David Bol

SNP's top civil servant 'not scared' of unions despite not monitoring workers' return to office Top civil servant admits Scottish government workers are not being monitored over their office working after a ‘compromise’ with trade unions

Whatever you make of Scottish government staff being required to work in the office two days a week, it seems wild that civil service bosses are not monitoring whether it is happening or not.
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Glasgow fire: John Swinney opens door to 'multi-million' recovery fund The door has been opened for a recovery fund to be set up following a huge fire in Glasgow city centre.

John Swinney has opened the door to a multi-million-pound Glasgow fire recovery fund after the devastating blaze that engulfed the "national asset" in the city centre
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Will Scotland legalise assisted dying?

If you want to hear to an extended version of my interview with Liam McArthur, you can listen to this week's special episode of The Steamie podcast
open.spotify.com/episode/14kw...

MSP behind assisted dying law 'hopeful' of passing historic final vote MSPs will undertake a historic final vote on legalising assisted dying in Scotland.

MSPs will begin the final stage for Scotland's assisted dying legislation tomorrow - with the final vote next week.
I spoke to @orkneymsp.bsky.social about his legislation, disability rights concerns and why he thinks it's time Scotland legalised assisted dying.
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The Scotsman and Scotland 2050 to host Holyrood election hustings The hustings is your chance to grill politicians on the issues that matter to you

Want to grill representatives from all of Holyrood's political parties ahead of the election?

Come along to the Scotland 2050 hustings at the Assembly Rooms on March 31, chaired by @scotsman.com

Tickets are free:

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Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid 'voluntarily suspends herself' amid China spy probe The Scottish Labour leader revealed he last met with Joani Reid’s husband in the last year at a party event.

Joani Reid: "I am not under investigation by the police and no accusations have been against me. I have done nothing wrong. I love my country.”
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NEW ANALYSIS: UK emissions fell 2.4% in 2025 as coal fell to a 400-year low. Incredibly, we used less coal last year than than in 1600, when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne and Shakespeare was writing Hamlet.

All the details in our article: www.carbonbrief.org/...

We paid an ex-Tory MP to lobby for our fake Chinese firm - and authorities did nothing Investigation finds no rules were broken. It just goes to show how few rules there are.

Last week, UK lobbying regulator closed investigation into ex Tory MP Ben Howlett

We offered Howlett money to work for a fake Chinese investor. He introduced us to a dozen Labour MPs

Regulator didn't even speak to us. Our system is broken

New, by me: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/we-paid-an...

Mould outbreak at infection scandal hospital upgraded to 'red' John Swinney has denied disrespecting bereaved relatives from the hospitals infection scandal.

The mould outbreak at Glasgow's infection scandals hospital has been upgraded to a "red" alert, John Swinney has confirmed.
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Joani Reid MP faces 'judgement' on possible suspension from Scottish Labour The Scottish Labour leader revealed he last met with Joani Reid’s husband in the last year at a party event.

Anas Sarwar said Labour bosses were considering action including suspension of Joani Reid after her husband was arrested as part of the Chinese spy investigation.
Wes Streeting has told The Scotsman that he backs Joani Reid with a warning not to "rush to judgement".
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Scots Labour MP's husband arrested on suspicion of spying for China Joani Reid said has “never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law.”

Joani Reid: "I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law."
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Poll: Reform UK falls behind Labour in the Holyrood election race The new poll says the SNP is on course to win the Holyrood election - but will fall short of the majority John Swinney wants.

Interesting Holyrood poll this. Reform fall back down to fourth place behind the Greens. Labour recovering but still way behind the SNP.
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Monica Lennon 'profoundly disappointed' after Holyrood committee shelves ecocide bill Monica Lennon has been left “profoundly disappointed” that her ecocide legislation has been shelved, warning it is “a missed opportunity to protect Scotland’s environment”.

NEW: @monicalennon.bsky.social is "profoundly disappointed" after a Holyrood committee blocked her ecocide legislation progressing before May's election. 90 out of the 129 MSPs backed the bill at the stage one vote. The SNP government was also supportive.
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Anas Sarwar vows to build Glasgow Airport rail link if Labour wins election Linking Glasgow Airport to the city centre by rail has long been spoken about - but plans have, so far, failed to materialise

Anas Sarwar said he didn't have a projected cost or timescale for the long-delayed project. He also suggested private finance could be levered in to pay for the project long-championed by the SNP
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Climate advisers hit out at Reform and Tories' 'slogan-based' net zero opposition The Scottish Conservatives have insisted that Scotland’s 2045 target is ‘completely unrealistic’ despite independent climate advisers stressing it can be achieved

Excl: The chairman of the Climate Change Committee has hit out at net zero misinformation by Reform and the Tories, particularly over the costs where we've had some "really irresponsible figures" bounded around.
"It's simply not true that we can't afford it."
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'You can't get any worse': By-election thumping looms over Scottish Labour conference Party members were left feeling dejected after Labour suffered a heavy defeat in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Some stinging analysis from @scotsman.com's Rachel Amery on Scottish Labour's 'conference' and what the mood is really like in the party as it faces down the prospect of a horrific Holyrood election
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Sarwar pleads with Scots to 'hold your nose' and back his bid to beat SNP Scottish leader says he recognises ‘anger’ and ‘frustration’ after humiliating by-election defeat and devastating poll

Anas Sarwar has told Scots to "hold your nose" and vote Labour to oust the SNP from government at May's Holyrood election. Quite a candid plea - a very difficult sell after the Gorton and Denton by-election and a dismal poll putting Labour in fourth place at Holyrood
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Cracking view for the media of Anas Sarwar's keynote speech at Scottish Labour's conference in Paisley

Anas Sarwar aims to strengthen graduate medics working in NHS Scottish Labour is holding its pre-election spring conference in Paisley.

Disastrous backdrop to Scottish Labour conference. Anas Sarwar needs some big, bold plans to rescucitate his dwindling changes of becoming the next first minister. So far we've seen him repeat pledges already made and tweaking existing SNP policies. This being one
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SNP warned health and social care services 'can't be sustained' amid £450m black hole Scotland’s integration joint boards are facing a funding gap of almost £450m for the next financial year

Scotland's spending watchdog has warned the boards that direct funding for health and social care services will be forced into cuts as they grapple for a £450m funding gap in the coming financial year.
www.scotsman.com/politics/snp...

Sarwar vows to 'tear apart' bureaucracy in Labour plan to cut health boards Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has revealed his plans to overhaul the public sector if he becomes first minister after May’s election

A Scottish Labour government would reduce Scotland's health boards to just three bodies and strengthen economic organisations under the Scottish National Investment Bank, Anas Sarwar has confirmed.
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Lord Advocate admits 'uncomfortable' look to Murrell briefing Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain has been accused of misleading parliament.

The Lord Advocate wouldn't admit that she forgot she had notified the First Minister in March 2025 about the Peter Murrell case, but that appears to be what's happened here. A lack of clear explanation from the Lord Advocate has not helped matters.
www.scotsman.com/politics/lor...

SNP warned 'significant risks' in net zero plans as fears raised over lack of heat pumps strategy SNP ministers have been warned over a lack of plans to replace gas boilers with clean heating systems.

The Climate Change Committee has warned that "significant risks" exist in the Scottish Government's climate change plan with a lack of detail over the heat transition after SNP ministers shelved their flagship heat in buildings bill until after the Holyrood election.
www.scotsman.com/politics/snp...

Anas Sarwar warns Scots not to 'press FU button' by backing Reform Anas Sarwar has urged Scots to refrain from voting for Reform as a protest vote - warning public services could be put at risk.

Excl: Anas Sarwar has warned Scots not to "press the FU button" by backing Reform at May's election, arguing that a mass protest vote could "destroy" Scotland’s NHS and communities. Also stressed only Labour can beat the SNP in constituency contests across Scotland.
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Lib Dems itching for return to the big time with 'monumental' Holyrood election The Lib Dems are itching to return to the big time - and May’s election could be the party’s launchpad

My analysis on why May's Holyrood election could be a golden chance for the Scottish Lib Dems to re-establish themselves as an important voice in Scottish politics.
www.scotsman.com/politics/sco...

SNP's flagship ScotWind projects being investigated by Scotland's spending watchdog The SNP government’s ScotWind projects will be looked at by Scotland’s spending watchdog.

Excl: Scotland’s spending watchdog is investigating the SNP's flagship ScotWind projects amid fears the revenue has been "frittered away" to balance Holyrood budget pressures
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Economists attack SNP for 'can-kicking strategy' over looming public pay crisis SNP ministers have been accused of putting off tough budget decisions until after May’s Holyrood election

Economists have warned that SNP ministers have already used up the majority of a three-year pay policy in two years and is "symptomatic of a broader can-kicking strategy". Whoever wins May's election will "have to seriously grapple with implausible settlements".
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Lib Dems aim to 'deprive' SNP of majority with 10 target seats and reclaim Highlands The Lib Dems believe they can deny the SNP a Holyrood majority that John Swinney insists will spark another independence referendum.

Excl: Scottish Lib Dems leader @alex.scotlibdems.org.uk believes his party can help "deprive" the SNP of a Holyrood majority as they set their sites on 10 constituencies in May's election, including six in the Highlands.
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Furious memo row erupts in Holyrood, plus a look ahead to party conferences

🚨🎙New episode of The Steamie.
@alistairkgrant.bsky.social, @andrewjquinn97.bsky.social, Rachel Amery and I have a sensible look at the Lord Advocate row.
Also:
🔵Scottish Tories facing Holyrood trouncing
🟢Greens feeling upbeat
🟠 I interview @alex.scotlibdems.org.uk
open.spotify.com/episode/4B1N...

Holyrood committee accused of ignoring will of MSPs after trying to kill ecocide law The ecocide legislation was backed overwhelmingly by MSPs in its first two weeks ago and is being supported by the SNP government.

Excl: A Holyrood committee has been accused of ignoring the will of parliament after trying to kill @monicalennon.bsky.social's legislation to criminalise ecocide - despite being backed by MSPs to proceed. Opponents claim the Bill is being "rushed" through.
www.scotsman.com/news/politic...