Cat Headley
@Cat_Headley
Solicitor, former Labour Scottish Parliamentary candidate, occasional political commentator with STV and BBC Scotland. Vice-chair of These Islands.
"Nicola Sturgeon had a very clear opinion of the opponents of the Gender Recognition Act... Do you agree with her assessment?" John Swinney says he wants to create: "respectful debate in Scotland." He tell us knowing then what he knows now, he still would have backed the Gender…
The Orkney Island Games FOMO got too much so I came up yesterday and the weather has been as amazing as everyone had been saying. The arrival into Stromness was as good as it gets.
Am I the only person constantly muttering under my breath today, “It wasn’t a year ago today that Starmer became PM. A year ago today was the election. He became PM the *following* day…”?
If you would like to know what Prof Curtice & the @HolyroodSources guys think of this point - which I was able to make in the third section of the live event last week - you can listen here (or other podcast providers!): open.spotify.com/episode/3xogKs…
At @HolyroodSources live event, it took 30mins before Swinney was meaningfully questioned about 18 years of SNP government record. It took 5 minutes to ask @AnasSarwar about one year of a Labour government record. And this is the problem with the political framing in Scotland.
Leavitt without a trace of irony: "When you have a totalitarian regime, you have to save face. I think any common sense, open-minded person knows the truth about the precision strikes on Saturday night. They were wildly successful."
Great point from @AnasSarwar - the biggest for @ScottishLabour for the Holyrood 26 election will be challenging the “politics of hopelessness” that exists in Scotland and is part of the rise of Reform. @HolyroodSources #holyroodlive
At @HolyroodSources live event, it took 30mins before Swinney was meaningfully questioned about 18 years of SNP government record. It took 5 minutes to ask @AnasSarwar about one year of a Labour government record. And this is the problem with the political framing in Scotland.
When asked by an audience member whether he agrees with Nicola Sturgeon’s description of those who opposed GRA, and then pressed by @CalumAM to give an actual answer, John Swinney declined to give an actual answer. @HolyroodSources #holyroodsourceslive
And this was after John Swinney rejected proposition from @geoffaberdein that Scots will only support independence once the Scottish government delivers better on its key areas of responsibility like education, health, etc
John Swinney says that Scottish independence will be a “central plank” of the SNP Holyrood 2026 election campaign @HolyroodSources live event.
John Swinney says that Scottish independence will be a “central plank” of the SNP Holyrood 2026 election campaign @HolyroodSources live event.
Under repeated questioning from @CalumAM, John Swinney refuses to say whether he supports or condemns the proscription of Palestine Action and simply says it is a matter for the Home Secretary. Interesting. @HolyroodSources #holyroodsourceslive #battleforbutehouse
And incandescent when they suddenly switch from “kind regards” to just “regards”.
‘What’s something you wish you’d known earlier about living in the UK?’ – 21 people mystified by the strange ways of the British thepoke.com/2025/06/25/wha…
Looking forward to @HolyroodSources live event - Battle for Bute House with @AnasSarwar & @JohnSwinney - tonight in Edinburgh. Who’s going??
