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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol
@davidbol.bsky.social
18K followers 770 following 510 posts
✍️Journalist - Deputy Political Editor 📰The Scotsman @scotsman.com 🌍Climate & energy nerd 🔵Falkirk FC fan 📍Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 2h
A bold gamble from John Swinney on his leadership here. He told SNP conference he "took the leadership to deliver independence" - a move the SNP's deputy leader said was the First Minister having "staked his premiership on the idea of winning independence”.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
John Swinney 'stakes leadership' on delivering independence as he insists SNP will 'win big' in May
In a rousing speech, John Swinney told the SNP conference that “the need to achieve independence has never, ever been greater for Scotland”.
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 10h
🎧🎙We chat through what to expect at the SNP conference on this week's episode of The Steamie podcast
open.spotify.com/episode/4ztx...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 10h
The SNP is being wobbly on oil and gas. Trying to keep the industry happy while the UK government irritates fossil fuels giants while the Scottish Government’s flagship energy strategy still hasn't been published more than two years after the draft version emerged.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
SNP 'all over the shop' as Aberdeen conference poised to shun oil and gas debate
Scotland’s leading trade unionist will tell SNP conference that the Scottish Government’s industrial strategy amounts to nothing more than a ‘glorified prospectus for the finance sector’
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 10h
Energy will also likely be a big area of discussion. Renewables are a key plank of the SNP's independence economic case. But the conference is taking place in Aberdeen while a cloud of uncertainty looms over the future of the North Sea
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Scotland 'has lost three oil and gas jobs' for every one job created in clean energy
Report calls for decisive action to fuel energy transition as Chinese firm piles pressure on UK government for huge wind turbine factory in the Highlands
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 10h
John Swinney will attempt to sell his independence plan to the party today, despite calls we'll here later, for the SNP to use next year's election as a de facto referendum. Here's why independence, despite being on the backburner, will dominate the conference
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Independence is a distant prospect - but here's why it will dominate SNP conference
John Swinney’s focus on independence is an attempt to ‘galvanise’ his voter base - but it could backfire.
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 10h
And here's my look at what SNP activists will be discussing this weekend, alongside speeches from the usual suspects
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
From independence to Israel and facial recognition: Eight SNP conference motions to watch
John Swinney faces a crunch test of his independence strategy with SNP members this weekend.
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 10h
🧵I'm up in Aberdeen for SNP conference this weekend. Lots to tak about over the next three days. Here's our scene-setting analysis from @alistairkgrant.bsky.social
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
SNP gathers in Aberdeen under the 'darker' shadows of Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond
The party continues to grapple with the complex legacy of its two former leaders
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 1d
Excl: The SNP has been accused of being "all over the shop" by climate campaigners over the party's wobbly stance on oil and gas. The party is also facing criticism it is shunning talking about oil and gas at its conference, taking place in Aberdeen this weekend.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
SNP 'all over the shop' as Aberdeen conference poised to shun oil and gas debate
Scotland’s leading trade unionist will tell SNP conference that the Scottish Government’s industrial strategy amounts to nothing more than a ‘glorified prospectus for the finance sector’
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 2d
First Minister John Swinney has insisted that “Scotland is on a pathway to independence” and is "deadly serious about the arguments" for breaking up the Union.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Swinney accused of 'dishonesty' as SNP insists Scotland 'on path to independence'
John Swinney has claimed that “Scotland is on a pathway to independence”.
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 2d
The Scottish Conservatives' Holyrood debate on immigration, claiming without evidence that asylum seekers are putting pressures on local communities, shows May's election campaign will be grim and grubby. Scottish politics is at risk of being dragged into the gutter.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Findlay hammered over immigration debate as Holyrood poised for grubby election campaign
Next May’s Scottish Parliament election is poised to be hostile and grubby.
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 2d
Didn't expect my tabs-heavy lifestyle to be in such a minority.
yougov.co.uk
YouGov @yougov.co.uk · 3d
How many browsing tabs do you typically have open?*

1: 6%
2-5: 54%
6-10: 14%
11-20: 8%
21-30: 2%
More than 30: 3%

*across all windows, on desktop/laptop

yougov.co.uk/topics/techn...
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 2d
Despite watering down targets, rowing back and binning off climate action, refusing to publish an energy strategy since 2017 and delaying the blueprint for cutting emissions, the SNP Government insists Scotland reaching net zero by 2045 has “never been in question”.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
SNP 'slowing' climate action as MSPs approve targets before seeing strategy for them
MSPs have approved Scotland’s watered down climate targets despite having not yet seen the Scottish Government’s blueprint for how the aims will be met
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 3d
Excl: Edinburgh's housing convener will be sacked after refusing to quit amid an angry row with her Labour colleagues after her comments proposing the capital's proportion of affordable housing is cut, despite the city being engulfed in a housing crisis. Such a mess.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Edinburgh housing convener to be sacked after refusing to quit over affordable homes
Lezley Marion Cameron has refused to quit over her remarks calling for Edinburgh’s affordable homes allocation to be cut, despite the capital facing a housing crisis.
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 4d
Douglas Ross's Right to Recovery Bill will have its stage 1 vote this week. But the well-intended legislation, which would give those with an "addiction" or "dependency" on alcohol or drugs a right to treatment, could exacerbate Scotland's drug death crisis.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
What will Douglas Ross' Right to Addiction Recovery Bill do as key concern raised
Douglas Ross’s proposed legislation would embed a right to recovery for those diagnosed with an addiction in law.
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 4d
The Scottish Conservatives insist the party is not pandering to Reform and the misinformation Nigel Farage is spreading over immigration.
Tories using their Holyrood debate time for this tomorrow.
A Scottish Conservative debate motion at the Scottish Parliament to 'stop illegal immigration and recognising its impact on housing'.
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 5d
Hmmm. McInnes at Ibrox will surely happen at some point. Not sure he (or anyone) would fancy that job right now. He's probably got a better bunch of players at Hearts. But then I'd say anything to stop any rumours of John McGlynn heading back to Tynecastle emerging again 😬
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 5d
Forever in our hearts
a man in a blue shirt stands in front of a scoreboard that says 18 ips 76:01
ALT: a man in a blue shirt stands in front of a scoreboard that says 18 ips 76:01
media.tenor.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 5d
Miss him already
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 7d
Excl: The Labour housing convener of Edinburgh City Council has suggested the city's allocation of affordable homes should be cut, despite the capital grappling with a housing crisis
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Edinburgh Labour housing convener under fire for suggesting cut to affordable homes
Lezley Cameron has suggested Edinburgh’s allocation of affordable housing should be cut, despite the housing crisis
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 8d
Excl: Heat pump installations in Scotland have gone backwards. Campaigners have warned that the repeated delays to the watered down Heat in Buildings Bill has "left homeowners and industry in limbo, stalling progress and undermining confidence".
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Heat pump installations 'stalled' as SNP accused of undermining confidence
The installation of heat pumps across Scotland has stalled in the past year
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 8d
🎙🎧 New episode of The Steamie podcast from @scotsman.com.
We discuss Labour conference and what it means for Anas Sarwar's chances at May's election and look ahead to Tory conference. With @alistairkgrant.bsky.social, @andrewjquinn97.bsky.social and Rachel Amery
open.spotify.com/episode/0hBr...
So, how did Labour conference go?
open.spotify.com
davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 9d
NatureScot's advice to rid communities of urban gulls:
-Draw "googly eyes" on takeaway boxes
-Wave arms around
-Stare them out
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Seagull 'mass slaughter' ruled out as SNP ridiculed for 'googly eyes' to deter birds
SNP ministers have opened the door to make it easier to obtain a licences to shoot seagulls but have ruled out a “mass slaughter”.
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 10d
Rent controls will be made permanent after exemptions were agreed, while second and empty home-owners in Scotland can expect their council tax bills to shoot up.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
SNP's rent controls approved as empty and second homes poised for council tax hikes
The Scottish Government rejected plans to end tax breaks for the King’s properties and allow councils to force the sale or lease of derelict buildings or land
www.scotsman.com
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Reposted by David Bol
scotsman.com
The Scotsman @scotsman.com · 11d
'Do they love our country?': Sir Keir Starmer lumps SNP in with Reform in Labour conference speech, via
@andrewjquinn97.bsky.social
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
'Do they love our country?': Sir Keir Starmer lumps SNP in with Reform in speech
Sir Keir also thanked Glasgow shipbuilders for helping defend Europe from Russia during his keynote speech.
www.scotsman.com
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol @davidbol.bsky.social · 11d
Shona Robison has called on opposition MSPs not to "draw out the drama" of this year's budget, delayed by the UK government, warning councils could struggled to balance the books.
She also gave her biggest hint yet about the possibility of a council tax freeze.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Robison warns not to 'draw out drama' of delayed budget and makes council tax hint
The Finance Secretary insisted she will not be “randomly taking an axe to services” as she came under pressure to offer more cash to under-pressure colleges.
www.scotsman.com
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