sara Carter, Professor of Entrepreneurship, Vice Principal and Head of the College of Social Sciences at the University of Glasgow, Dr David Waite, senior lecturer in Urban Studies at the University of Glasgow, and Stephen Boyd, Director of the IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland).

They look at what the current future looks like for Scotland's economy; the manifestos and whether the parties have risen to the challenge ahead; what's missing and what might meet that challenge - from more focus on entrepreneurship and small business to regional devolution; and how we get back to the basics on what drives the economy.

Tune in and subscribe.

Follow the election day by day with the Centre for Public Policy on our website including live lunchtime webinars on key issues in the campaign, and written insights on policy issues facing the country.

https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/elections/

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The Manifestos - On the Elections Ep.4

Season 7 · Episode 9

Monday, April 20, 2026 • Duration 32:17

In this episode of the UofG Spotlight On the Elections podcast, we're looking at what's in the manifestos of the Scottish parties.

Hosts Nicola McEwen and Kezia Dugdale talk to Professor Alistair Clark, a political scientist from the University of Newcastle and Chris Birt, Associate Director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Together they discuss whether manifestos really matter, what's in them, what's not and how what they choose to emphasise gives us a greater insight into their priorities and outlook.

Tune in and subscribe.

Follow the election day by day with the Centre for Public Policy on our website including live lunchtime webinars on key issues in the campaign, and written insights on policy issues facing the country.

https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/elections/

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The Rise of the Right - On the Elections Ep.3

Season 7 · Episode 8

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 • Duration 30:59

This week we're looking at the rise of the right in Scotland. We're seeing Reform UK emerge in Scotland as a serious contender, and given the electoral system one that is likely to see a sizeable number of MSPs in the Scottish Parliament.

In this episode, we explore:

What's driving the rise of parties like Reform UK
What can we learn from similar parties elsewhere?
And what are the implications for public policy more generally?

First up we talk to Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, an independent, non-partisan thinktank and registered charity, engaging people's hopes and fears about integration and immigration, identity and race, and former journalist.

The we're joined by two academic experts, Dr Judith Sijstermans, University of Aberdeen, and Dr Pontus Odmalm, University of Edinburgh.

Tune in and subscribe.

Follow the election day by day with the Centre for Public Policy on our website including live lunchtime webinars on key issues in the campaign, and written insights on policy issues facing the country.

https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/elections/

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An Election in the Shadow of War? On the Elections Ep.2

Season 7 · Episode 7

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 • Duration 27:01

In today's episode of our UofG Spotlight: On the Elections series, we're looking at the election through the lens of global politics and growing global insecurity, specifically the US and Israel's war with Iran.

We're joined by John Edward, Head of Operations at the Scottish Council on Global Affairs and Geoff Aberdein, Managing Partner at True North, co-host of the podcast Holyrood Sources, and a former Special Adviser to the SNP Scottish Government.

We examine what the impact of the events in the Middle East are closer to home, on devolution and for Scotland's wider place in the world.

How will the parties in their campaign HQs will be absorbing events in Middle East, will they be altering campaign plans and messaging? Does an election for a devolved parliament seem inconsequential against a backdrop of such big issues? What about fuel costs and energy, and what does global insecurity mean for the politics of independence?

Tune in and subscribe.

Follow the election day by day with the Centre for Public Policy on our website including live lunchtime webinars on key issues in the campaign, and written insights on policy issues facing the country.

https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/elections/

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On the Elections Ep.1: The Polls and the Policies So Far

Season 7 · Episode 6

Thursday, April 2, 2026 • Duration 26:47

Kicking off our 'On the Elections' series of the UofG Spotlight podcast, hosts Nicola McEwen and Kez Dugdale talk to guests Chris Carman and Mark McGeoghegan.

A 'state of the race' episode, they talk about the key issues for the campaign ahead.

How much do the campaigns really matter?
What are the polls saying, and how are key issues ranking with voters?
What about Reform UK and just how volatile is the electorate?

Tune in for a fantastic primer on the upcoming election in Scotland.

Follow the election day by day with the Centre for Public Policy on our website here:
https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/publicpolicy/elections/

Registration for our webinars are now live!

Book here:

What can devolved governments do to address the cost-of-living crisis? In partnership with the Campaign for Social Science:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-can-devolved-governments-do-to-address-the-cost-of-living-crisis-tickets-1985828948843?aff=oddtdtcreator

What are the parties' plans on tax, spending and the economy? In partnership with the Institute for Fiscal Studies:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-are-the-parties-plans-on-tax-spending-and-the-economy-tickets-1985833580697?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

What's behind how people vote? In partnership with Ipsos:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/whats-behind-how-people-vote-tickets-1985913859814

UofG Spotlight – Details, episodes & analysis

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UofG Spotlight – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other34

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RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other34

Youtube1