Deep Dive

@janrosenow @BBCNews Shame on those people wanting to boil their kettles and have a shower.

I just told @BBCNews: Energy crises are fundamentally demand problems, not supply problems. 80% of our energy is fossil fuels, much of it imported, leaving us exposed to price spikes. The only long-term fix: electrify the economy with clean power.

@LabourTogether This is a Labour policy I can vote for. Much needed. Long term it also needs to come with reform of retirement savings so people can prepare financially for old age.

NEW REPORT: We're calling for a 'big bang' reform of local government finance. Nationalise the funding of adult social care and replace council tax and stamp duty with a proportional property tax 🧵

@MhairiHunter Ludicrous non-serious people.

Why are they like this

@thomasforth @squatter666 @RuairiKelly_ This is the poverty of low expectations. I’m from the North. I now live in Glasgow. I’ve also lived in the Netherlands and Asia. We can and must do better to invest in our infrastructure.

@won_ton @squatter666 @RuairiKelly_ You sound incredibly moany to be honest. I know things aren't perfect but if you compare the quality of infrastructure in North England to Scotland (which I do pretty regularly) Scotland is now miles ahead.

A very important thread. Devolution gave Scotland power over taxes. It raised them. It has since, seen its economic strength and productivity grow the faster than England, Wales, or Northern Ireland and attract high earners with that strong economy. x.com/L__Macfarlane/…

@thomasforth @RuairiKelly_ Glasgow subway may have new trains but it’s had no new lines built in over 100 years. The roads are so bad you need a 4x4.

@won_ton @RuairiKelly_ New self-driving trains for Glasgow's subway ready this year. A new tram in Edinburgh and already plans to expand the system. A new bridge across the Forth. All four railways between Edinburgh and Glasgow electrified. Huge road investment in Glasgow and Aberdeen and to Inverness.

@squatter666 @thomasforth @RuairiKelly_ Glasgow infrastructure is terrible. The M8 is a disaster, The A82 is still single track country road in places. No integrated transport system for the city and the Airport is has no connections.

@thomasforth @won_ton @RuairiKelly_ Indeed, the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route was a £1bn project that has had a huge impact on the city and shire. 👍

@TrisOsborneMP We are in a new paradigm. Wars which have affected our energy security have been raging for 4 years. Energy transition is possible but right now we need to get focused and realistic.

Every kWh generated by renewables means less use of gas and fossil fuels. The transition to a more energy secure future must be a priority if we are to reduce price / market volatility.

@paulmasonnews @SadiqKhan British values are a strong sense of individualism, low levels of religious adherence, weak family obligations, social class distinction and no clans. This produced classic liberal values.

Spot on from Labour's @SadiqKhan

@paulmasonnews This is the paradox of liberalism: We are rightly and proudly tolerant. But it’s indisputable that this means we are tolerant of beliefs we would otherwise consider intolerant. Should we prioritize freedom of the individual or freedom of communities. These often clash.

Religious tolerance *is* our way of life. Badenoch is losing control of her front bench now 👇🏽

@MarkBarry67 @its_all_atoms Scotland has 30% more public sector workers per share of population and significantly less net fiscal contributors than RoUK. Scotland could really unleash if we maximized the potential to attract greater investment. Glasgow in particular should look at Manchester.

@its_all_atoms Yet Scotland has less unemployed than England.

As a Scot this make my blood boil. We would be one of the richest countries in the world if out oil hadn't been stolen.

@IsabelM31530319 @Microinteracti1 “Bored of peace”

@Microinteracti1 Peace through strength!

Europe told Trump and Vance, clearly and seriously, that Russia’s war against Ukraine and its hybrid warfare campaign across the continent represents the greatest security threat Europe has faced since 1945. Europe said this as a NATO ally. As a partner of seven decades. As a bloc that has housed American bases, funded American adventures, and sent its sons to die in American wars without much complaint. Trump and Vance looked at this and said: not our problem. It’s happening on your continent. We have important things to attend to. The important things turned out to be nothing. There were no important things. There was golf, there was television, and there was a remarkable amount of time spent being angry about things on the internet. Then, approximately some months later, the same administration announced it intended to seize Greenland. A sovereign territory. From a NATO ally. By force if necessary. So to summarise: defending Europe from an actively invading nuclear power is not America’s problem. Illegally annexing a Danish island in the Arctic is apparently a matter of urgent national interest. Now. If anyone in the MAGA universe is sitting there expecting Europe to provide diplomatic cover, logistical support, intelligence sharing, or a single sympathetic press release for whatever America is currently doing in the Middle East, I have some news for you. You told us you weren’t our allies. We were listening. You don’t get to turn the alliance on and off depending on which direction the aggression is pointing. That is not how it works. That is not how any of this works. Europe will not be helping. Europe will be watching. You made that bed. Enjoy it.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Stay connected, Follow Gandalv @Microinteracti1

@MhairiHunter It will cause the Streisand effect. Greyhound racing is dying out due to zero interest and growth of online gambling. Making it part of the culture wars will ignite interest in a niche activity. Effort would be better spent restricting new forms of problematic gambling.

Lot of ppl including MSPs saying that there is no point banning greyhound racing because there is currently no greyhound racing taking place. But that doesn't mean that there never could be. If you want to ensure that there continues to be no greyhound racing you ban it.

@DPJHodges @lukerobertblack Starmer has such self-regard for his own probity and seems to think of himself as being of such high virtue that his lies are not lies because how could a man of his own righteousness lie. In his own mind, it’s just not possible.

This is, by some distance, the most contemptible performance I’ve seen from a sitting Prime Minister at PMQs. Quite staggering to think Starmer once posed as the man who would restore faith in the conduct of our elected officials.

@FietserGlasgow @MhairiHunter Cyclists can’t use the M8. They could use the Great Western Road if it wasn’t full of glass, leaves and potholes.

@won_ton @MhairiHunter Cycle lanes are cheap. Transport Scotland have spent £157million on the M8 Woodside Viaduct and haven't started repairing it yet. Current estimates are that we could spend another £500million - on 400m of road.

I'm going to do a thread about Glasgow, potholes & how supporting safe cycling (& walking) can help, which will probably make a lot of people shout at me.

@jmhclare @MhairiHunter The roads are terrible for cars and bikes alike.

@won_ton @MhairiHunter Cycle lanes are nowhere near as expensive as the amount of money we throw at roads for cars. Also more people cycling saves money through health benefits

@PaulineBathgate Would prefer more on freeing the economy, infrastructure investment and the restoration of Glasgow.

Fantastic SNP conference yesterday with some big announcements. If the SNP win on May 7 we will: Expand childcare from 9 months→end of Primary Help 1st time buyers with deposits up to £10,000 Double # GP walk-in centres to 30 across the country The SNP is on Scotland’s side.

@MhairiHunter I hope this is a moment for Glasgow council. They all need to get back to the office and dig in. Ten thousand council workers back in the city centre every day will make a big difference.

John Swinney announces Scotgov will underwrite the cost of demolition in Union St & a £10m recovery fund. Very welcome news.

@SVPhillimore Male or female MPs should not dress like Mr Tumble. It demeans the office.

I am female and I object to men or women dressing like this when engaged in serious endeavours.