Go Radio Politics Show: August 24th, 2025

This is a catch-up version of Bernard Ponsonby's live, weekly Sunday show on Go Radio.

Guests:

Helen McDade: Reform U.K. John Grady: MP: Labour Glasgow East

This week’s episode dives deep into three hot-button issues shaping UK and Scottish politics:

Asylum & Immigration Crunch With record asylum applications and a growing backlog, Bernard grills Labour MP John Grady and Reform UK’s Helen McDade on the legal, moral, and economic implications. Should the UK withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights to regain control? And are legal migrants paying the price for asylum pressures?

State Pension Age & Triple Lock Debate As the UK government reviews the pension age, the panel tackles tough questions: Is an increase inevitable? Can the triple lock survive long-term?

Scottish Conservatives in Crisis? Jeremy Balfour’s resignation sparks a broader discussion on the state of the Scottish Tories. Are they facing political extinction, or is this just turbulence before regrouping? Reform UK’s rising vote share adds fuel to the fire.

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Go Radio Politics Show: August 10th, 2025

This is a catch-up version of Bernard Ponsonby's live, weekly Sunday show on Go Radio.

Guests:

Kaukab Stewart: SNP MSP Glasgow Kelvin Douglas Lumsden: Scottish Conservative MSP NE Scotland Roz Foyer: General Secretary, STUC

In this lively episode, Bernard Ponsonby deep dive into the political and social issues dominating Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon's Memoir:

Sparks intense debate over her legacy, emotional honesty, and political missteps.

Critics accuse her of rewriting history and avoiding accountability.

Supporters praise her vulnerability and introspection, especially regarding her relationship with Alex Salmond.

Misogyny in Politics:

Roz Foyer and Kaukab Stewart highlight the gendered nature of political criticism.

Douglas Lumsden argues abuse is widespread across all politicians, regardless of gender.

Wealth Inequality in Scotland:

Shocking new stats reveal deep disparities in income and savings.

Council Tax Debate:

Heated exchanges over the outdated and unfair nature of council tax bands.

Bernard challenges politicians on their reluctance to commit to revaluation or reform.

Free Speech & Cancel Culture:

Arrests at pro-Palestinian protests and the controversy around Kate Forbes at the Edinburgh Fringe raise concerns about censorship.

Guests discuss the balance between freedom of expression and incitement, with calls for more respectful public discourse.

The episode ends with a call for cooler heads and respectful debate in an increasingly polarised political climate.

Bernard Ponsonby promises more spirited discussion in next week’s show. Hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss it!

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Go Radio Politics Show: August 10th, 2025

This is a catch-up version of Bernard Ponsonby's live, weekly Sunday show on Go Radio.

Guests:

Christopher Murray: Labour Party for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh.

David Melvyn Linden: Former Scottish National Party for Glasgow East

In this episode of the Go Radio Politics Show, host Bernard Ponsonby and guests explore these major issues.

The episode begins with an in-depth discussion of Nicola Sturgeon’s newly released memoir, Frankly. The book reveals deeply personal aspects of her life, and her complex relationship with former mentor Alex Salmond.

This segment tackles the Bank of England’s recent decision to cut interest rates, a move that has sparked debate among economists and politicians.

Bernard Ponsonby challenges Labour’s tax pledges, predicting that economic pressures will force the party to break its manifesto commitments

Kate Forbes’ Departure & Toxic Politics

This segment focuses on Kate Forbes’ announcement that she will not seek re-election, citing family commitments and the toxic nature of political discourse in Scotland.

The final segment addresses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to occupy all of Gaza, a move that has drawn international condemnation.

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