Sam Taylor
@staylorish.bsky.social
Runs @theseislands.bsky.social. “cannot stand the awesome reality of Scotland’s energy wealth” - Alex Salmond. Posting in a personal capacity.
Reposted by Sam Taylor
Scotland’s net zero opportunities depend entirely on mechanisms which defray costs across a population of 70 million. The idea that Scotland could achieve an advantage by standing alone, with a population of only 5 million, is unserious and dishonest.
Energy bills: SNP not telling the truth
Scotland’s net zero opportunities depend entirely on subsidy and revenue stabilisation mechanisms made possible because costs can be defrayed across a population of 70 million. The idea that Scotland ...
www.these-islands.co.uk
December 21, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Scotland’s net zero opportunities depend entirely on mechanisms which defray costs across a population of 70 million. The idea that Scotland could achieve an advantage by standing alone, with a population of only 5 million, is unserious and dishonest.
“The Scottish Parliament declared a climate emergency in 2019… this plan here is not an emergency plan. So at the moment, Scotland, like every other country, is polishing failure.”
Professor Kevin Anderson is not impressed by the Scottish Government’s Draft Climate Change Plan.
Professor Kevin Anderson is not impressed by the Scottish Government’s Draft Climate Change Plan.
December 19, 2025 at 5:18 PM
“The Scottish Parliament declared a climate emergency in 2019… this plan here is not an emergency plan. So at the moment, Scotland, like every other country, is polishing failure.”
Professor Kevin Anderson is not impressed by the Scottish Government’s Draft Climate Change Plan.
Professor Kevin Anderson is not impressed by the Scottish Government’s Draft Climate Change Plan.
Back in May, Kate Forbes answered an urgent question in parliament on what was then the latest delay to the Glen Rosa. Forbes said she was “not in any way shirking responsibility”. So presumably she will now be offering her resignation?
December 19, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Back in May, Kate Forbes answered an urgent question in parliament on what was then the latest delay to the Glen Rosa. Forbes said she was “not in any way shirking responsibility”. So presumably she will now be offering her resignation?
“This delay is the result of… corrosion
in the stern tubes and deterioration of the hull coating beneath the waterline.”
Glen Rosa ferry further delayed (by another 6 months) because it’s literally rusting away before even being completed.
in the stern tubes and deterioration of the hull coating beneath the waterline.”
Glen Rosa ferry further delayed (by another 6 months) because it’s literally rusting away before even being completed.
December 19, 2025 at 2:09 PM
“This delay is the result of… corrosion
in the stern tubes and deterioration of the hull coating beneath the waterline.”
Glen Rosa ferry further delayed (by another 6 months) because it’s literally rusting away before even being completed.
in the stern tubes and deterioration of the hull coating beneath the waterline.”
Glen Rosa ferry further delayed (by another 6 months) because it’s literally rusting away before even being completed.
Scottish Water bills set to rise substantially. A reminder that public vs private ownership debate is a sideshow. As with any capital-intensive regulated business, the brutal truth is that if you want more spending on the infrastructure, the price is higher bills for customers.
December 19, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Scottish Water bills set to rise substantially. A reminder that public vs private ownership debate is a sideshow. As with any capital-intensive regulated business, the brutal truth is that if you want more spending on the infrastructure, the price is higher bills for customers.
Reposted by Sam Taylor
The Scottish Government’s independence papers were shot through with highly tendentious material, but the civil servants who produced them must have drawn the line at a whole-cloth fabrication. Because that is what the SNP’s third off energy bills claim is.
December 17, 2025 at 8:41 AM
The Scottish Government’s independence papers were shot through with highly tendentious material, but the civil servants who produced them must have drawn the line at a whole-cloth fabrication. Because that is what the SNP’s third off energy bills claim is.
Outstanding comment. 👏
December 17, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Outstanding comment. 👏
The Scottish Government’s independence papers were shot through with highly tendentious material, but the civil servants who produced them must have drawn the line at a whole-cloth fabrication. Because that is what the SNP’s third off energy bills claim is.
December 17, 2025 at 8:41 AM
The Scottish Government’s independence papers were shot through with highly tendentious material, but the civil servants who produced them must have drawn the line at a whole-cloth fabrication. Because that is what the SNP’s third off energy bills claim is.
Wholly unsurprising, but nevertheless significant. @thetimes.com has asked some genuine experts to look at the SNP’s energy paper, and they have rubbished its central claim that independence would reduce bills by “over one third”.
December 16, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Wholly unsurprising, but nevertheless significant. @thetimes.com has asked some genuine experts to look at the SNP’s energy paper, and they have rubbished its central claim that independence would reduce bills by “over one third”.
Earlier this year, Scot Gov said the core directly-employed civil service workforce (which is about 9,000 people) would shrink by 4-5% per year until 2030.
Latest Scot Gov workforce data published today. Let’s see how it’s going…
Oh. Basically zero progress. Pathetic.
Latest Scot Gov workforce data published today. Let’s see how it’s going…
Oh. Basically zero progress. Pathetic.
December 16, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Earlier this year, Scot Gov said the core directly-employed civil service workforce (which is about 9,000 people) would shrink by 4-5% per year until 2030.
Latest Scot Gov workforce data published today. Let’s see how it’s going…
Oh. Basically zero progress. Pathetic.
Latest Scot Gov workforce data published today. Let’s see how it’s going…
Oh. Basically zero progress. Pathetic.
Do politicians understand the implications of an energy transition from high return on capital businesses (oil & gas) to low return on capital businesses (renewables)? No, says @antonmuscatelli.bsky.social, they do not understand.
December 15, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Do politicians understand the implications of an energy transition from high return on capital businesses (oil & gas) to low return on capital businesses (renewables)? No, says @antonmuscatelli.bsky.social, they do not understand.
The trend is the same everywhere. But in absolute terms, Scotland a striking outlier.
December 14, 2025 at 9:54 AM
The trend is the same everywhere. But in absolute terms, Scotland a striking outlier.
Unless politicians start getting this point - that renewables are a low return on capital business - the “just transition” will remain a slogan, not an actual plan.
December 14, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Unless politicians start getting this point - that renewables are a low return on capital business - the “just transition” will remain a slogan, not an actual plan.
“a spokesman for the Scottish Government was unable to explain why the claims had been made without any ability to substantiate them”
Hannah Rodger tries (and fails) to get answers from the SNP. The energy bills claim cannot be justified because it’s plainly false.
Hannah Rodger tries (and fails) to get answers from the SNP. The energy bills claim cannot be justified because it’s plainly false.
December 14, 2025 at 8:35 AM
“a spokesman for the Scottish Government was unable to explain why the claims had been made without any ability to substantiate them”
Hannah Rodger tries (and fails) to get answers from the SNP. The energy bills claim cannot be justified because it’s plainly false.
Hannah Rodger tries (and fails) to get answers from the SNP. The energy bills claim cannot be justified because it’s plainly false.
Lesley Riddoch complains that reality-based arguments about energy in an independent Scotland are making her brain boil.
December 13, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Lesley Riddoch complains that reality-based arguments about energy in an independent Scotland are making her brain boil.
Small correction to below. I accidentally divided 2025 revenue by 2024 generation. The correct calculation is:
417 / 2.13 = £196/MWh
The basic point is unchanged: this is more than double the wholesale price in the current Ofgem price cap, which is £83/MWh.
417 / 2.13 = £196/MWh
The basic point is unchanged: this is more than double the wholesale price in the current Ofgem price cap, which is £83/MWh.
2/ Beatrice Offshore wind farm was paid £417 million in its latest financial year for delivering 2,044.2 GWh (2.04 million MWh) of electricity. So the cost was:
417 / 2.04 = £204/MWh
That’s more than double the wholesale price in the current Ofgem price cap, which is £83/MWh.
417 / 2.04 = £204/MWh
That’s more than double the wholesale price in the current Ofgem price cap, which is £83/MWh.
December 10, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Small correction to below. I accidentally divided 2025 revenue by 2024 generation. The correct calculation is:
417 / 2.13 = £196/MWh
The basic point is unchanged: this is more than double the wholesale price in the current Ofgem price cap, which is £83/MWh.
417 / 2.13 = £196/MWh
The basic point is unchanged: this is more than double the wholesale price in the current Ofgem price cap, which is £83/MWh.
1/ Yesterday, the SNP published a fact-free paper on energy which simply assumed that wind farms produce cheap electricity. Coincidentally, the Beatrice Offshore wind farm (one of Scotland’s largest) published its annual accounts yesterday, which tell us the truth about costs…
December 9, 2025 at 9:22 AM
1/ Yesterday, the SNP published a fact-free paper on energy which simply assumed that wind farms produce cheap electricity. Coincidentally, the Beatrice Offshore wind farm (one of Scotland’s largest) published its annual accounts yesterday, which tell us the truth about costs…
Significant that we never got an energy paper in Scot Gov’s independence series. Today’s document is presumably what they wanted to publish, but couldn’t (it’s an SNP publication). Civil service willingness to produce absolute horseshit not without its limits, it would seem.
December 8, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Significant that we never got an energy paper in Scot Gov’s independence series. Today’s document is presumably what they wanted to publish, but couldn’t (it’s an SNP publication). Civil service willingness to produce absolute horseshit not without its limits, it would seem.
Reposted by Sam Taylor
Eyebrow raising claims have been made to justify Scot Gov’s bond issuance plan.
Repeated FOI requests for the calculations underpinning these claims were refused. Scot Gov eventually released the relevant spreadsheet, with its entire contents redacted. Every tab looks like this.
Repeated FOI requests for the calculations underpinning these claims were refused. Scot Gov eventually released the relevant spreadsheet, with its entire contents redacted. Every tab looks like this.
December 3, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Eyebrow raising claims have been made to justify Scot Gov’s bond issuance plan.
Repeated FOI requests for the calculations underpinning these claims were refused. Scot Gov eventually released the relevant spreadsheet, with its entire contents redacted. Every tab looks like this.
Repeated FOI requests for the calculations underpinning these claims were refused. Scot Gov eventually released the relevant spreadsheet, with its entire contents redacted. Every tab looks like this.
Richard Murphy on typically measured form this morning.
December 4, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Richard Murphy on typically measured form this morning.
Eyebrow raising claims have been made to justify Scot Gov’s bond issuance plan.
Repeated FOI requests for the calculations underpinning these claims were refused. Scot Gov eventually released the relevant spreadsheet, with its entire contents redacted. Every tab looks like this.
Repeated FOI requests for the calculations underpinning these claims were refused. Scot Gov eventually released the relevant spreadsheet, with its entire contents redacted. Every tab looks like this.
December 3, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Eyebrow raising claims have been made to justify Scot Gov’s bond issuance plan.
Repeated FOI requests for the calculations underpinning these claims were refused. Scot Gov eventually released the relevant spreadsheet, with its entire contents redacted. Every tab looks like this.
Repeated FOI requests for the calculations underpinning these claims were refused. Scot Gov eventually released the relevant spreadsheet, with its entire contents redacted. Every tab looks like this.
Scotland’s “low-cost” renewables, covered by the Wall Street Journal. John Swinney’s government cannot be honest about these painful realities because it would then have to be honest about the painful consequences of Scottish independence.
December 3, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Scotland’s “low-cost” renewables, covered by the Wall Street Journal. John Swinney’s government cannot be honest about these painful realities because it would then have to be honest about the painful consequences of Scottish independence.
Angus Robertson’s facile response a perfect illustration of the problem.
December 3, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Angus Robertson’s facile response a perfect illustration of the problem.
The extraordinary reason we cannot know how often MSPs show up for work.
November 30, 2025 at 8:39 AM
The extraordinary reason we cannot know how often MSPs show up for work.
Most voters don’t want Nigel Farage to become Prime Minister. But “it doesn’t really matter” to John Swinney. Quite a telling admission.
November 29, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Most voters don’t want Nigel Farage to become Prime Minister. But “it doesn’t really matter” to John Swinney. Quite a telling admission.