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

Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok

For more Go Studio Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD...

Go Radio Politics Show: October 25th, 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.

As Chancellor John Healey prepares to deliver one of the most challenging budgets in recent years, the panel debates how Labour can balance growth, public spending and rising economic pressures. With speculation mounting over tax changes, defence spending and support for households, the discussion explores what the government must do to restore confidence while delivering for voters.

The conversation then turns to the future of North Sea energy, with heated debate over the Jackdaw and Rosebank developments, climate targets, energy security and jobs. Finally, the panel examines whether politicians who leave the party they were elected for should be allowed to keep their seats, following Amanda Bland's departure from Reform UK.

Episode Highlights

📊 What can John Healey realistically deliver in Wednesday's budget?

💷 The battle between economic growth, taxation and public spending.

🏠 Cost-of-living concerns and proposals to ease pressure on households.

⚔️ Cross-party agreement emerges on increasing UK defence spending.

🛢️ Why the approval of Jackdaw has reignited the Rosebank debate.

🌍 Can the UK meet climate commitments while expanding North Sea extraction?

⚡ Energy security versus net-zero ambitions.

🏛️ Amanda Bland's exit from Reform UK sparks debate over political mandates.

🗳️ Should MSPs who leave their party be forced to seek re-election?

🎙️ Sharp exchanges, surprising agreements and major political fault lines ahead of a crucial week in Westminster.

Listen now for a wide-ranging debate on the budget, energy policy and the future of political accountability in Scotland

Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok

For more Go Studio Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD...

Go Radio Politics Show: October 18th, 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 Douglas Lumsden (Scottish Conservatives), Alex Kerr (SNP), and Chris Kane (Labour) for a lively debate covering the SNP's latest independence push, Labour's discussion on Britain's future relationship with Europe, and the growing controversy engulfing Reform UK following an ITV undercover investigation.

The panel clashes over mandates, democracy, devolution, Brexit, constitutional reform and the role of the media, producing a robust discussion on some of the biggest political questions facing Scotland and the UK.

Key Highlights

• SNP Conference Under Fire: Is John Swinney's "Choose Scotland" campaign a genuine route to independence or simply another speech without a strategy?
• Mandate vs Reality: Heated exchanges over whether electoral victories provide a democratic mandate for another independence referendum.
• Constitutional Convention Proposal: Bernard suggests the SNP should establish a constitutional convention to answer unanswered questions about independence.
• Brexit Reopened?: Labour faces questions over whether Andy Burnham's comments signal the beginning of a national conversation about rejoining the EU.
• Growth and Europe: The panel debates whether Brexit has held back economic growth and whether closer European ties could offer a solution.
• Reform UK Row: Strong reactions to an ITV undercover documentary alleging racist comments among senior Reform figures.
• Media Scrutiny and Bias: A wider discussion on the role of journalists, political accountability, and claims of liberal bias in broadcasting

Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok

For more Go Studio Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD...