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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
The National

Holyrood Weekly podcast: SNP finance probe, devolution row, STUC Congress, and more

THE Scottish Parliament may have been closed for two weeks in April- but that doesn't mean politics stopped.

In fact, it was one of the busiest parliamentary recesses we've seen in a while - apart from when Nicola Sturgeon announced her shock resignation as first minister of Scotland in February, of course. 

This week's Holyrood Weekly podcast takes you through a timeline of the probe into the SNP's finances, the arrests of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell and treasurer Colin Beattie, and some other key details from the week.

Our political reporters Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Steph Brawn discuss the events of that week, and how the Unionist politicians leapt on the troubles within the SNP.

Elsewhere, they analyse Tory Peer Lord Frost's suggestion that the UK Government should use the SNP's troubles as an opportunity to "reverse devolution".

Listeners will hear from First Minister Humza Yousaf and his reaction to the latest Tory attack on devolution, speaking to our reporter shortly after FMQs this week.

The National: Frost sparked fury this week with his call to 'reverse' devolution in ScotlandFrost sparked fury this week with his call to 'reverse' devolution in Scotland

There is also now confirmation that the Scottish Government has lodged a legal challenge against the UK Government's use of a Section 35 order to stop Holyrood's gender reforms from becoming law.

Who will win? Will it be an embarrassment for the UK if they lose? Is devolution at stake?

And, we take listeners into day three of the STUC annual Congress in Caird Hall, Dundee, where we spoke to Roz Foyer, general secretary, about the keynote speeches from Yousaf, Angela Rayner, and Anas Sarwar, as well as some inside gossip from the event itself. 

The show will be available on the Omny streaming platform, Spotify and The National’s website each Friday. You can listen to Episode 15 below.

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