Latest news with #UnspunLive
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Herald's Unspun Live heads to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The future of Scotland will take centre stage at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, as The Herald's flagship politics podcast hosts a series of live conversations with the country's political leaders. The new show — Unspun Live at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe — runs from 4–7 August at Summerhall's Dissection Room, featuring a different high-profile guest each evening. Across four nights, audiences will hear from First Minister John Swinney, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, and Britain's leading polling expert, Professor Sir John Curtice. Tickets are available now — click here to book your place at Unspun Live. These discussions will move beyond the usual political talking points, exploring the personal motivations, challenges and life experiences that shape Scotland's most influential figures. Professor Sir John Curtice and guestsThe series opens on 4 August with Professor Sir John Curtice, who will be joined by special guests to take the political temperature of the nation and analyse the trends influencing the next Holyrood election. Click here to buy tickets to Unspun Live with John Curtice and guests John Swinney (Image: Gordon Terris) On 5 August, John Swinney will make a rare festival appearance. He will be interviewed by The Herald's Brian Taylor — the legendary former political editor of BBC Scotland, who has been covering the First Minister for more than 25 years. The SNP leader will reflect on his first year leading the Scottish Government, the challenges facing his party and the country, and share a personal perspective on leadership and life in high office. Click here to buy tickets for Unspun Live with John Swinney Anas Sarwar reading The Herald (Image: Gordon Terris) On 6 August, attention turns to the opposition. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar will discuss one of the most dramatic years in his party's recent history. Buoyed by a strong performance at Thursday's by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, his appearance comes at a pivotal moment in his campaign to lead the next Scottish Government. Click here to buy tickets for Unspun Live with Anas Sarwar Kate Forbes speaking to The Herald (Image: Colin Mearns) Closing the series on 7 August is Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes. A former SNP leadership contender and key figure in the Cabinet, she will offer insights into the Government's economic priorities — and reflect on her political journey to date. Click here to buy tickets for Unspun Live with Kate Forbes Each Unspun Live session will be hosted by journalists and columnists from The Herald. The events will combine political analysis with personal storytelling, offering audiences a rare chance to engage with both the public views and private reflections of Scotland's leading politicians. Audience members will also be invited to put their questions directly to the guests, ensuring a two-way conversation about Scotland's political direction — and the people behind the headlines. Catherine Salmond, Editor of The Herald, said: 'We are delighted to bring the world's longest-running national newspaper into the heart of the world's largest arts festival. 'As Scotland faces a pivotal election in 2026, there is real value in having these conversations live on stage — where our readers and the wider public can engage directly with the people shaping our country's future. 'For those with a serious interest in Scottish politics, The Herald remains an essential read, combining authoritative coverage with unparalleled access to the key players and issues that matter. 'It is all part of our commitment to fostering understanding and informed debate — ensuring Scots have access to the insight they need, whether in our pages or face to face.' Click here to book your tickets now via the Summerhall box office.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
The Herald's Unspun Live heads to the Edinburgh Fringe
Across four nights, audiences will hear from First Minister John Swinney, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, and Britain's leading polling expert, Professor Sir John Curtice. Tickets are available now — click here to book your place at Unspun Live. These discussions will move beyond the usual political talking points, exploring the personal motivations, challenges and life experiences that shape Scotland's most influential figures. Professor Sir John Curtice and guestsThe series opens on 4 August with Professor Sir John Curtice, who will be joined by special guests to take the political temperature of the nation and analyse the trends influencing the next Holyrood election. Click here to buy tickets to Unspun Live with John Curtice and guests John Swinney (Image: Gordon Terris) On 5 August, John Swinney will make a rare festival appearance. He will be interviewed by The Herald's Brian Taylor — the legendary former political editor of BBC Scotland, who has been covering the First Minister for more than 25 years. The SNP leader will reflect on his first year leading the Scottish Government, the challenges facing his party and the country, and share a personal perspective on leadership and life in high office. Click here to buy tickets for Unspun Live with John Swinney Anas Sarwar reading The Herald (Image: Gordon Terris) On 6 August, attention turns to the opposition. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar will discuss one of the most dramatic years in his party's recent history. Buoyed by a strong performance at Thursday's by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, his appearance comes at a pivotal moment in his campaign to lead the next Scottish Government. Click here to buy tickets for Unspun Live with Anas Sarwar Kate Forbes speaking to The Herald (Image: Colin Mearns) Closing the series on 7 August is Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes. A former SNP leadership contender and key figure in the Cabinet, she will offer insights into the Government's economic priorities — and reflect on her political journey to date. Click here to buy tickets for Unspun Live with Kate Forbes Each Unspun Live session will be hosted by journalists and columnists from The Herald. The events will combine political analysis with personal storytelling, offering audiences a rare chance to engage with both the public views and private reflections of Scotland's leading politicians. Audience members will also be invited to put their questions directly to the guests, ensuring a two-way conversation about Scotland's political direction — and the people behind the headlines. Catherine Salmond, Editor of The Herald, said: 'We are delighted to bring the world's longest-running national newspaper into the heart of the world's largest arts festival. 'As Scotland faces a pivotal election in 2026, there is real value in having these conversations live on stage — where our readers and the wider public can engage directly with the people shaping our country's future. 'For those with a serious interest in Scottish politics, The Herald remains an essential read, combining authoritative coverage with unparalleled access to the key players and issues that matter. 'It is all part of our commitment to fostering understanding and informed debate — ensuring Scots have access to the insight they need, whether in our pages or face to face.' Click here to book your tickets now via the Summerhall box office.
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
SNP veteran calls for Swinney resignation after Labour win
"Poor by election result for the SNP despite having the best candidate, he wrote on X. "It shows that the opinion polls appear wide of the mark. Most importantly it shows the current SNP leadership needs to be replaced urgently." This morning Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said his party's shock victory in a Holyrood by-election could help propel him into power next year - as he declared he wants to "gain scores of seats across the country" in a bid to defeat the SNP. Mr Sarwar and his party celebrated in the early hours of Friday morning after Labour's Davy Russell was elected as the new MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, winning the seat from the SNP. READ MORE: Sarwar: Swinney ran a 'disgraceful' campaign and is running down the clock as FM Inside the Hamilton by-election drama — Unspun Live emergency podcast Rows with press, claims of racism and misinformation - a by-election that turned ugly Covering this by-election has been fascinating, frustrating - and at times very tense With the votes showing a swing of more than 7% from the SNP to Labour, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Friday the result showed people have "voted for change". The by-election had been held following the death earlier this year of Scottish Government minister Christina McKelvie. When the votes were counted, Mr Russell polled 8,559, SNP candidate Katy Loudon took 7,957 votes, while Reform's Ross Lambie secured 7,088. And although Mr Russell was elected with fewer votes than Labour secured in the seat in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, the SNP's support fell from just over 46% of all ballots then to 29.35% in the by-election. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice insisting they were "delighted" with coming third - despite speculation prior to the count that they could come in second or may even pull off a surprise victory. Labour's win came after Scotland's First Minister John Swinney - who made numerous campaign visits to the area - had declared the contest to be a "two-horse race" between the SNP and Nigel Farage's Reform. But speaking at a media event in Hamilton on Friday morning, Mr Sarwar accused the SNP leader of running a "disgraceful" campaign. Mr Sarwar also insisted the by-election could "help lead the way" to him becoming Scotland's next first minister in the May 2026 Holyrood elections. The Scottish Labour leader said he believed the victory to be "even more significant" than the party's win in the nearby Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election in October 2023 - which he said had been key in helping to secure Labour's general election win in July last year. Mr Sarwar declared: "I think in some ways this by-election result is even more significant than the Rutherglen by-election result two years ago. "It is right to say, I believe, the result in Rutherglen helped lead the way in helping to elect a UK Labour Government and I also believe the by-election result here will help lead the way to elect a Scottish Labour government next year." Looking ahead to that election, Mr Sarwar told reporters: "I want us to gain scores of seats across the country so we can remove this SNP government from office." He went on to accuse Mr Swinney of running a "disgraceful campaign" in the by-election, saying that despite the SNP having been in power for 18 years, "the best he had to offer was 'vote SNP to stop Farage'". And while Reform UK came in third in the by-election, Mr Sarwar said Mr Farage's party could not win the Scottish Parliament elections. He insisted: "Nigel Farage is not standing to be first minister. "It is a straight choice - it is either going to be John Swinney, or it's going to be me." The Scottish Labour leader continued: "The choice is stark next year. Our Parliament is not about protests, our election is not about protest, it is about choosing a government here in Scotland. "The choice is stark - a third decade of the SNP with John Swinney as first minister or a new direction for Scotland with me as first minister." However, Mr Tice told BBC Radio 4's that the result in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse was "truly remarkable". He said: "We've come from nowhere to being in a three-way marginal, and we're within 750 votes of winning that by-election and just a few hundred votes of defeating the SNP, so it's an incredible result." Mr Swinney, meanwhile, said the SNP was "clearly disappointed" with the result. The party leader said Labour had "won by an absolute landslide" in Rutherglen and Hamilton West - noting the SNP "came much closer" this time round. But he added: "The people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse have made clear that we still have work to do. "Over the next few days, we will take time to consider the result fully." The SNP has been approached for a response to Mr Neil's comments.
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
How The Herald is covering crucial Hamilton by-election
This was not expected to be a dramatic campaign. It should have been a straight fight between Labour and the SNP. Instead, Nigel Farage's Reform UK has crashed the party — have they thrown the whole thing wide open? Posters for the SNP and Reform in Larkhall (Image: Jane Barlow/PA wire) Ask the SNP and they will tell you it is neck and neck between them and Reform. Ask Labour and they will insist it is a two-horse race — and Reform is not one of the horses. Ask Reform? Well, as Nigel Farage said on Monday, winning would be "improbable" but a good second place would send shockwaves through Holyrood. Find all of The Herald's articles on the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election here The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Greens are also standing, alongside four other hopefuls. But, to stick with the horseracing analogy, they're not so much also-rans as never-had-a-chancers. The result is expected in the early hours of Friday — and The Herald will be there. Andrew Learmonth, Rebecca McCurdy and Scotland's feature writer of the year, Kevin McKenna, will be reporting live from the count in South Lanarkshire, bringing you rolling updates, reaction, colour and behind-the-scenes gossip all night long. Expect livestreams, interviews and one of the first conversations with Scotland's newest MSP. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (right) and candidate Davy Russell, with Eilidh Mclay, aged 5 weeks, during a visit to Larkhall (Image: Jane Barlow/PA) Over the weekend, we will have sharp analysis from top writers, including Brian Taylor, Neil Mackay, Kathleen Nutt and the experts at Ipsos. Oh — and yes, an emergency Unspun Live podcast is on the way too. Whatever happens, this is the one to watch. Do not miss a moment — subscribe now: just £1 for three months of The Herald.
The Herald Scotland
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's leading think tank rebrands as Enlighten
Chris Deerin, Enlighten's director, said the decision to change a name in place in 2008 was made reluctantly but ultimately became an opportunity. 'Reform UK had a very good general election, ended up with five MPs, and as we know from the polls, they are going to do quite well next year at the Holyrood election. 'And we started to find there was confusion arising when we were speaking to people and introducing ourselves,' he told The Herald's Unspun Live podcast. 'As we became aware that their prospects were actually pretty good, the confusion — even though we were here first — was there. 'We are obviously operating in the political world. They are operating in the political world. So, with some regret, we realised we would have to change our name. 'It was only when we had to change it that I realised how good a name Reform Scotland actually was. Because it was a statement of intent. We went to reform Scotland, and also it just worked as a kind of nomenclature.' Mr Deerin said the new name evoked the spirit of the Scottish Enlightenment, "the intellectual flourishing, the pragmatism, the empiricism, the intellectual courage that came then". 'And we would like to think that that informs what we do. It also refers to the attempt to shed light on the challenges and the opportunities that Scotland faces," he said. The think tank will continue to focus on long-standing priorities, including economic growth, improved public services, and social opportunity. But Mr Deerin said the name change marks something of a moment of renewal. With the next Holyrood election less than a year away, Enlighten is working to influence party manifestos. Mr Deerin said he believes the think tank is better placed than ever to shape serious policy. 'We are more in demand from politicians, policymakers, and civil servants than we were five years ago. And that gives me hope,' he said. 'We are not changing our principles or the way we go about our business. We do research that is very much based on data and evidence. We are non–partisan. We are independent. "We produce research that we dig into the data and think, right, here is something that is not working properly, or something that is — but could be better. And we think, looking at all of that, here are some ideas we can propose.' Mr Deerin, a former journalist, said the Scottish Parliament's first quarter-century includes serious underperformance on education and health — two areas where Enlighten will continue to campaign for reform. 'I was there when the Parliament opened and I am a great supporter of the principle of devolution. But I do think that probably the past 25, 26 years now have been something of a missed opportunity at times. "I think when you look at our public services, they have not been reformed in the way that they might be. They have not been modernised. I think a lot of the vested interests in Scotland have not been challenged,' he said. 'If you were a poor kid in the East End of Glasgow in 1999, and you are still a poor kid in the East End in 2025 — have your life prospects been changed by the Scottish Parliament? That is a hard case to make. And it should not be.' Mr Deerin said Enlighten would remain 'fiercely' non–partisan and work with all parties, including Reform UK. 'We need to be interrogating Reform in the way that we interrogate the other parties, exposing their weaknesses, listening to their ideas. "If there are any there that are worth considering, then we should consider them. And if the ideas are ones we need to take down, we should take them down.' First Minister John Swinney welcomed the rebrand. He said: 'Think tanks like Enlighten are a vitally important yet sometimes overlooked component of our democratic system." "Their findings can sometimes prove challenging, and politicians may not always support their conclusions," he added. "But ultimately, this healthy divergence of opinion is a crucial element of a healthy and thriving democracy.' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray added: 'Enlighten is a great name for one of Scotland's foremost think tanks. The organisation is a key part of Scotland's political life, encouraging thoughtful debate across a range of issues.' Enlighten chair and former First Minister, Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale, said: 'We have become Scotland's most influential think tank, just at the time when Holyrood and Westminster need fresh ideas and honest, challenging analysis to help our nation succeed, with opportunities for all to be successful. The time is right for a new name that reflects the breadth of our ambition. We aim to enlighten our public debate, and we will.'
