David Bol
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davidbol.bsky.social
David Bol
@davidbol.bsky.social
18K followers 800 following 590 posts
✍️Journalist - Deputy Political Editor
📰The Scotsman @scotsman.com
🌍Climate & energy nerd
🔵Falkirk FC fan
📍Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Posts Replies Media Videos
davidbol.bsky.social
Scottish football isn't really a thing on here yet. But what a night in Gorgie last night 💙
January 18, 2026 at 11:34 AM
davidbol.bsky.social
Excl: First Minister John Swinney and Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain have issued warnings over the rule of law being respected with the seized tanker in Scottish waters.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Lord Advocate's legal probe over Russian-flagged oil tanker amid extradition concerns
Questions have emerged over whether SCots law is being followed following the operation by US armed forces.
www.scotsman.com
January 17, 2026 at 9:23 AM
davidbol.bsky.social
Biffa has had its £51.4m case against the Scottish Government over the bungled deposit return scheme throw out after the court branded its argument "wishful thinking"
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Deposit return scheme case against SNP government thrown out by court
Scotland’s deposit return scheme has been paused by ministers
www.scotsman.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:17 PM
davidbol.bsky.social
The Scottish Government is under pressure to finally publish its energy strategy (the draft was published three years ago) after a new poll found a majority of Scots support the shift away from North Sea oil and gas
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
SNP under pressure as poll finds majority of Scots back move away from oil and gas
The SNP government has not published an energy strategy since 2017.
www.scotsman.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:33 PM
davidbol.bsky.social
Kemi Badenoch said she is not bothered by dire polling for the Scottish Tories and if more people jump ship to Reform.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Kemi Badenoch unfazed by Scottish Tories' polling and dismisses Reform mass exodus
The UK Tory leader said she does not expect a flurry of further defections from her party to Reform
www.scotsman.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by David Bol
alistairkgrant.bsky.social
💥 The latest episode of The Steamie is out now!

Scottish Budget: soundbites over substance?

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1hCb...

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
January 14, 2026 at 7:12 PM
davidbol.bsky.social
UK Energy Minister @michaelshanksmp.co.uk has argued that @johnswinney.bsky.social's strategy that claims Scottish independence will cut energy bills by one third will lead to “years of uncertainty, loss of investment and ultimately, higher bills”.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Labour minister hits back at 'dishonest' SNP independence energy bills claim
A Scottish Labour UK minister has accused John Swinney of false claims over independence.
www.scotsman.com
January 15, 2026 at 11:16 AM
davidbol.bsky.social
Huge boost to the Scottish offshore wind sector this morning. But the SNP government has branded it a "missed opportunity".
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Berwick Bank wind farm secures 'monumental' UK contract backing in huge Scottish energy boost
The contract for difference results deliver the biggest single procurement of offshore wind energy in British and European history.
www.scotsman.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:35 AM
davidbol.bsky.social
Big boost to Scotland’s offshore wind sector this morning. The huge Berwick Bank wind farm has secured a UK government contract for difference. Could also be crucial for a proposed blade factory in Leith pushing ahead.
michaelshanksmp.co.uk Michael Shanks MP @michaelshanksmp.co.uk · 5d
We’ve just secured the largest amount of offshore wind in any auction ever in Britain - enough to power the equivalent of 12 million homes.

In Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 the first offshore wind project in three years has been successful - a landmark moment demonstrating our commitment to the whole of the UK.
January 14, 2026 at 7:37 AM
Reposted by David Bol
stephenboydippr.bsky.social
Some early thoughts on the Scottish budget:

Yet again, short-term politically driven tax changes with minimal real impact are prioritised over the development of a serious, long-term strategy to achieve the revenues necessary to deliver on the FM’s 4 key priorities. This can’t go on. 1/
January 13, 2026 at 4:05 PM
davidbol.bsky.social
More than 100,000 Scots will be dragged into the higher tax bands following today's draft Scottish Budget.
SNP ministers will cut hundreds of millions in spending, while an effective tax cut for low earners will only help household incomes by around £40 a year.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Scottish Budget 2026: 100,000 Scots to be 'clobbered' by SNP tax tweaks
A mansion tax will be rolled out, while low and medium earners will see income tax thresholds increase
www.scotsman.com
January 13, 2026 at 8:24 PM
davidbol.bsky.social
Excl: SNP Energy Secretary @gillianamartin.bsky.social has warned that Scottish wind developments missing out on flagship UK contracts, "would be devastating for our economy, jobs and investment and severely hamper our ability to secure a just energy transition".
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
SNP warns Scottish snub in UK wind contracts would be 'devasting' for economy
Scottish wind developments will find out on Wednesday if they have been successful after bidding for a UK government contract.
www.scotsman.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Reposted by David Bol
alistairkgrant.bsky.social
EXC: More than half of Scots do not believe higher income tax rates north of the Border have delivered better public services, a new poll has found.

www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Higher tax has not delivered better public services, say half of Scots
A poll by Survation found just 27 per cent believe the level of personal tax in Scotland provides value for money
www.scotsman.com
January 13, 2026 at 8:48 AM
davidbol.bsky.social
Excl: Anas Sarwar has called for a move to "unleash homebuilding" to provide "structural, meaningful change for families” trapped in the housing crisis. It comes as the Scottish Government comes under pressure for lagging behind in meeting flagship housing targets.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Sarwar in demand to 'unleash housebuilding' for cost of living 'meaningful change'
Anas Sarwar has called for “structural, meaningful change” for families facing the cost-of-living crisis
www.scotsman.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Reposted by David Bol
libbybrooks.bsky.social
Reform UK has launched repeated attacks on Glasgow - over asylum policy, housing, schools - I spoke to those working at the front line about the realities of a city under pressure

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
‘The response is a beautiful thing’: how Glasgow is squaring up to Reform
In the face of Nigel Farage, flag-waving and a longstanding housing crisis, some Glaswegians are taking on anti-immigration rhetoric
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:23 AM
davidbol.bsky.social
@shonarobison.bsky.social will deliver her last Budget before May's Holyrood election tomorrow (and the last one before she stands down). We know it will focus on measures to tackle the seemingly never-ending cost-of-living crisis and the NHS.
Here's what to expect 👇
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Scottish Budget: What to expect in SNP's spending plans ahead of Holyrood election
Shona Robison will deliver her final Scottish Budget this week.
www.scotsman.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:33 PM
davidbol.bsky.social
None of this is a good look for Scottish Labour ahead of a make-or-break Holyrood election.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Sarwar criticises 'idiotic' Scottish Labour MPs for secret briefing against Starmer
The Scottish Labour leader has called on his colleagues briefing against the Prime Minister to come out of the shadows
www.scotsman.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:17 PM
davidbol.bsky.social
NEW: Angela Constance is poised to survive as SNP Justice Secretary after the First Minister's independent advisers found her breach of the ministerial code was "inadvertent without any deliberation or intention to mislead".
The Justice Secretary will be making a statement at Holyrood shortly.
An extract of a Scottish Government press release, as follow. The First Minister’s Independent Advisers on the Ministerial Code have concluded their investigation into the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs Angela Constance. The Advisers concluded that Ms Constance unintentionally breached two provisions of the Ministerial Code. They conclude that: “…the two breaches were inadvertent without any deliberation or intention to mislead.” As part of their role, the Advisers can provide advice on any sanction that the First Minster should impose. In this case their advice on sanctions states that this is: “…at the lower end of the spectrum provided for in the Code and therefore does not call for anything beyond a reprove which should be formal and in writing accompanied by a statement to Parliament by Ms Constance…” First Minister John Swinney has accepted the conclusions and recommendations in full. In line with the terms of reference of the Independent Advisers, the report has been published by the Scottish Government. Ms Constance will make a statement to Parliament today.
January 6, 2026 at 3:12 PM
davidbol.bsky.social
The SNP vowed that by March, no-one will wait longer than a year for outpatient appointments, in-patient or day case treatment. New stats for November show 70,209 were waiting longer than a year. Impossible this promise will be kept, just weeks before the election.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
SNP under fire for A&E 'meltdown' after after 'atrocious' waiting statistics revealed
Despite the SNP vowing toe end all waits of more than a year by March, 44,363 patients had been waiting more than 52 weeks in November.
www.scotsman.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:51 PM
davidbol.bsky.social
A big first day back of campaigning for Scottish Labour and the SNP ahead of May's Holyrood election. @alistairkgrant.bsky.social and me on Anas Sarwar and John Swinney showing what we can expect over the next four months on the campaign trail.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Anas Sarwar: I know Scots are angry with unpopular Keir Starmer
The Scottish Labour leader admitted the UK Labour government had made mistakes
www.scotsman.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:49 PM
davidbol.bsky.social
ICYMI: Scottish Labour MPs have spent thousands on external media consultants and spin doctors since being elected in Keir Starmer's general election victory.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Scottish Labour MPs spend thousands on external spin doctors since general election
Scottish MPs have spent thousands in public money on external spin doctors since the general election.
www.scotsman.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:35 PM
davidbol.bsky.social
SNP leader @johnswinney.bsky.social is delivering a keynote speech at Óran mór in Glasgow to kick-start the 2026 Holyrood election campaign. Independence framed as the prize if the SNP secures a majority. The FM says he is delivering on domestic priorities including the NHS having "turned a corner".
SNP leader John Swinney delivering a speech in Glasgow
January 5, 2026 at 10:23 AM
davidbol.bsky.social
Labour will ramp up their attempt to frame May's Holyrood election about devolved issues and the SNP's record rather than a vote on Keir Starmer
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
Starmer: Holyrood election 'not a referendum' on my government
Anas Sarwar and John Swinney will give keynote speeches to kick off this year’s Holyrood election campaign.
www.scotsman.com
January 5, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Reposted by David Bol
alistairkgrant.bsky.social
Huge day for those who love Scottish political speeches (…hello? Is this thing on?…)

💥 @davidbol.bsky.social will be in Glasgow to cover John Swinney’s speech

💥 I’ll be in Edinburgh for Anas Sarwar and Russell Findlay
January 5, 2026 at 9:07 AM
davidbol.bsky.social
John Swinney will launch the SNP's Holyrood election campaign tomorrow with an independence push, arguing separation is a "chance to empower ourselves to fundamentally address the biggest long-term issues” facing Scotland.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
John Swinney to launch SNP's Holyrood election campaign with independence push
The SNP leader will tell activists that May’s election is the “chance to empower ourselves to fundamentally address the biggest long-term issues” facing Scotland.
www.scotsman.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:24 PM