A Thistle with Thorns
The podcast for all things Scottish history! Murdo Fraser and James Bundy are here to shine a light on Scotland’s rich and often forgotten history. Murdo Fraser has been Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid-Scotland & Fife since 2001, and is the Party spokesman on Business, Economy, Tourism and Culture. Brought up on tales of the Covenanters and the novels of Walter Scott and Nigel Tranter, he has always had a keen interest in Scottish history, and now writes and gives talks on the 17th century. His account of the 1st Marquis of Montrose and the Marquis of Argyll, The Rivals, was published by Birlinn in 2015. James Bundy is a Councillor for Falkirk North with a passion for Scottish history, politics, and public policy. He holds an MA in Economics and International Relations from the University of St Andrews, where his dissertation explored Just War Theory within the British Constitution, examining the 17th-century relationship between Church and state and its relevance today. James has been published on the Stuart Kings and has experience working in both Holyrood and Westminster, giving him a deep understanding of governance. He also leads the BE FAST campaign, working to improve stroke awareness across Scotland. With a keen interest in how Scotland’s past shapes its present, James is dedicated to preserving and promoting the nation’s rich history.
Listen on:
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
The young Lord Lorne, soon to be 8th Earl of Argyll, is a favourite of Charles 1st, but becomes leader of the rebellion against him. Join us for the first part of the story of one of the most significant, but divisive, figures in Scottish history.
Monday May 18, 2026
Monday May 18, 2026
After a short election break, A Thistle With Thorns is back.
One of the defining questions in Scottish politics is this: where does power lie - Edinburgh, London, or a mix of both?
Many historians trace the roots of that debate to the Union of the Crowns in 1603. But what exactly was the Union of the Crowns? How did it come about? And how did it reshape Scotland’s politics, identity, and relationship with England?
Join Murdo and James as they explore one of the most consequential moments in Scottish history, and why it still matters today.
Monday Mar 02, 2026
Monday Mar 02, 2026
Murdo and James are joined by a special guest, archaeologist, historian & writer Johnnie Gallacher, who will be discussing his recent book: Scotland’s Turmoil 1500-1707. It’s a take on the Early Modern era in Scottish history, with some fresh and interesting perspectives, and Johnnie explains how he approaches the period.
Monday Feb 23, 2026
Monday Feb 23, 2026
Mary, Queen of Scots returns to Scotland to find her kingdom swept by Protestant fervour. Will she emulate her cousin Mary Tudor by turning back the clock to Catholicism? Or has she met her match in John Knox? Find out in our concluding episode on the Scottish Reformation.
Monday Feb 16, 2026
Monday Feb 16, 2026
The Lords of the Congregation invite John Knox to return to Scotland from Geneva, and within days of his arrival he has set the country ablaze with Protestant fervour. But he faces a dangerous adversary in the Queen Regent, Mary of Guise, with her French army. Who will prevail, and at what cost?
Monday Feb 09, 2026
Monday Feb 09, 2026
Cardinal David Beaton has just burned the charismatic Protestant preacher George Wishart at the stake, but is about to face a bloody retribution. We discuss the seige of St Andrews Castle, why John Knox ended up as a French galley slave, and how geopolitics shaped the Reformation in Scotland.
Monday Feb 02, 2026
Monday Feb 02, 2026
In the first part of our new four part series on the Reformation in Scotland, we look at the spread of Reformed ideas, James IV and the Lollards, the early Protestant martyrs, and the character of David Beaton, Cardinal Archbishop of St Andrews, persecutor-in-chief, and father of eight.
Monday Jan 26, 2026
Monday Jan 26, 2026
Robert Burns is Scotland’s national poet. Because of this, there is a temptation for Scots of every political persuasion to claim him as one of their own. This often leads to serious misunderstandings of Burns, his historical context, and his work.
In this episode, Murdo and James explore a selection of Burns’s poems and songs to examine what his political ideas actually were. In particular, they discuss Burns’s use of Jacobite material, arguing that it reflects a romantic and cultural fascination with a lost cause rather than genuine political support for Jacobitism.
By placing Burns in his own time, rather than ours, the episode challenges modern attempts to turn him into a spokesman for contemporary political causes.
Monday Jan 19, 2026
Monday Jan 19, 2026
Charles I has lost the confidence of the Army, who have decided to take matters into their own hands. But how can they bring the King to justice when the laws of the land are made in the King’s name? Join Murdo & James as they discuss the Army’s legal innovations and King Charles’ legal defence.
Was it legal or morally right to execute the King? Join us to find out!
Monday Jan 12, 2026
Monday Jan 12, 2026
The army has kidnapped the King. Claiming to act in the name of justice, soldiers seize Charles I - an act that horrifies both Parliamentarians and Royalists alike. But while England reels, another kingdom watches closely. What does Scotland make of its King being taken by an English army? In this first episode of a two-part special, we explore how the kidnapping of Charles I set Britain on the road to trial, execution, and profound constitutional change.