John Swinney: the election interview

Martin Geissler joins Natalie and Lynsey to talk about our election interviews with Scottish Green co-leader Gillian Mackay and John Swinney of the SNP. And from assisted dying to greyhound racing to Brazilian butt lifts: why have MSPs been voting on so many laws in such a short space of time? Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by Natalie Higgins and Lynsey Bews. Get in touch: [email protected]

John Swinney has been SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland since 2024. He talks to Martin about feeling the “love of God” and why he believes racism partly explains the popularity of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler. Get in touch: [email protected]

MSPs have rejected a bill brought forward by Liam McArthur (pictured) which would have allowed a medically assisted death for terminally ill people with six months left to live. We ask the BBC’s Scotland Editor and Newscast regular James Cook how a majority of MSPs went from supporting the bill in May 2025 to voting it down 10 months later. Scotcast is the BBC's Scottish news podcast. This episode was hosted by Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: [email protected]

Gillian Mackay (pictured) was elected co-leader of the Scottish Greens alongside Ross Greer in 2025.She talks to Martin about 'rebuilding trust' between her party and the SNP, and her childhood bullying ordeal.Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Iran: Are our bills about to shoot up?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002s4h6 The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned that the longer the US-Israel war with Iran continues, the worse the cost of living will get at home. He’s announced some support for those who use heating oil – but it pales in comparison to the help given out after the Ukraine war. So what can the UK government afford these days? The BBC’s deputy economics editor Dharshini David answers our questions. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Natalie Higgins and David Wallace Lockhart. Get in touch: [email protected]

Scotcast's Martin Geissler joins Natalie and David to talk about the first of our leader interviews with Scottish Liberal Democrat Alex Cole-Hamilton and Reform UK's Malcolm Offord. And we preview the upcoming Holyrood vote on whether to legalise assisted dying. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode of the Politics Show is hosted by Natalie Higgins and David Wallace Lockhart. Get in touch: [email protected]

Malcolm Offord (pictured) was appointed Reform UK’s leader in Scotland in January 2026.He talks to Martin about finding his feet in Nigel Farage’s party – and losing friends along the way.Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘My clan, the land and who owns it’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002lpck The fire that ripped through a Victorian building next to Glasgow’s Central Station has left a blackened, crumbling shell right in the city centre. The council leader Susan Aitken has said the ownership of many historic sites in the city is ‘complex’, and often ‘fragmented’. So who is responsible for much of our heritage? And how should it be protected? Two journalists – Calum Grewar from The Bell and Karin Goodwin from The Ferret - tell us how complicated the picture can be. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: [email protected]

Alex Cole-Hamilton (pictured) has been leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats since 2021. He talks to Martin about Quakerism, pacifism and nationalism in the first of our series of interviews with party leaders ahead of the Holyrood election. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler. Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Fans hit out at Old Firm policing’: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002919c Police Scotland have condemned the behaviour of fans attending the Scottish Cup clash between Rangers and Celtic as 'despicable' and 'shameful'. We ask the BBC’s Chris McLaughlin how the clubs and authorities will respond to the disorder at Ibrox. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch: [email protected]