David Bol

Pretty dire news in the middle of Scotland's housing crisis. Between April 2025 and March 2026, a further 18,028 new homes were added to Scotland's housing stock, 8% fewer than the previous year and the lowest since 2014-15 (excluding the COVID-19 period).

scotsman.comSNP under fire for lack of action to tackle alcohol deaths as focus on tackling drugsThe number of alcohol-related deaths often outstrips drug fatalities but rarely receives the same focus.

16h

Scotland's annual alcohol deaths will be published tomorrow. Most years, more people die in Scotland from alcohol than they do drugs, but you wouldn't know given the focus on drug deaths. Charities are now calling for the same attention from SNP ministers. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comNorth Sea revival risks being scuppered despite Jackdaw decisionOil and gas chiefs are hoping for a North Sea revival at the height of the climate crisis with the focus on energy security

17h

I wrote about whether new North Sea oil and gas projects like Jackdaw will actually do anything in reality for Scotland and those much talked-about energy jobs and how the SNP has tied itself in knots on whether to support new fossil fuel drilling. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comLabour urged to approve Rosebank 'by Christmas' amid speculation it could be blockedThe Rosebank oil field development would have a much greater impact on the climate than the Jackdaw gas project

Attention now turns to whether the Labour UK government will grant consent for the Rosebank oil field that would burn up to 250 million tonnes of carbon and has no energy security justification. The Scottish Conservatives want the project approved "by Christmas". www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comJackdaw bosses' Tornado gas hopes as UK ministers set to fast-track other projectsEnergy chiefs set their sights on another gas field after ministers say they will speed up applications for ventures linked to existing infrastructure

-Fossil fuel giants behind Jackdaw and Rosebank eyeing up consent for their Tornado gas field -Speculation UK energy secretary minded to reject Rosebank -Energy wealth fund could be used for nuclear projects - setting up (another) row with Holyrood www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

open.spotify.comEverything you need to know about the Jackdaw gas fieldThe Steamie by The Scotsman · Episode

The latest episode of The Steamie podcast has all you need to know about Jackdaw being approved and what happens next open.spotify.com/episode/0MeB...

scotsman.comJackdaw: what does it actually mean for business, you and energy pricesThe Jackdaw project will not cut energy bills and will create 27 new jobs.

A lot of nonsense being spun about the Jackdaw gas development bringing down energy bills and having a big impact on energy security. Here's what the number say about the project. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comJackdaw gas field approved by UK government to 'begin gas supply this winter'The UK Energy Secretary concluded that approving the fossil fuel development would not derail the UK’s net zero target.

Climate campaigners have reacted with anger to the UK Labour government approving the Jackdaw gas field development this morning. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh concluded that approval would not prevent the UK from meeting its net zero target. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comJackdaw gas field set to be approved by UK Labour governmentThe North Sea project, 150 miles east of Aberdeen, could be connected to the UK network within months.

The UK Labour government is expected to approve the controversial Jackdaw gas project tomorrow - potentially opening up the North Sea for a host of other fossil fuel projects also awaiting environmental consent. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comMinister under fire after failing to commit to new drillingThe Scottish government will likely not formalise a new position on oil and gas for at least another 12 months.

Excl: SNP energy minister Stephen Gethins told me he cannot yet commit the Scottish government to supporting North Sea drilling. He warned it could be a year before an energy strategy is published with the position. The last SG energy strategy was published in 2017. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comSwinney pledge to bring buses under public control condemned as 'theft'McGill’s, the largest independent bus operator in Scotland, said it would fight the plans ‘tooth and nail’

McGill's taking the news well

Alistair Grant@alistairkgrant.bsky.social

🔴 John Swinney’s pledge to bring Scotland’s bus network under public control by 2031 has been condemned as “theft” by a major operator. McGill’s described it as “inherently unfair” and “business confiscation”: www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comAngela Constance calls for NHS medics to 'step up' this winterThe senior SNP minister has warned that medics at A&E departments are facing intense pressure and has called for other parts of the NHS to “go that extra mile”.

Quite a stark thing for Angela Constance to say as the NHS approaches winter. “I’m clear that every part of the system has to go that extra mile - we cannot leave it all to that one part (A&E). We’re all going to have to step up.” www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comSNP 'put to bed' presumption against oil and gas as bid to hike energy taxes rejectedThe SNP has publicly moved away from its contentious “presumption against” new oil and gas projects - stating that domestic production is “clearly preferable to importation”.

The SNP has claimed it has "put to bed" its controversial proposal to have a presumption against new oil and gas developments. The party now believes "domestic production, reviewed by climate compatibility assessments, is clearly preferable to importation” of fuels. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comBurnham faces early crucial oil and gas test that will define leadership in ScotlandAndy Burnham has insisted he wants to reindustrialse every part of the UK - with focus on Aberdeen’s oil and gas sector.

Andy Burnham is on his first major visit to Scotland today as he faces pressure to open the door to the oil and gas sector to reindustrialise the UK. That big announcement will come next week, but now is a crucial time to forge his reputation in Scotland. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comNorth Sea boss urges SNP to give 'full-throated support' to drilling amid party splitJohn Swinney’s government has been urged to be more explicit in its support for specific North Sea oil and gas projects like Rosebank and Jackdaw.

Excl: The CEO of the North Sea offshore industry has called on the SNP to give more "full-throated support" to oil and gas projects like Jackdaw and Rosebank as the party braces for a potential split over fossil fuels at its conference www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comFive North Sea oil and gas projects in pipeline if Rosebank and Jackdaw approvedFive new North Sea oil and gas projects are awaiting Andy Burnham’s government to approve Rosebank and Jackdaw in order to further ramp up drilling.

Five North Sea oil and gas projects are lining up behind Rosebank and Jackdaw for environmental consent, but campaigners have warned Andy Burnham against "opening the floodgates to even more climate wrecking projects in the North Sea". www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comGB Energy to continue investment in Scotland's stuttering floating wind projectsGB Energy handed over funding to a floating wind project in its first equity investment,

Excl: The CEO of GB Energy has confirmed the organisation will continue to invest in Scottish floating wind projects and "make targeted interventions in the supply chain" to help bring down costs. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comWhat will GB Energy actually do for Scotland's renewables future?GB Energy has pledged to create 10,000 jobs through projects it invests in, with the majority expected to be based in Scotland.

If you're wondering what GB Energy is actually going to do, I wrote this about it. Despite receiving a lot of criticism from the SNP, the Scottish government works hand in hand with it and even gave it permission for some of its investments. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comStalled offshore wind projects risks leaving Scottish ports as 'stranded assets'Concerns have been raised that floating offshore wind orders for Scottish ports are not coming through at the pace expected, despite vast infrastructure improvements.

Excl: Concerns have been raised that Scotland's modernised ports could become "stranded assets". The Scottish government is investing £500m to upgrade ports but renewables orders, particularly for floating wind, have not materialised at the pace anticipated. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comScotland's £50bn floating wind industry in crisis talks as contracts cull expectedIndustry bosses expect more flagship floating wind contracts to be returned to Crown Estate Scotland as the sector grapples with cost pressures.

Excl: Crisis talks have been held in Aberdeen over Scotland’s stuttering floating wind ambitions. More project leases are expected to be relinquished in the coming months while the sector is rallying behind four key developments to get them moving. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.com'Window closing' for Scotland to lead world on floating offshore windWarnings have been issued by the industry body that Scotland’s chance to lead the world on floating offshore wind is “time-limited”.

Some pretty bleak stuff coming out of Scotland's floating offshore wind industry. Some big decisions ahead for the UK Labour government in the coming months. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

David Bol reposted

Alistair Grant

@alistairkgrant.bsky.social

🎥 In this week’s episode of The Steamie I spoke to @ewangibbs.bsky.social about his new book, An Injury to All: The Unmaking of the British Working Class You can watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify / Apple Podcasts now m.youtube.com/watch?v=-1zN...

m.youtube.comHow the working class disappeared from British politicsYouTube video by The Scotsman

David Bol reposted

Karen Zraick

@karenzraick.bsky.social

The Supreme Court on Monday will hear arguments in a case that could determine whether the oil industry faces billions of dollars in liability for damages caused by global warming. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/04/c...

nytimes.comA Supreme Court Battle Over Climate Change Begins (Gift Article)The justices are about to hear a lawsuit that could determine whether the oil industry faces billions of dollars in liability for damages caused by global warming.

scotsman.comSNP could provide 'further funding' to save 400 Grangemouth jobsChemical manufacturer Syngenta announced last week that it plans to cease all operations at the site by the end of 2027.

Another messy situation at Grangemouth with hundreds more jobs at risk. The economic hub could become a beacon of clean fuels and a keystone of Scotland's net zero future - but risks becoming a symbol of a failed 'just transition'. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comWhat next for Grangemouth as hopes for green fuels future stall?Almost 18 months on from the Grangemouth refinery closing its doors, plans to replace the facility with new and emerging technologies and fuels have stalled.

I wrote this before the Syngenta news on why plans to redevelop the Grangemouth site have stalled and why it will take more from Scotland's two governments than simply throwing money at it and hoping for the best. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comMichael Marra's punchy and grown-up brand of Labour strikes easy target at first FMQsA punchy performance and a genuine olive branch - but will Michael Marra’s more grown-up brand of Scottish Labour last?

First runout for new Scottish Labour leader, Michael Marra, at FMQs. His punchy performance and offer of an olive branch to work with the SNP was in stark contrast to Anas Sarwar. But in such a hostile and tribal Scottish politics, surely normal service will resume. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comSwinney backs decriminalisation as drug deaths branded 'indefensible'The First Minister said the number of deaths was ‘intolerable’

John Swinney said his government supports drug possession for personal use being decriminalised as part of efforts to tackle Scotland’s drug deaths crisis. It's an incredibly complex tragedy and will take much more effort than that to make progress. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comWhy so many men are being killed by Scotland's drug deaths crisisProfessor Catriona Matheson says “back street operations trying to divvy up” drugs are adding too much potent synthetic opioids that are killing people, particularly men in their 40s with poor health.

I spoke to the former chief of the Scottish government’s drugs death taskforce about why so many people, mostly men, are being killed by synthetic substances in Scotland and what is needed to fianlly tackle the problem. www.scotsman.com/health/scotl...

scotsman.comWarning over 'toxic and unpredictable supply' as Scotland's drug deaths soarCocaine and nitazenes have fuelled an increase in Scotland’s drug deaths.

More grim drug deaths statistics for Scotland released today. Cocaine and nitazenes now contributing to a big proportion of fatalities. SNP ministers have issued a warning over “an increasingly toxic and unpredictable drugs supply“ in Scotland. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

Absolute nonsense from new Lib Dems MSP Duncan Dunlop at Holyrood, comparing Scottish nationalism to the Troubles and Bosnia. I see the failed muscular unionism strategy is alive and well in the Scottish Lib Dems.

🚨Political stunt claxon: Malcolm Offord has marched his MSPs out of the Holyrood chamber in protest at an independence debate taking place. His attempt for the debate to be cancelled was rejected. Lord Offord spoke in the debate before stating he wasn't going to waste his time and out they went.

scotsman.comWatch: Reform MSPs storm out of Holyrood chamber over independence debateThe Reform MSPs left the Holyrood chamber in protest to a debate taking place on Scottish independence

Story here: www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comJoe Fagan: Labour must be 'provocative' and 'disruptive' but work with SNP governmentJoe Fagan has argued that Scottish Labour would become more relevant with voters if it could work more constructively with the Scottish government at Holyrood.

18 Sept

Excl: One of the two candidates vying to be the next Scottish Labour leader has called for the party to be more "provocative" and "disruptive" but has appealed for more co-operation with the SNP at Holyrood www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comUK in nuclear power talks bid amid SNP 'deindustrialising over ideological obsession'Torness nuclear power station is due to cease generation in 2030 - amid fears Scotland will lose skilled workers, investment and be more reliant on gas to keep the lights on.

18 Sept

Excl: A UK energy minister has called for talks with the SNP over Scotland’s nuclear power legacy, which is due to end in 2030. "The Scottish government is essentially de-industrialising parts of Scotland because of an ideological obsession against nuclear." www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comOil and gas isn't the only North Sea crisis as renewables needs helpScotland’s two government should stop squabbling over the future of the North Sea and work in sync to ensure the nation benefits from the renewables revolution.

17 Sept

While Scotland's two governments continue to squabble over the future of oi land gas in the North Sea, more focus is needed on keeping renewables hopes afloat, particularly in a more hostile political climate. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comSNP handed stark 'wake-up call' over frittering away £100m ScotWind revenuesMinisters have used more than £100m of ScotWind funds to balance its annual budget and have anticipated using a further £507m of the revenue by 2031

17 Sept

SNP ministers have been scolded over using ScotWind revenues to prop up annual budgets. The fund was intended to boost Scotland’s net zero strategy. More than £500m of the remaining funds could be utilised over the next five years including £80m this financial year. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

15 Sept

Reform has been unhinged in today's violence against women debate. Misinformation about race and opposing all men being challenged about their behaviour. Senga Beresford was asked about a woman being attacked at Reform conference and said "she shouldn't have been there". The most unserious response.

scotsman.comSwinney confirms GPS tracking pilot and new laws to tackle violence against womenThe First Minister confirmed new legislation will be brought forward to help protect women and girls from violence.

15 Sept

John Swinney has confirmed GPS tracking for men accused of domestic abuse will finally begin in Scotland, with a pilot taking place early next year. Legislation will also be brought forward to try and better combat violence against women and girls www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comBurnham told to unlock 111 North Sea projects and £50bn investment with Budget pivotUK Labour ministers have been urged to prioritise domestic production of oil and gas over imported fossil fuels in Chancellor John Healey’s autumn Budget next month.

15 Sept

The oil and gas sector has argued bringing forward reforms to the energy profits levy and approving Rosebank and Jackdaw would open to the door to 111 new fossil fuel projects. OEUK claims this could happen without Labour reneging on its promise to ban new licences. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comSNP call for UK oil funds to bankroll Scotland's renewables sectorAn Aberdeen MSP has called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to ‘curb the number of immoral job losses that lie on the doorstep on Number 10’

10 Sept

The SNP, which now seems to support new North Sea fossil fuel developments, wants the UK government to ringfence oil and gas tax receipts to bankroll Scotland's offshore renewables industry. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comScotland's judges issue warning over SNP's early prisoner release plansThe rarely-outspoken Senators of the College of Justice have criticised a key part of the Scottish government’s plan to reduce the prison population

10 Sept

This is a stark intervention from Scotland's top judges over the SNP government's latest iteration of its automatic early release of prisoner plans. A warning the proposals could put public safety at risk and that the blueprint is "likely to make matters worse" www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comScotland can have IndyRef2 if public supports it, says Andy BurnhamThe Prime Minister said Scotland is ‘exactly the same situation’ as Northern Ireland - where a vote would be triggered if the UK Government minister thinks a majority of people want one

9 Sept

"A border poll is to be considered by the Northern Ireland Secretary when there is a clear consensus in the country - when public opinion has changed to the point where the call has to be considered. I would say exactly the same situation in Scotland." www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

8 Sept

Reform's woeful performance at Holyrood continues with West of Scotland MSP David Smith asking First Minister John Swinney if he will restrict the use of the burqa. Hard to argue with the FM's conclusion the aim is to "incite racial tension in our society".

scotsman.comNeil Gray admits SNP's flagship sexual offences court will be 'difficult to deliver'The flagship court has a key part of the Scottish government’s landmark justice reforms agreed by MSPs last year

3 Sept

SNP Justice Secretary Neil Gray has admitted a promised sexual offences court will be "difficult to deliver". The measure was one of several key aspects of the Scottish government's landmark Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Act that are yet to be implemented. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comCall for Swinney to embrace 'Manchester model for Scotland' without council overhaulThe Scottish government has been warned regional government models can be achieved without a radical overhaul of local councils.

3 Sept

Leading public policy experts have called for John Swinney to embrace "Manchesterism" (dreadful term) by strengthening existing economic partnerships. They argue that it would not require the radical overhaul to councils John Swinney has opened the door to. www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

scotsman.comSwinney's overdue reforms could be scuppered by a lack of joined-up thinkingReforms to Scotland’s public sector are long-overdue but are being driven by an unsustainable financial model.

2 Sept

John Swinney's plans to reshape public services are long overdue. My analysis on why not reforming NHS boards and councils in sync could be a missed opportunity and why centralising Police Scotland should act as a warning to the strategy being seen as a silver bullet www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

John Swinney hoping to be a reformer of Scotland's public sector -Begin talks to reorganise local councils -Merging quangos, including single bodies for ferries and environmental protection -Cutting health boards from 14 to 2 @johnswinney.bsky.social: "Change will be structural but also cultural"

Nine bills to be published by SG in next year -Budget Bill -Buildings (Heating and Energy Performance) and Heat Networks Bill -Council Tax Bill -Damages Bill -Food Prices Bill -Football Banning Orders Bill -Legal Aid Bill -Misogyny (Criminal Law) Bill -Public Service Renewal Bill

scotsman.comProgramme for government: Follow LIVE as John Swinney sets out his prioritiesFirst Minister John Swinney is to set out his priorities for the year ahead.

John Swinney is about to reveal his programme for government over the next 12 months and his five-year plan . Follow developments in our live blog www.scotsman.com/news/politic...