Coffee House Shots Will Scotland switch course in 2026? with Gordon McKee
10 snips
Dec 13, 2025 
Lucy Dunn, a political correspondent moving to STV, teams up with Gordon McKee, Labour MP for Glasgow South, to unpack the current landscape of Scottish politics. They reflect on the SNP’s stability post-Sturgeon, with predictions for the 2026 elections. McKee discusses the persistent high NHS waiting lists and how Labour's presence is amplifying Scotland's voice in Westminster. They also delve into the rise of populism in Scotland and the challenges of communicating policy effectively, even using TikTok to reach younger voters.
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Stability Hides Ongoing Fragmentation
- The SNP have stabilised after 18 turbulent months but Scottish politics remains fragmented across parties.
- Upcoming Holyrood dynamics depend on whether voters prioritise devolved issues or national identity in six months.
Public Services Trump Party Drama
- Gordon McKee argues services matter more than party chaos because NHS waiting lists in Scotland remain very poor.
- He says extra UK funding hasn't reduced Scottish waiting lists, undermining SNP claims of competence.
Scottish Influence Shifted To Government
- Scottish Labour MPs now sit in government and influence UK decisions more directly than SNP opposition MPs did.
- Gordon sees this as delivering on the election choice to send a government rather than a message.