Scotcast

When Mhairi Black was elected an SNP MP at the age of 20, she became the youngest person to sit in the House of Commons in more than 300 years. Ahead of her new BBC documentary ‘Mhairi Black: Being Me Again’, she tells Martin and Natalie why she quit Westminster after less than a decade and how an ADHD diagnosis and crippling mental health problems contributed to that decision. Mhairi also tells us why she thinks some of the SNP’s recent troubles have been “self inflicted” and even dangles the prospect of quitting the party. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay is suggesting lowering the school leaving age to 14 to 'transform' young people’s opportunities. We ask education journalist James McEnaney from The Herald and the BBC’s Lysney Bews if critics are right to describe the idea as 'Dickensian'. And Martin and Laura discuss the prospect of football’s ban on alcohol being lifted. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

The owners of NFL giants San Francisco 49ers, led by Paraag Marathe, are making a move for Rangers FC. We ask the BBC’s Chris McLaughlin and Sharyn Fleming and football finance expert Kieran Maguire how big a deal it could be for Scottish football. And after US President Donald Trump paused aid to Ukraine, we unpack First Minister John Swinney’s reaction. Plus, an update on the case of Jagtar Singh Johal. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected] Image credit: Paraag Marathe, PA. Clip of JD Vance from Fox News Channel's 'Hannity'.

Martin Compston is one of our busiest, and most successful, actors. Now the star of Line of Duty wants to bring more big films and TV shows to Scotland. He tells us about his plan to make a movie about a 16th-century Scottish cannibal, the 'dark places' he’s had to go as an actor and answers the obvious question: will Line of Duty be back? And we reflect on Martin Geissler’s interview with the First Minister and discuss whether John Swinney really wants to hobnob with Donald Trump. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.

A Scottish man called Jagtar Singh Johal has been jailed in India for seven years without conviction. The Indian government call him a terrorist. A UN working group says he’s been arbitrarily detained. Jagtar himself alleges he's been tortured. What are the British government doing to bring him home? The team speak to the BBC’s Katie Hunter and Calum McKay, asking how a man from Dumbarton became the centre of a diplomatic dilemma.Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler and Laura Miller. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

The First Minister has taken aim at Nigel Farage, calling him an 'accomplice' to Russia, and backed Keir Starmer, who is raising defence spending ahead of talks with US President Donald Trump in Washington. The BBC’s David Wallace Lockhart tell us what John Swinney’s attack on the Reform UK leader is all about. And we ask former SNP MP Stewart McDonald if Ukraine has changed his party's tune on defence – and whether the mood is shifting on the Trident nuclear weapons system. And Laura shows Martin how firm her handshake is. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

A report has found the attainment gap has worsened for Scottish schools. It means the level of qualifications gained between young people in the most affluent and least affluent areas is widening. For nearly 10 years the Scottish Government has said that closing the attainment gap is their 'priority'. We ask education journalist James McEnamey and BBC Political correspondent Phil Sim about a bold solution from a group of experts. The Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) says there could be 90,000 fewer pupils by 2040, and that teacher numbers could be cut as a result. Could the money saved be a better help elsewhere? Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler and Laura Maciver. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

The arrest of 74-year-old Rose Docherty outside a Glasgow abortion clinic for breaching the Safe Access Zone Act has put Scotland’s buffer zone law back in the spotlight. As anti-abortion campaigners 40 Days for Life pledge not to break the law during upcoming vigils, we ask Gillian Mackay – the Green MSP who came up with it – and Lois McLatchie Miller from Christian campaign group Alliance Defending Freedom International if US Vice President JD Vance was wrong to say private prayer can be a criminal offence. And after an eye-catching newsroom email, Laura reveals she always sniffs the office milk. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

The changing room tribunal involving Sandie Peggie, Dr Beth Upton and NHS Fife has dominated headlines. As First Minister’s Questions gets fiery on the gender debate, we ask if the temperature of political opinion is changing.We speak to Mark Diffley, pollster and analyst, and BBC Scotland’s Chief Political Correspondent, Lynsey Bews. And an archaeologist from Galashiels finds a pharaoh’s tomb. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]

What’s the price of climate progress? As another Scottish pylon project is approved, the team hears about the communities in the way of the green energy revolution. Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls them Nimbys (Not in my back yard). But campaigner Kate Matthews tells us how 70m monster pylons will blight the landscape around her home in Aberdeenshire. Kate is from one of the many local groups fighting pylons, substations and battery energy storage systems being built across the country. BBC Scotland Environment Correspondent Kevin Keane joins her in the studio. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast with Martin Geissler and Laura Miller. Get in touch with us by emailing [email protected]