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Scot Goes Popcast

ByJames Kelly
21 episodes

Podcast Summary

Dive into the "Scot Goes Popcast," where the pulse of Scottish politics meets insightful analysis and lively debate. Hosted by James Kelly, this podcast serves as the perfect companion to his renowned pro-independence blog, focusing keenly on opinion poll analysis and the pressing issues surrounding Scotland's future. What sets the Popcast apart is its blend of expert commentary and diverse guest perspectives. Notable figures such as Jason Baird, Lynn Hastie, and Sheena Jardine join the conversation, tackling everything from the intricacies of the Alba Party's controversial tweets to the broader implications of independence on Scottish identity. Each episode invites listeners into a world of thoughtful discourse, making complex political topics accessible and engaging. Whether you're a seasoned political aficionado or new to the scene, the Popcast promises an enriching experience that will leave you informed and inspired about Scotland's vibrant political landscape.

#1

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 24: Get Counted campaign

In the latest edition of the Popcast, I speak to Jason Baird, Lynn Hastie, Sheena Jardine and Andy Oliver about the new campaign for independence, which asks Yessers to register their support for indy via the IndyApp. For more information about this podcast, please visit scotgoespop.blogspot.com

2025-04-22•1hr 1mins
#2

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 23: Can "snout" related tweets ever be respectful to women?

In this very brief episode of the Popcast, I read out a controversial tweet posted by the Alba Party's General Secretary Chris McEleny. Was he unwise to use these words?

2024-12-07•0mins
#3

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 22: Eurovision 2024

A lightning-quick scene-setter for the grand final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, taking place tonight in Sweden, with thoughts in particular about the controversy over Israel's participation.

2024-05-11•15mins
#4

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 18: Verdict on English Local Elections

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 18: Verdict on English Local Elections by James Kelly

2023-05-08•0mins
#5

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 17: Vote Labour, Get Tory

For Episode 17 of the Popcast, I set out to discover how much of a swing from SNP to Labour there would need to be for the SNP to lose a significant number of seats at the next UK general election. But instead, I discovered a much more interesting story: the more votes Labour take from the SNP, the more Scottish seats the Tories would retain. In a very close election, a Labour surge in Scotland could easily help the Tories retain power at Westminster. That's not quite the story we're being told by Labour and the media. For the home of the Popcast, please visit

2022-10-12•8mins
#6

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 16: Local Election Voting System Explained

In Episode 16 of the Popcast, I'm making a plucky effort to explain the notoriously hard-to-understand Single Transferable Vote (STV) system that will be used to elect Scotland's local councillors this week. I've also tried to bust some of the stubborn myths about the system, and to set out the best voting strategy for supporters of independence. For the home of the Popcast, please visit:

2022-05-04•13mins
#7

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 15: Lisa Keogh

Lisa Keogh is the Alba Party's candidate for the Arbroath West, Letham and Friockheim ward for the forthcoming elections to Angus Council. She is also very well known for her ordeal last year when Abertay University opened disciplinary proceedings against her for expressing gender critical views in an online seminar. She was eventually exonerated, but not before her preparations for her final exams were badly disrupted. In episode 15 of the Scot Goes Popcast, Lisa discusses the importance of standing up for free speech, even when you find someone's views alien or offensive. She also explains how the disciplinary process against her was "the punishment", even though she was cleared. She names poverty as the number one priority for the election campaign, and discusses the challenges of explaining the Single Transferable Vote system to voters. For the home of the Popcast, please visit:

2022-03-25•39mins
#8

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 14: Ken McDonald

Ken McDonald is the editor of iScot magazine - a unique publication, because it's a high-quality print magazine in wide circulation that is explicitly pro-independence and run by grass-roots Yes supporters. Hear him explain how he started the magazine as an alternative to shouting at the TV when "Jackanory" Jim Murphy was being interviewed, and his thoughts on the vital importance of having a pro-Yes print publication, given that many older people can't really be reached by online New Media. For the home of the Popcast, please visit:

2021-12-13•52mins

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#9

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 13: Denise Findlay

For the latest episode of the Popcast, I was joined once again by Denise Findlay - a fellow member of the Alba Party's NEC, and a passionate supporter of the rights of women and girls. We discussed the latest coordinated bullying campaign against Joanna Cherry, the results of the Scot Goes Pop / Panelbase poll about GRA reform and related gender matters, and also the Alba Party's potential route-map for achieving independence. For the home of the Popcast, please visit:

2021-11-17•1hr 20mins
#10

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 12: William Duguid

William Duguid is a Twitter legend, the benevolent dictator of Yes Perth City, and an all-round good egg. I spoke to him about the current state of the pro-independence New Media in Scotland, the SNP-Green deal, the prospects of the London government annexing Helensburgh after independence, and the new Demographics of Independence paper from Common Weal. For the home of the Popcast, please visit

2021-09-02•51mins
#11

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 11: Yvonne Ridley

A few months ago I spoke to Yvonne Ridley about her experiences as a prisoner of the Taliban in 2001. I caught up with her again today to hear her thoughts on the Taliban's extraordinary return to power in Afghanistan, and her take on how mass demonstrations and people power are the most promising ways of winning independence for Scotland.

2021-08-31•47mins
#12

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 10: Maggie McNeill

Maggie McNeill is a semi-retired escort, and author of the popular blog The Honest Courtesan. Here she discusses her opposition to the so-called Nordic Model on prostitution law, which criminalises the clients of sex workers. She explains why it would be a bad thing to eradicate prostitution, even if it were possible, and why the New Zealand model of full decriminalisation would be a better example for Scotland to follow. For the home of the Popcast, please visit:

2021-06-21•59mins
#13

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 9: Eurovision 2021

A short preview of the Eurovision Song Contest grand final in Rotterdam, with a reminder that the recent Panelbase poll commissioned by Scot Goes Pop found that 60% of the public want to be represented at the contest by a Scottish entry, not a UK entry.

2021-05-22•12mins
#14

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 8: Election Results

Some very quick thoughts about the first day of results from the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. For the home of the Popcast, please visit: scotgoespop.blogspot.com

2021-05-08•6mins
#15

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 7: Chris McEleny

Chris McEleny is the Alba Party's lead candidate in the West Scotland region for Thursday's crucial Scottish Parliament election. Before joining Alba, he was leader of the SNP group on Inverclyde Council, and was twice a candidate for SNP depute leader. I spoke to him about various campaign issues, and also about the findings from the new Scot Goes Pop / Panelbase poll suggesting that most of the Scottish public would like the UK to join the international ban on nuclear weapons, and that most SNP voters would like to press ahead with an independence referendum with social distancing if the pandemic is not totally over within a year or two. For the home of the Popcast, please visit scotgoespop.blogspot.com

2021-05-04•31mins
#16

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 6: Alex Salmond

Alex Salmond is the leader of the newly-formed Alba Party. He was also leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) between 1990 and 2000, and again between 2004 and 2014. He was First Minister of Scotland between 2007 and 2014, and was effectively leader of the Yes campaign in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. After the Alba Party launch he spoke to me about his exclusion from the first TV debate, his reasoning for saying that SNP list votes will be wasted in this election, the future of internal democracy in the party, and whether he regrets having ever used the dread words "once in a generation". For the home of the Popcast, please visit scotgoespop.blogspot.com

2021-04-06•25mins
#17

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 5: Len Pennie (Miss PunnyPennie)

Len Pennie, aka Miss PunnyPennie, is the social media sensation behind the Scots Language Word of the Day videos. Hear her explain why Scots is definitely a legitimate language in its own right, how teachers have been using her videos to teach Scots in schools, why she doesn't think Scots should become a fully standardised language like Gaelic, and what she thinks the status of the language will be in 50 years' time. Most importantly of all, I ask her the question: "is Moira a real person?"

2021-03-28•47mins
#18

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 4: Ellen Höfer

Ellen Höfer is the creative director of EU Citizens for an Independent Scotland. Hear her views on Yes returning to the lead in the latest opinion poll, on the possibility of EU citizens being deported from Scotland if they don't sign up for the settled status scheme, on some prisoners being granted the vote, on the possibility of a post-election coalition between the SNP and the Greens, and on whether Nicola Sturgeon should resign if she is found to have broken the ministerial code.

2021-03-19•40mins
#19

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 3: Denise Findlay

Denise Findlay is a former member of the SNP's Conduct Committee, and is widely credited as one of the tactical masterminds behind the 'quiet revolution' at the SNP conference last November, when many of the old guard on the NEC were ousted. Hear her views on the new Survation independence poll, Nicola Sturgeon's evidence to the Salmond inquiry, and the SNP's controversial new definition of transphobia.

2021-03-03•1hr 3mins
#20

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 2: Tim Rideout

Dr Tim Rideout is a newly elected member of the SNP's Policy Development Committee and the head of the Scottish Currency Group. He's a leading critic of the Sustainable Growth Commission's recommendations, and thinks Scotland should move to a new currency as soon as practicable after Independence Day. In this conversation you can hear his views on the six tests the Commission says would have to be met before a currency can be set up. He also gives his thoughts on the potential name of the currency, on joining EFTA, and on who might succeed Nicola Sturgeon if she resigns as a result of the ongoing inquiries.

2021-02-22•32mins
#21

Scot Goes Popcast Episode 1: Yvonne Ridley

Dr Yvonne Ridley talks about her experience as a prisoner of the Taliban and as a Respect parliamentary candidate. She also shares her memories of the 2014 independence referendum, and gives her thoughts on the sacking of Joanna Cherry.

2021-02-06•45mins