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Andy Maciver

@akmaciver.bsky.social

Founder/Director of Message Matters ๐Ÿ“ข + Wednesdays on Holyrood Sources ๐ŸŽง ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ + Fridays in The Herald & occasionally in The Spectator ๐Ÿ“ฐ ๐Ÿ’ป

141 Followers  |  8 Following  |  86 Posts  |  Joined: 03.12.2024  |  2.0045

Latest posts by akmaciver.bsky.social on Bluesky

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@kateforbes.bsky.socialโ€™s news is, in my view, simultaneously bleak news for Scottish politics and government, and good news for Kate and her family.

Our instantaneous reaction, on @holyroodsources.bsky.social , is streaming now.

Geoff Aberdein | @calumam.bsky.social

04.08.2025 16:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Trump Turnberry must host the Open โ€“ and Swinney must drive it John Swinney needs to exploit President Trumpโ€™s weak point. The locations of his visit offer the clue about what that is.

Of course we should welcome Trump to Scotland..... and we should give Turnberry the Open too. My thoughts in today's @heraldscotland ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

25.07.2025 06:47 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Zonal Pricing, Trumpโ€™s Visit & Why Scotland Canโ€™t Build Podcast Episode ยท Holyrood Sources ยท 23/07/2025 ยท 45m

This weekโ€™s @HolyroodSources , streaming now and on video on YouTube:

๐Ÿ’จ zonal pricing rural cost/benefit from wind farms
๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ infrastructure spending
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Trump in Scotland
๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ & the disconnect between parties and people

@geoffaberdein | @CalumAM

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/h...

23.07.2025 15:57 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Ten years to make indy the settled will: Can the SNP do it? John Swinney and his indispensable deputy Kate Forbes are presented with opportunities that, in their wildest dreams, they never thought they wouldโ€ฆ

The time is right to make independence the settled will, but nationalists will have to perform much better to make it so. My thoughts on todayโ€™s @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

18.07.2025 13:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Labour's reform agenda is over. The rebels are in control The Labour rebels are in charge now, and the same people who said no to welfare reform will also say no to healthcare reform

Tomorrowโ€™s column todayโ€ฆ

Labour's reform agenda is over. The rebels are in control | @heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

03.07.2025 19:57 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Let's have a conversation about debunking the NHS as a national cult Using private healthcare in this country is seen as an act of selfishness. A grotesque display of privilege. Two fingers to the little peopleโ€ฆ

โ€œFar from causing moral panic, using private health care in other countries is seen as an act of moral propriety.โ€

My thoughts on healthcare in todayโ€™s @heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

27.06.2025 12:06 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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The Tories are becoming two parties in one. Which one will prevail? The Tory party in Scotland finds itself in the hottest water it has encountered since devolution began

My thoughts in today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social on the Scottish Tories woes, and the growing distinction between its urban and rural wings. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

20.06.2025 07:58 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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A Grand Coalition between SNP and Labour may go from unthinkable to inevitable Donโ€™t bother publicly asking a politician from our two established mainstream parties about a Grand Coalition. But discuss it with some of them inโ€ฆ

๐Ÿ”ด๐ŸŸกFrom unthinkable to improbable to inevitable.

Why you shouldn't rule out the prospect of a 'grand coalition' between Labour and the SNP, for the same reason it happened in Germany ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช and Ireland ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช.

By me in today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

13.06.2025 09:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
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By-election Aftermath... and Reform UK defector Podcast Episode ยท Holyrood Sources ยท 11/06/2025 ยท 44m

This weekโ€™s @holyroodsources.bsky.social โ€ฌโฉ, with me and my amigos @calumam.bsky.social โ€ฌโฉ and โฆโ€ชGeoff Aberdeinโ€ฌโฉ , and this week @reformukscotland.bsky.social โ€˜s โ€ฌโฉ Labour ๐Ÿ”ด defector.

Plus, the grand coalition is backโ€ฆ..

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/h...

11.06.2025 20:33 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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I know frustration of commuting from Edinburgh's suburbs by bus. Here's my solution Growing up in Edinburgh's suburbs, Andy Maciver knows the frustration of commuting into town by bus but he has a solution...

The @heraldscotland.bsky.social has done a brilliant series on the future of Edinburgh this week - here's my contribution on suburbs and transport, and why the rail and the river give us the way forward:
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

06.06.2025 08:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Labour WIN Hamilton by-election Podcast Episode ยท Holyrood Sources ยท S4, E27 Bonus ยท 25m

๐Ÿšจ Streaming now from Rome @calumam.bsky.social, a park bench (Geoff Aberdein) and a leisure centre (me), immediate reaction to Labourโ€™s remarkable by election win (and how @anassarwar.bsky.social can justifiably bask โ˜€๏ธ)

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/h...

06.06.2025 07:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Scotland's educational establishment is betraying our children - and our economy In maths, reading and science - Scottish childrenโ€™s scores are continually declining. We are now hovering around average in PISA rankings. If ourโ€ฆ

My thoughts in today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social on how we can rescue our schools and avoid sleepwalking into a social and economic calamity www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

30.05.2025 07:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Our MSPs can be better if we let them Most of what our lawmakers do on a day-to-day basis is fairly drab. This is not to say it is unimportant, but the issues they tackle and theโ€ฆ

ICYMI, my thoughts in yesterday's @heraldscotland.bsky.social on how the asissted dying debate showed our MSPs at their best, and how they could do it more often www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

17.05.2025 06:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Pleasure to have @adamboulton.bsky.social join us on @holyroodsources.bsky.social today. Streaming now on audio and video

Geoff Aberdein | @calumam.bsky.social

30.04.2025 16:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
What is a Woman? Susan Smith from For Women Scotland on the political reaction to the Supreme Court
YouTube video by Holyrood Sources What is a Woman? Susan Smith from For Women Scotland on the political reaction to the Supreme Court

End your week with @holyroodsources.bsky.social , the most-listened-to Scottish political podcast. This week, the Supreme Court gender judgment.

On audio ๐ŸŽง

And here on YouTube ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ youtu.be/-_OjvLl_HLI?...

@calumam.bsky.social | Geoff Aberdein

25.04.2025 15:25 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Which foes will the SNP become friends with? Greens or Lib Dems? Who could be a governing partner for the SNP? There are probably only two options.

The SNP is likely to need some help after 2026, and it's probably only the Greens or the Lib Dems who can provide it. By me in today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

25.04.2025 06:07 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

"We are in Scotland, the Emerald City of politics, where, unlike Elphaba, John Swinney appears not to need a broomstick to defy gravity." @heraldscotland.bsky.social

18.04.2025 06:24 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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An SNP by-election win would defy gravity Andy Maciver: An SNP by-election win would defy gravity

What would an SNP win in the Hamilton by-election say about Scottish politics? By me in today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

18.04.2025 06:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
What's the Alba party's strategy? Plus, defections | Jamie Greene MSP & Kenny MacAskill
YouTube video by Holyrood Sources What's the Alba party's strategy? Plus, defections | Jamie Greene MSP & Kenny MacAskill

This week on @holyroodsources.bsky.social with me, Geoff Aberdein & @calumam.bsky.social

๐Ÿ”ตโžก๏ธ๐ŸŸ  @jamiegreeneuk.bsky.social on his move from the Tories to the Libs
&
๐ŸŸกโžก๏ธ๐Ÿ”ต Kenny MacAskill on Albaโ€™s prospects at #sp26

๐Ÿ“บ Watch it here: youtu.be/PIxk4DoCQ4k?...

๐ŸŽง Streaming as usual as a podcast.

10.04.2025 11:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Scotland must act to save universities from economic abyss โ€“ Edinburgh University Vice-Chancellor If dire financial problems facing universities are not confronted, the education system as we know it will perish, says Professor Sir Peter Mathieson

This is why the press is still critical and must be supported. @edinburghuni.bsky.social re-starts funding debate in an op-ed in yesterday's Scotland on Sunday, carrying into @scotsman.com and other titles today, and onto broadcast, and into politics. www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...

07.04.2025 08:29 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Will more Tories defect to the Lib Dems? Jamie Greene is a one-time Scottish Tory leadership contender who has resigned the Conservative whip and joined the Liberal Democrats.

Some thoughts from me on @thespectator1828.bsky.social on @jamiegreeneuk.bsky.social joining @scotlibdems.org.uk

Will more Tories defect to the Lib Dems? www.spectator.co.uk/article/will...

05.04.2025 17:57 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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An A-road revolution would be the highlight of devolution Hurray, we built a road! The Cross Tay Link Road was opened this week, linking the A9 north of Scone to the A93 and A94, up into Scotlandโ€™s northโ€ฆ

My thoughts in today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social , on how our agreeable mainstream politicians could make a roads revolution the biggest achievement of devolution www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

04.04.2025 09:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Getting Scotland Working
YouTube video by Holyrood Sources Getting Scotland Working

This weekโ€™s @holyroodsources.bsky.social , streaming now and on YouTube.

Today:
๐ŸŸฅ Labour & benefits
๐ŸŸจ The SNPโ€™s candidates
๐Ÿ’จ Aberdeen & energy

And in listener questions, one happy customer asks who gave me and Geoff a platform? That would be @calumam.bsky.social โ€ฆ

youtu.be/9SGp_Qcn3uk?...

19.03.2025 19:51 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Sturgeon Quits, Labour and Welfare, and Outdoor Education
YouTube video by Holyrood Sources Sturgeon Quits, Labour and Welfare, and Outdoor Education

This weekโ€™s @HolyroodSources, in full on YouTube now

โžก๏ธ Sturgeonโ€™s exit
๐ŸŸจ Swinneyโ€™s reshuffle
๐ŸŸฅ Sarwarโ€™s welfare
๐Ÿฅพ Smithโ€™s outdoor ed

Also streaming ๐ŸŽง

@CalumAM | @geoffaberdein | @mspliz

youtu.be/ZBetByw6q7w?...

14.03.2025 06:55 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Bumper @holyroodsources.bsky.social sources coming your way later this afternoon, with me, Geoff Aberdein and @calumam.bsky.social:

๐Ÿšช #NicolaSturgeon's exit
๐Ÿ’ท Labour's welfare policy
๐ŸŸก Scottish Government #reshuffle
๐Ÿฅพ and we're joined by Liz Smith MSP to chat about her outdoor education Bill

12.03.2025 14:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Iโ€™ll be on Mornings on BBC Radio Scotlasnd shortly, discussing Trident in the Trump era. Tune in! ๐Ÿ“ป

10.03.2025 09:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Scotland is up to its neck in Trumpland, whether we like it or not There is a fine line between diplomacy and debasement. The hyperactivity of President Trump and the US administration means that diplomacy willโ€ฆ

In today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social @scottishcomment.bsky.social

We're underplaying the impact on Scotland of the Trump presidency, on:
๐Ÿ’ท our exports
๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ our election
๐Ÿ’ฃ our defence

Scotland is up to its neck in Trumpland, whether we like it or not
www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

07.03.2025 07:30 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Should the Scottish Tories ignore the Reform threat? What do the Tories do with a problem like Reform? Kemi Badenochโ€™s party in Westminster has some time to consider this, with over four years to go until it has to put her strategy โ€“ whatever that is โ€“ ...

Should the Scottish Tories ignore the Reform threat?

By me in @thespectator1828.bsky.social

www.spectator.co.uk/article/shou...

06.03.2025 20:12 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Scotland's role in a 'coalition of the willing' | Lt. Col. Stuart Crawford & Stewart McDonald
YouTube video by Holyrood Sources Scotland's role in a 'coalition of the willing' | Lt. Col. Stuart Crawford & Stewart McDonald

Full ep now streaming on your podcast feed, and here on YouTube: youtu.be/LxTrCXDbEec?...

05.03.2025 18:24 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Andy Maciver on LinkedIn: Today's Holyrood Sources podcast is all about Scotland's place in Trump'sโ€ฆ Today's Holyrood Sources podcast is all about Scotland's place in Trump's world. We were joined by Lt. Col. Stuart Crawford and Stewart McDonald - please doโ€ฆ

My scene-setter for this week's @holyroodsources.bsky.social
, with Lt Col Stuart Crawford and @stewartmcdonald.bsky.social , on Scotland's place in Trump's world, here: linkedin.com/posts/andy-m...

@calumam.bsky.social | Geoff Aberdein

05.03.2025 18:22 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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