Go Radio Politics Show: November 1st, 2026.

This is the catch-up edition of Bernard Ponsonby's weekly live Sunday politics show on Go Radio, bringing you the biggest political stories, debates and interviews from across Scotland and beyond in one convenient podcast.

Bernard Ponsonby is joined by Labour MSP Daniel Johnson, Scottish Conservative MSP Craig Hoy, and SNP MP Graham Leadbitter for a wide-ranging debate on the Chancellor's latest Budget, the sustainability of welfare spending, pension reform, defence funding, and Scotland's prison overcrowding crisis.

The panel clash over whether the Budget offers any credible route to economic growth, how governments should tackle spiralling welfare costs, and whether political parties are avoiding difficult fiscal decisions ahead of a possible general election. The discussion concludes with concerns that Scotland's prisons are reaching breaking point, raising difficult questions about justice, sentencing, and public safety.

Key Highlights

• Was the Chancellor's Budget more about politics than economic growth?
• Conservatives argue tax cuts and reduced public spending are needed to stimulate the economy.
• Labour defends a cautious Budget, citing global instability and fiscal constraints.
• SNP criticises the government's failure to address energy costs and support key Scottish industries.
• Heated debate on "fiscal drag" and whether governments are quietly raising taxes through frozen thresholds.
• Discussion on whether welfare spending has become unsustainable and how to encourage more people into work.
• Conservatives call for tougher welfare reforms, while Labour and the SNP stress investment, support, and pathways into employment.
• Triple lock pensions come under scrutiny, with questions over long-term affordability.
• Panellists speculate on whether difficult spending decisions are being delayed until after the next election.
• Scotland's prison overcrowding crisis sparks disagreement over sentencing, early release schemes, and investment in prison infrastructure.
• Debate over whether community sentencing could reduce pressure on Scotland's prison system while maintaining public confidence

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