Donald Trump’s whirlwind visit to Scotland left behind more than photo ops — it’s shifted the tone of UK and Scottish politics. In this episode of Holyrood Sources, Calum Macdonald, Geoff Aberdein (former Chief of Staff to Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (former Scottish Conservative Director of Communications) unpack the chaos, optics, and opportunities of Trump’s trip to Ayrshire and Aberdeen.
From whisky tariffs and oil politics to Trump’s unexpectedly measured comments on Scottish independence, the panel breaks down how Scotland became the geopolitical centre of the world for five surreal days.
Plus: John Swinney’s strategy to revive the independence campaign by calling for a Holyrood majority in 2026. Is it a bold move or a trap of his own making? The hosts debate whether Swinney’s plan is political genius or a doomed distraction.
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👀 Stay tuned for part two of this episode focusing on independece: Author and historian James Hawes joins us to argue why Scottish independence is inevitable.
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