Requests for First Minister to appear on podcasts: FOI release

Information requested

A full list of requests for First Ministers to appear on podcasts in 2022, 2023, 2024, along with the name of the podcast and whether it was accepted or not, and reason why it was rejected.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested in an augmented table at Annex B, as specified.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold all of the information you have requested. The reasons why we do not have the information is explained in Annex A to this letter.

Annex A

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for, relating to why podcasts requests are accepted or declined as this is not currently recorded.

As such, I hereby provide you with formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

Annex B

DATE RECEIVED	OUTLET	TOPIC	DECISION	REASON FOR DECLINED BIDS
28-Nov-24	Daily Record Planet Holyrood podcast	FM's political career, current political situation, 2026 election	live bid
27-Nov-24	BBC Podlitical	FM year ahead/review/budget	accepted
08-Aug-24	gdh.digital	Riots	declined	Information not held
16-Jul-24	BBC Newscast	General interview	withdrawn
01-Jul-24	BBC Political Thinking	New FM	accepted
20-May-24	BBC Political thinking	New FM	passed on
10-May-24	BBC Newscast	New FM	no response sent
10-May-24	BBC Newscast	New FM	passed on
09-May-24	BBC Political Thinking	New FM	passed on
30-Apr-24	One Decision Podcast	Profile, with topics to be discussed	lapsed
29-Apr-24	Week in Holyrood	resignation	passed on
21-Mar-24	The stooshie podcast	One year in office	lapsed
19-Mar-24	The steamie podcast	One year in office	lapsed
08-Mar-24	BBC Newscast	Profile	declined	Information not held
25-Nov-23	BBC Newscast podcast	Profile	declined	Information not held
22-Nov-23	Inspire FM	Gaza	declined	Information not held
15-Nov-23	Bandofla Podcast	Gaza	declined	Information not held
15-Nov-23	Uncivilised	Gaza	lapsed
21-Aug-23	Pod Save the UK	General chat, priorities, look back	accepted
17-Aug-23	5 News - People Behind Politics		passed on
31-Jul-23	Spilling the Beans podcast		lapsed
30-Jul-23	J D Dragon Disability Rights Podcast	disability rights	declined	Information not held
20-Jul-23	BBC Asian Network and BBC Newsbeat	The man behind the FM. Integration of Asian communities	accepted
14-Jul-23	Holyrood Sources podcast	issues of the day and broader relevant themes	accepted
30-May-23	Independent Urdu	heritage , being a Muslim Leader in Scotland	lapsed
23-May-23	Pod Save the UK	First 100 days as FM	withdrawn
23-May-23	Did ye Aye podcast	laid back chat	lapsed
05-May-23	J D Dragon Disability Rights Podcast	Disability in an independent Scotland	lapsed
21-Apr-23	B B C - Political Thinking with Nick Robinson	Long-form convo on life story, values etc	accepted
18-Apr-23	BBC Newscast	General bid - no more info given	lapsed
31-Mar-24	The Independent online (Urdu, English, Persian, Turkish and Arabic)	FM appointment	lapsed
30-Mar-23	The Centrum Media (Pakistan)	FM appointment significance for Pakistani community	declined	Information not held
29-Mar-23	Gazete Duvar	FM appointment	declined	Information not held
28-Mar-23	Middle East Eye	FM Appointment	declined	Information not held
02-Mar-23	PBS To the Contrary	women in politics, accomplishments as FM	passed on
01-Feb-23	BBC - Newscast	Indy, GRR and topics of the day	lapsed
08-Nov-22	CNET	COP27	declined	Information not held
31-Oct-22	Young Farmers podcast	Rural issues	passed on
28-Oct-22	Newstalk Breakfast show	PM Resignation	accepted
22-Sep-22	Bunker podcast	Career / Indy	declined
21-Jul-22	Reddit Talks	SG plans for Scotland, a potential referendum, and Scotland’s place in the international system.	passed on
01-Jul-22	BBC Newscast	Independence	declined	Information not held
21-Jun-22	Rachel Johnson's Podcast	Difficult Women	lapsed

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.