This is a signal report. GDP is a dead measure. The Q isn’t whether we can develop a currency for
#inclusivegrowth
we MUST do so - one in which we can trade - with economy and environment as two sides of its coinage developing their mutual sustainability
Just watched FM
@NicolaSturgeon
press conf first time in ages - if you want demo of why our print media is in such a poor state of decline tune into the next one! Maybe we could org a session with grown up Scottish journos to ask Qs designed to elicit useful info 🤦🏻♂️
Amidst all the bluff n bluster about Scotland’s proposed
#DRS
it’s useful to hear an independent voice of authority as clear as the glass bottles that have apparently been used as a constitutional football 👍
She was my initial & abiding inspiration - an incredible woman who fought a system that nearly crushed us, to raise ‘5 under 5s’ on her own & shape who we’ve each become - my mum’s fight ended yesterday: gracefully & in comfort, she is now at peace. ‘Bless Her Cotton Socks’ 💕
@jessgreenpoet
Every school should have this kit to show us boys what this part of being a woman means - and why it affects so many of our family, friends and colleagues 👇
“A united Ireland would be an economic disaster” - for whom? This old reactionary vinyl from the same band that brought us their Scottish single will be played ad nauseam on another part of these islands - it’s pretty poor! 🤦🏻♂️
The ‘optics’ of
@AnasSarwar
ruling out working with the SNP - who have been elected with the Greens to reprosecute the case for/against Scotland 🏴 remaining in the UK 🇬🇧 - on same day that
@Keir_Starmer
announces that the
#BRexit
case is closed are …… interesting 🤔
@nats_tired
A Q: if folks didn’t buy 2nd ‘homes’ (inflating prices) which are then randomly made available to key workers and instead these 1,000s of houses were available for full time, secure homes then wouldn’t our economy & public services we rely upon be in a better place - literally?
@DennisCanavan
Dennis, that is one of the bravest and most human tweets I’ve ever read - hats off to you. Your story is a painful lesson to all - and the manner in which you dealt with your suffering amidst the public gaze as inspiring. Respect. Ross
Exchanging opinions 🤷🏻♂️ It was very entertaining to watch
@alexmassie
being unexpectedly tutored by a fine gentleman in the audience 🤦🏻♂️ he’s probably feeling a bit
#HackedOff
😂
“This suggestion that the press is somehow in cahoots with the government…is baffling frankly”
“I think he’s making a fundamentally correct point”
This
#bbcdn
audience member and
@alexmassie
exchange opinions over Prince Harry’s comments in court
@PaulJSweeney
@ScotRail
@AlexRowleyFife
@ASLEF_Scotland
@RMTunion
@RMT_Scotland
We squandered the wealth of our natural resources - unlike 🇳🇴 - instead of creating a network of High Speed Rail across Britain and also (in p’ship) across the island of Ireland, with rolling stock to match: we should’ve been building trains not warplanes, ferries not warships 🤦🏻♂️
“the requisite decoration” befitting their purpose tells us so much, on so many levels about what’s wrong with the UK 🇬🇧 - devoid of compassion, stripped of humanity, instilled with disgust for democracy - and that’s just the people our elitist education system produces! 🤦🏻♂️🤮
This is the 3rd time I’m retweeting this but another thought; this puffed up little Lord is addressing someone who arrived on the Kindertransport - his response is vile at every possible level, including its insensitivity towards & disrespect for Lord Dubs, who is visibly shaken.
@Cat_Headley
If you state your case for staying - other than a vague notion of comradeship (with folks who voted overwhelmingly to leave the EU) which could equally be expressed thru a partnership of independent nations - then at least your position may be better understood Cat 🤔
@staylorish
Wow! The mask always slips - sometimes it takes a while but there’s no hiding your authentic self: not only misogynistically disparaging to hard working women (many juggling other responsibilities) but also ignorant of the evidence of independent assessment from the Ombudsman 🤦🏻♂️
On
#IWD22
I want to pay tribute to my incredible mum - the bravest, most resourceful and generous woman I’ve ever known - she forgave a career as an international hockey player - and a spot at the Olympics - to marry my dad, who drank her love and her life away
#InMemoryOfMyMum
@IanMurrayMP
Seriously, Ian? My dyed in the wool 🏴 mum who retained her plummy accent half a century after moving to 🏴 and my Grandad upon whose Hampshire farm American GIs gathered in prep for D-Day would have laughed their ‘cotton socks’ off at this
#GetAGrip
and a sense of humour!
An absolute travesty of a piece - a pathetic, weakly stitched together series of accusations & assumptions - aimed at undermining the very basis of Devolution (no surprise from foreign owned press) it’s an affront to the professionalism of our committed public servants
@scotgov
🔴 Anatomy of the PPE Procurement Scandal
As PPE Medpro hits the headlines,
@WritesBright
dissects the multi-billion-pound affair that saw lucrative COVID contracts awarded to Conservative donors – first reported on by Byline Times in April 2020...
@LordCFalconer
A really useful analytical thread taking a helpfully dispassionate legal look at the issues around this unprecedented move by the UK Gov 🇬🇧 to overrule a motion passed with a significant all party majority by the Scottish Parliament 🏴
This is utterly scandalous - imagine if this was a Labour UK Govt or an SNP Scottish Govt? How would the press be reacting? The general silence is shameful yet telling! An absolute disgrace given the cavalier nature of PPE procurement 🤦🏻♂️
PPE items worth £2.7 BILLION will be wasted as they are no longer needed or cannot safeguard
#NHS
staff, ministers have revealed - yet another catastrophic consequence of voting in incompetent opportunist free-market extremists.
#WorldBeating
🇬🇧
Lovely announcement from
@scotrail
conductor on the 08:02 from Larbert as we approach
#GlasgowQnSt
wishing ‘a number of people on the train going for job interviews and new opportunities’ the very best of luck!
@AlexHynes
I don’t always agree with you
@patrickharvie
but you nailed it here my friend - cttee members appearing on tv shows to discuss the evidence during their consideration of the case was contemptuous in every sense of that word .... and then one of them complained of tiredness!🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
It was a fond foodie farewell after 5 years with the Board
@FVCollege
today over a simply scrumptious Xmas lunch - prepped, cooked and served by our fabulously talented students - with
@principal_fvc
and his senior team
#ThankYou
👏👍🎅
@BBCNewsnight
Hey fella, have you asked those of us impacted by the death of a loved one whether it’s an obsession or simply a matter of betrayal? 🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
@PickardJE
Zelenskyy’s speeches are legend - constructed on the basis of historical knowledge, sprinkled with heritage of the people he addresses and strongly flavoured with what is fast becoming a world renowned Ukrainian 🇺🇦 spirit
#outstanding
👏
I had the privilege of meeting
@DoddieWeir5
when in Rome for the
#SixNations
- a lovely fella with a heart ❤️ the size that matched his huge personality - such a sad loss to us all, taken by something which should be fixable, if only we funded more research 🧐
@JohnnyMercerUK
You may have defended “Queen & Country” fella but you’ve also defended the defenestration and degradation of the economy which is supposed to support same - you are in no state to throw accusations of being inauthentic around. If you are defeated then take time to reflect. 🤦🏻♂️
@SundayTimesSco
I like Jim, I’ve no idea who the others are behind your paywall, but this is errant guff - if high earning individuals choose personal greed over the common good good luck in their economic eyries - have they learnt nothing about values rather than value thru the pandemic? 🤔
As we near the end of yet another week amidst the challenges thrown up by Covid here’s a picture to gladden your heart - meet a new wee friend we made today
#beyondadorable
@RussellFindlay1
@neiledinburgh
If seeking to ask a serious question Mr Findlay, one might consider how inappropriate it is to call a fellow member by their surname only, how about even Ms Sturgeon or as appears increasingly the case at Westminster, use her forename, or dare I suggest the “First Minister”?! 🤔
@BethRigby
@SkyNews
And here we have UK 🇬🇧 style
#democracy
- where the electorate have to rely upon whispers in the lobby relayed by pliant client journalists in place of a Constitution with Fixed Term Parliaments that can’t be ‘shaped’ by the incumbent party! 🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
@ThatTimWalker
Why have a comedian on your show
@bbclaurak
and then castigate him for having a laugh at the patently laughable performance of
@trussliz
? 🤷🏻♂️ Are you serious 🤦🏻♂️
This Spanish city has been car-free for 19 years. 12k people have moved into the city centre since the ban. The Mayor says vehicles don’t have more right to public space than people — & he’s been re-elected 4 times since banning cars. Pontevedra via
@WEF
:
“[Coronavirus] is an opportunity to move to the future faster.”
IBM’s Executive Chairman
@GinniRometty
says “not everyone has yet taken stock” of the fact that
#Covid19
has accelerated digital transformation trends, which she says is a challenge with great benefits
#Newsnight
@DavidZipper
We should ban all internal UK 🇬🇧 flights unless they can be undertaken with emerging electric or hydrogen technology whilst making inter-city rail far more competitive than road - simples 😎
Watching
@iamwill
delving into the history of black people in 🇬🇧 carefully peeling off the wrappers of much of the
#wealthcreation
that can be seen in our cities constructed on the broken backs of his ancestors and their fellow African descendants - it’s truly shameful 😢
Out and about on Scotland’s Railways this morning - first stop one of its best kept secrets: the Coffee Shop inside Stirling station - cheery staff spacious environment and well stocked with fresh food and great coffee - competitively priced too
@ScotRail
@andywightman
@mauricesmithtvi
Andy, this should’ve been the very first Bill laid in front of the Scottish Parliament in ‘99 with a radical reshaping of land ownership across Scotland, incl the transfer of public land to communities - would love to catch up on where next sometime 👍
@LostGlasgow
@YourWullie
An absolute Gentleman who’s musings were as effervescently entertaining as he was himself in person - we chanced upon him a few years back and he penned this lovely recollection in his diary for that week👍 May he rest in peace on a stool by the bar up there 🍷
Hey
@scotrail
on the 8:11 from Perth to Inverness and your very helpful conductor Mark has been an exemplar of patience and understanding - and great with tech too! 👍
@MrJohnNicolson
@BBCBreakfast
@UKYP
That must’ve been some moment John - to have your authenticity applauded so spontaneously by the generation to whom we hand over the reins was surely quite emotional - and a lesson to tabloid hacks and headline writers about their appalling abuse of so many for so long 👍👏
Didn’t expect this little blue beauty for another month but given the way
@NHSForthValley
and their colleagues elsewhere are getting thru categorised groups using fabulous facilities like our
@FVCollege
campuses for Vax then I’m not surprised but keep staying safe out there 👍
The redoubtable
@AamerAnwar
telling it as it is on behalf of any reasonable observer of the appallingly brutal acts being perpetrated on a civilian population by Netanyahu’s Govt and their IDF killers 👏👍
On SkyNews, today about our letter with over 600 lawyers, academics & former Supreme Court judges to
@rishisunak
warning him of complicity in war crimes by Israel & breach of humanitarian law - then a ‘discussion’ about Genocide 🇵🇸
@Channel4News
Ok, it’s time to ask the question about the possible elephant in the room here: How much of
@PostOffice
@PaulaVennells1
attitude was pre-conditioned by the colour and/or ethnicity of subpostmasters? Do we have a breakdown or any insight into the thinking of the Executive Team? 🤷🏻♂️
@NicolaSturgeon
@Doug_D_Stuart
Tricky times, but if you continue to take us where the evidence suggests then the majority of folks will respect those choices, even though they’ll mean self sacrifice in the wider public interest.
Dutch students are getting cheap accommodation from living in care homes for the elderly.
They pay no rent and in return, they interact and help with the elderly residents. Other countries should do the same
#socialcare
#housing
#construction
#innovation
@CllrSMcCabe
If you’d listened to my mum you’d have heard the reasons why parents don’t, Stephen:
#Dignity
#SelfRespect
&
#Shame
the most prominent - that shaped my approach during my decade serving: on Cttee, as its Chair, as CoSLA spokes - it’s often what’s not said that’s most important 🤔
@Channel4News
The political attacks on
@devisridhar
‘s scientific advice are - quite ironically - lacking any evidential basis. If you want to have a political disagreement then play the ball not the Prof. whose advice on the pandemic has been consistent, quality and above all enlightening.
@MattEllis777
@theAliceRoberts
Where’s the gift shop? You ask. It’s your pathetic misogynistic tweet, fella! A gift for all reasonable men to laugh out loud at you and your language from last century! An apology to one of our most respected academics
@theAliceRoberts
is in order my friend 🤦🏻♂️🤔
@JMPSimor
How about he walks thru a throng of grieving relatives of the tragic trail of Covid dead he left in his wake and tries to ‘shake everyone’s hand’ for a true reflection of his chaotic, destructive impact? 🤔
@arusbridger
@MarinaPurkiss
Au Contraire, this is a great day for (honest) journalism - a long awaited opportunity to save the industry from itself, its rotten core (not a few bad apples) under the ownership of corrupt and malign influence - I feel Bob Dylan on our shoulders! 😂
@GavinKBarrie
@IanMurrayMP
@LNER
@transcotland
@scotgov
Ian, the notion that Borders create chaos on train routes is laughable - I’ve travelled all across mainland Europe from Hamburg to Rome, from the Costa Del Sol to Vienna with seamless changes of staff, language and laws at destinations
#GetAGrip
It was fab to
#feelthebuzz
in new HQ today - & catch
@principal_fvc
taking a break - & from my fave spot in the entire building - whenever I’m in you’ll likely see me just standing here - being
#inspired
by how our team will be
#MakingLearningWork
in this brilliant environment
@FVCollege
headquarters opened today for staff. Still in flitting mode and loads of unpacking to do; great buzz. Chair Ross Martin
@ScotIncGrowth
and
@forthvalleySA
Student President Andrew mucking in. Can’t wait for students starting on Monday.
Just heard from a friend at Transport Scotland that their analysts estimate widening the M8 at £3 Billion. For that budget we could instead build a Glasgow Metro system, like this one below, with tramway, and a Crossrail tunnel connecting the network north and south of the Clyde.
@lord_forsyth
If you’re going to criticise at least use the Queen’s English properly m’Lord ! The scientific advice was published - perhaps you’ve not read it. A summary: Coronavirus Kills. It’s spread thru the air when people get too close to each other. Alcohol increases risk. End of. Cheers
@JohnJHarwood
@BrentToderian
John, check the potentially catastrophic collapse in the value of his commercial property due to Covid and ask why he was quite so keen to downplay its impact!
#causeandeffect
@RoddyQC
@MorayMacdonald
@Fyrishsunset
Roddy, you’re having a laugh! You’d up root for the sake of a few £ - as a top earner?! For however long or short that diff remains? Regardless of any other benefit (tax reductions are same category) or any sense of paying your way? You’re much better than that, surely? 🤷🏻♂️
@DaniGaravelli1
East & West Dunbartonshire are gerrymandered constructs that should be working as one within Glasgow’s Metro Region maximising its wider growth potential by recognising true value of its
#TotalProductiveCapacity
- both of its people and of its places - the real Levelling Up! 🤦🏻♂️
@LBC
@AndrewMarr9
Are you kidding me? “Those at No10 (should be) asked direct questions and are obliged to give direct answers” of the type that weren’t asked at the time by our highly paid media like, err, you
@AndrewMarr9
🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
@adilray
Leaving aside egregious contradictions in policy making the notion that individuals can rake in a £12m dividend when millions of fellow countrymen/women struggle and even starve tells you everything you need to know about their personal & political motivation
#howcantheysleep
🤷🏻♂️
@IsabelOakeshott
Sounds like you’ve caught something Isabel - a virus that’s removed any last vestiges of humanity and prompted a blood transfusion to expunge empathy for others who struggle thru an economic system which floated you effortlessly to the top regardless of your talent quotient 🤔
@bmay
@campbellclaret
For someone who professes faith in a book, he could benefit from a bit of reading! Time in a cell would be a great opportunity 🤦🏻♂️
Regardless of the merits of the
#GrowthCommission
report isn’t it nauseating listening to reps of the over centralised UK economy dismissing the arguments with schoolboy/girl smirks of condescension? This isn’t an argument of possibility but one of probability
#getreal
As I start the next - very exciting - leg of my lifelong journey supporting development of Scotland’s regional economies it was lovely to see this beautiful 🌈 emerge over the
#ForthValley
this morning following yesterday’s joint UK/Scot Gov 🇬🇧 🏴
#GreenFreePort
announcement 👍
As someone who grew up with ever present spectre of alcohol abuse witnessing its terrifying, tragic & devastating impacts on our family I have a particular interest - like so many other Scots - in the outcome of this brave policy and very much hope these outcomes are accurate 👍
Barcelona has an amazing school cycle bus every Friday. Wherever you are in the world, few kids will see this and think “I’d like to be driven to school instead”.
When the project started there were just five children taking part. Change can happen fast.
There are many lessons which we can all learn from this fella - and especially us guys regarding the importance of embracing your emotions, in public if the occasion suits, as he obviously feels this one does 👍 what a role model 👏
This is work which
#ScotsParliament
should’ve been commissioning from day one. We need an accurate picture of who we were before we can understand who we are, let alone who we want to be. Get
@SirGeoffPalmer
to do a series on telly to replace faux history we’ve been fed to date.
@LauraFMcConnell
Laura, some things are a matter of principle, others are not. This one is.. The political intent behind the policy is to play to the most disgusting prejudices of the tabloid press, In order to counter it financially it requires a tiny, simple progressive adjustment to tax 🤦🏻♂️
As
#IWD2020
comes to an end a mention of my incredible
#Mum
is I think appropriate - she raised 5 of us (all under 5 yrs when my twin brother and I were born!) on her own - thru very challenging circumstances -
#resilient
#inventive
#compassionate
& much more besides! ❣️
Well the next phase of my professional transition began this evening performing my final official - and hugely enjoyable - duties at one of
@FVCollege
excellent Graduation Ceremonies - and indeed the last one ever to be held at the old
#FalkirkTownHall
before it’s demolition 👀
Two things to note from this clip: 1/ no wide front shot of the audience’s enthusiastic reaction (to minimise its impact) and 2 the out of depth Chair moves in quickly to end the applause by asking for another contribution - this is
#ShabbyStuff
from the
#BBC
“I just find it absolutely astounding actually, that you’re sitting here…legitimising this promotion”
This
#bbcqt
audience member criticises the appointment of Lee Anderson to deputy chairman of the Conservative Party
#bbcqt
@Dungarbhan
@EdwardHarkins
Or, “it is little wonder your show’s ratings have tanked, when you treat people with such appalling discourtesy, whilst demonstrating your naked bias on our public service broadcaster” 🤦🏻♂️
@SebastianEPayne
If “he isn’t going nowhere” then can we presume that “he is going somewhere”? and we wonder why UK journalism is in the doldrums!
#GetAGrip
Just had our 💉jabs
@FVCollege
where
#Army
@NHSForthValley
staff are diligently working their way thru local population - thank you and well done to all - great to see everyone also getting a wee sneak preview of our new College HQ before it’s official opening 👍
BBC’s
#BigNightIn
is nauseating - overpaid licence fee leeches following UK’s wealthiest family to entice ‘Great British Public’ to pay additional voluntary taxation to fund vital public services whilst tax dodging rapacious capitalists sun themselves in splendid
#nonisolation