Podcasts By The Scottish Parliament

Festival of Politics - Russia Vs The West

A recording from the Festival of Politics session titled “Russia VS the West”.

 

Relations between Russia and the West may be at a chilly low, but if the Cold War was a battle of military and ideological rivalries then current tensions are more a chess game of great power politics. Listen to chair Jason Boxt, U.S. pollster and a panel of experts including Professor Vera Tolz, University of Manchester; and Sergey Utkin, Primakov National Research Institute and John Lough an Associate Fellow of the Russia & Eurasia Programme at Chatham House discuss the political game-plan at the Festival of Politics 2018.

 

Festival of Politics - Posh or Poor?

A recording from the Festival of Politics session titled "Posh or Poor?".

The demise of forelock tugging and deference to those ‘upstairs’ may make class less obvious, but with inequality and poverty rising, has Britain really thrown off its class obsession? Join our chair Kenny Farquharson, The Times, and panellists including Claire Ainsley, Director, Joseph Rowntree Foundation; Darren McGarvey aka Loki, author of Poverty Safari; Chris Snowdon, author of The Spirit Level Delusion; and John Boothman, The Times, as they discuss social mobility and meritocracy.

Festival of Politics - Trade Wars

A recording from the Festival of Politics session titled "Living Outside the EU".

Free, fair and mutually beneficial trade appears to be a long-gone ambition of former global trading partners in an age of fractious G7 deals and Brexit negotiations. Join our chair Deputy Presiding Officer Christine Grahame MSP and panellists including Professor Michael Keating, Chair in Scottish Politics, University of Aberdeen; and Douglas Fraser, BBC Economy Editor to decipher the new trade rules, tariffs and what all this means for the consumer.

Festival of Politics - Living Outside the EU

A recording from the Festival of Politics session titled "Living Outside the EU".

Though the UK’s future relationship with the EU is still to be determined, countries such as Norway, Iceland and Canada’s relationships with the EU provide an insight into our future. Join Chair Ann Packard, Hon. Fellow RIAS, and panellists including Jill Rutter, The Institute for Government; and Lesley Riddoch, Nordic Horizons and author of McSmorgasbord; What post Brexit Scotland can learn from the Nordics, to talk trade, economy and culture when living outside the EU.

Festival of Politics - Youthquake

A recording from the Festival of Politics session titled "Youthquake".

“Youthquake,” was the Oxford Dictionary word of 2017. From youth campaigners on Brexit, Scottish Independence and Jeremy Corbyn’s rise – young people appear more politically engaged than ever. Join chair Laura Hood, Politics Editor, The Conversation, and panellists Dr. Benjamin Bowman, Manchester Centre for Youth Studies, Manchester Metropolitan University; Zanib Ahmad MSYP; Professor Paul Whiteley, Professor of Government, University of Essex and British Academy Fellow; and Josh Kennedy MSYP, to discuss whether the youthquake really can transform the political landscape.

In partnership with British Academy, The Conversation and the Scottish Youth Parliament.

Festival of Politics - What does Gender Equality Look Like?

A recording from the Festival of Politics session titled "What does Gender Equality Look Like?"

The World Economic Forum predicted that the gender pay gap will end – but not till 2095. Join panellists Melanie Reid, The Times; Emma Ritch, Engender; Suki Wan MSYP, Chair, Scottish Youth Parliament; and Professor Lesley Yellowlees, Professor of Inorganic electrochemistry, University of Edinburgh and Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellow, to discuss their personal experiences of gender equality from work/life balance to equal pay; relationships and social norms, and how we close that gap sooner.

In partnership with Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Festival of Politics - Jamie Greene MSP: LGBT and the military

Following our Festival of Politics event about LGBT personnel in the military we asked Jamie Greene MSP, as chair, to talk us through the the discussion - as well as speak to us more generally about LGBT+ issues in Scotland and about his work as founder and co-chair of the Scottish Parliament's LGBT+ cross-party group. 

 

 

Festival of Politics - Ken Clarke MP: Kind of Blue

The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke MP is one of the genuine heavyweights of the UK political world with almost 50 years of serving as an MP at the heart of government under three Prime Ministers. Perceived as being on the left of the Conservative Party, his memorable Brexit speech is a reminder why he remains such a stalwart of British politics. Kenneth Clarke MP was in conversation with the Presiding Officer as they discussed his candid autobiography, Kind of Blue, and the secret of balancing politics with lifelong passions for cricket, jazz and Nottingham Forest FC.

This special episode was recorded at 2017's Festival of Politics event in the Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.

Festival of Politics - Evan Davis: The Post-Truth Toolkit

As a broadcaster, Evan Davis has seen and heard it all, from Newsnight to Dragons' Den and Radio 4's Today programme. Evan was in conversation with the Presiding Officer as they discussed his new book, 'Post-Truth: Why We Have Reached Peak Bullshit and What We Can Do About It', which provides a toolkit to handle the kinds of deceptions we encounter every day, and a route through the muddy waters of the post-truth age.

This special episode was recorded at 2017's Festival of Politics event in the Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.

Festival of Politics - Harriet Harman MP: A Woman's Work

As one of Britain's most prominent campaigning politicians, twice deputising as leader of the Labour Party and the country's longest-serving female MP, Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman QC MP, has had a distinguished career whilst also bringing women's issues to the heart of the Labour Party and fighting for equality and respect for all women.

Harriet was in conversation with the Presiding Officer as they discussed her political memoir, A Woman's Work, a unique insight on being a working woman in the macho bear-pit of Westminster set against the backdrop of the progresses and setbacks in the Labour Party, UK politics and the way the country has been governed since 1970.

This special episode was recorded at 2017's Festival of Politics event in the Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.