Calum Macdonald

Welcome along @seneddsources Subscribe on your podcast app and YouTube. Follow on X. Welcome inside politics and policy making in Wales ahead of one of the most consequential elections of devolution.

“He doesn’t even have to look at them” If Reform UK and the Scottish Conservatives have a chance to elect Labour’s Anas Sarwar as First Minister, will they do so? @akmaciver explains why he thinks that they won’t have a choice. @CalumAM | @geoffaberdein

🧵Our Second Holyrood MRP, out today sees the SNP gaining ground compared to our last estimate but still short of a majority, a Green-SNP majority more likely, Reform are in second, Labour have slipped back, but many constituencies are very marginal & small shifts change lots

Could the SNP change their strategy after the election? @geoffaberdein wonders if the SNP could take a step back from independence and focus on working in tandem with other parties public service reform, if they fail to earn a majority in the Scottish Parliament. @CalumAM | @akmaciver

Does an SNP majority actually rely on Reform success? @akmaciver suggests that SNP achieving their target of a majority in the Scottish Parliament could come down o how much Reform is able to split other parties’ vote on polling day. @CalumAM | @geoffaberdein

Q: Do you accept that the marches taking place has any negative impact on the Jewish community at large? John Rees (Stop the War Coalition): No, I don't. Q: So if you don't like what the Prime Minister is saying and you don't like what the Met Police Commissioner is saying, would you at least listen to the Chief Rabbi? John Rees: I'm absolutely willing to listen to the Chief Rabbi. Q: When was the last time you called out people on marches for using phrases like “globalise the intifada”? John Rees: Never. Q: Why not? John Rees: Because I believe that the phrase intifada, which means struggle or uprising, is a a call to politically oppose the persecution of the Palestinians by the Israeli state. Q: Do you really think what you're saying is showing solidarity with Jews? John Rees: I know that it is because I have many, many Jewish comrades and colleagues and friends who think exactly as I do. @TimesRadio Breakfast.

“Does he just appear on the 8th of May in full military fatigues, having requisitioned BBC Radio Birmingham as if it’s a military coup?” @PatrickkMaguire outlines a potential post-election leadership bid from Al Carns.

We had a particularly important conversation on the @whitehallsource podcast today about anti-Semitism and the political responses to the Golders Green attack. Lord Polak contrasts the UK's situation with that of 1930s Nazi Germany and anti-Semitism in the UK...

"Perhaps there's one big difference from the 1930s. In the 1930s it was state sponsored... "The state, the government, the police, everybody can lead." Lord Stuart Polak says the response to anti-Semitic attacks in the UK must be more than just solidarity. @CalumAM | @StraightTie | @NationJames | @CFoI

Why do I do the magic anti-fizz triple tap on the top of a can of still water?

Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones MP tells #TimesRadio "there is a current level of antisemitism in the country that is totally intolerable and we need direct action. @RosieWright99 | @CalumAM | @AlexDaviesJones

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley tells #TimesRadio “we're facing a building pandemic of antisemitism in society.” @RosieWright99 | @CalumAM

From 6am @TimesRadio: The Met Police are re-assessing if pro-Palestine marches should be banned. Sir Mark Rowley head of the Met joins us before 7am. Also: implications of the terror threat rising, the renters rights bill comes into force, e bikes and swearing at work?

Just sent Deliveroo to the old address nice one

It’s reached that stage in moving house where the only option is for a bin, a foam roller and a water bottle to go in the same hold-all

Welcome back for Episode 3 of The Opinion Brief! This week, @LukeTryl is joined by our first ever guest, @OwenWntr from @TheEconomist! How can their new build-a-voter tool be used to understand an increasingly promiscuous electorate? Tune in here: tr.ee/pMONGLjEql

I reckon this is very possible, likely even. The surprise is why many in Scotland / UK are cottoning on so late. In USA 2016 there was a considerable ‘shy’ Trump vote, and it’s coming here now. As all things tend to - and in that order. The politics we grew up with is gone.

Will Reform do better than expected? @geoffaberdein questions whether there is hidden support for Reform UK across Scotland that hasn’t been picked up in the polls, and how that could affect the outcome of next Thursday’s election. @CalumAM | @akmaciver

Nobody *needs* six houses, five cars and six boats but the reality is that everyone aspires to have the wealth they represent, don’t they?

Here to serve x

Good evening from Bridgend. Energy, the economy - and a bit of everything else - up for conversation this evening