Scotcast

A shortage of legal aid lawyers could lead to industrial action and a bigger court backlog, Scotcast has been told. Simon Brown, president of the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association, tells us why so many are turning their backs on defending the accused – and why, despite the relatively poor pay, he loves the job. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.

Marks and Spencer is resuming online orders following a ransomware attack in April linked to hacking groups DragonForce and Scattered Spider. The BBC’s cyber correspondent Joe Tidy tells us about the gangs behind hacks on M&S, Co-op and public bodies – and what the hackers have told him. And Natalie and Martin discuss why Anas Sarwar said his Sunday morning interview with Martin was "embarrassing". Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Natalie Higgins and Laura Miller. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Scottish Labour has taken Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse from the SNP in a closely fought by-election. As Anas Sarwar celebrates a new colleague at Holyrood, Martin, Natalie and the BBC’s Scotland Editor James Cook discuss whether the vote was the moment Nigel Farage's Reform UK made a breakthrough in Scotland. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Scottish Labour’s Davy Russell has edged out the SNP and Reform UK to win the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election. Martin asks election expert Professor Sir John Curtice (pictured) if the outcome tells us anything about the Scottish Parliament elections in 2026. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

TV personality JJ Chalmers (pictured) suffered life-changing injuries serving as a Royal Marine in Afghanistan. After Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's Strategic Defence Review promised billions for the military to reverse a drop in troop numbers, JJ tells us why he thinks so many young people say they’re unwilling to fight for their country. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Plans for a controversial Flamingo Land holiday resort on the banks of Loch Lomond, featuring a water park and monorail, have been fiercely debated. Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer and John Urquhart from Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs debate the economic and environmental rights and wrongs of the development. And Laura and Martin discuss a major police intervention over what led to a deadly bar room shooting in Spain. Scotcast is the BBC's Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out a second independence referendum while he is in Downing Street. We ask Stuart Nicolson, a former adviser to the SNP in government, if there is a plan to get another vote. And the BBC’s David Wallace Lockhart tells us why first minister John Swinney isn’t demanding one right now. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr - high-profile members of the Lyons crime gang - have been shot dead at Monaghans Bar in Fuengirola, Andalucia. Livvy Haydock, who hosted the BBC podcast Gangster: The Story of the Daniels and the Lyons, tells us how a decades-old grudge may have led to their brutal killing. And Natalie’s been on the trail of Nigel Farage as campaigning heats up ahead of the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.ukPicture credit: Spindrift

Professor Devi Sridhar (pictured) became a household name in Scotland as a key health advisor to Nicola Sturgeon during the Coronavirus pandemic. She tells Martin Geissler about the death threats she received, her experience on an NHS waiting list, and why Scots aren’t living long enough. Devi Sridhar is a professor of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, and author of a new book, How Not to Die (Too Soon). Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk

Stuart Ralston (pictured) is the latest Scottish chef to be awarded a Michelin star. He tells Martin about his journey - from being stabbed twice in school to working under Gordon Ramsay in New York - and running four Edinburgh restaurants, including the award-winning Lyla. And from bugs to camel's milk: Laura and Martin share their weirdest food moments. Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast, with Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins. Get in touch with us by emailing scotcast@bbc.co.uk