UofG Centre for Public Policy

12 May 2026: Tune into the final episode of our Spotlight: On the Elections podcast, as we look at the results of the Scottish election and crucially what it all means for the future of public policy, with Graeme Roy and Kate Higgins.

We're closing our On the Elections podcast looking at the results of the Scottish election, what it all means for the future of public policy, and how soon we might see the impact of challenging public finances.

We’re joined by two guests, Graeme Roy, Professor of Economics at the University of Glasgow and Chair of the Scottish Fiscal Commission, and Kate Higgins, former Special Adviser to the Scottish Government.

Hosts Professor Nicola McEwen and Professor Kezia Dugdale talk to them about:

• How hard is it to deliver change in government?
• What is the fiscal context facing the new administration?
• What is the likelihood of an independence referendum?
• Can the MSPs find common ground, in a parliament that is more diverse and ideologically fragmented than ever before?

Listen

Kate Higgins was appointed as a Special Advisor in 2015 by Nicola Sturgeon and served three First Ministers until May 2026. As a policy special advisor, at different times she covered education, local government, transport, rural affairs, constitution, Brexit, external affairs, trade and planning, and had a cross-government role on trade unions.

Graeme Roy is Professor of Economics, Chair of the Scottish Fiscal Commission, Dean of External Engagement and Deputy Head of College of Social Sciences. He is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Public Policy and regular cohost of the UofG Spotlight podcast.

On the Elections series

Catch up on the whole series on our elections webpage

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First published: 12 May 2026