On reflection, this speech left me more confused than anything. It doesn't feel connected to reality, or to Swinney's actual policy focus. We should be talking about getting Scotland ready for indy & governing competently, with public service reform at its heart. This was absent.
Independence isn't about walking away from our neighbours.
It's about walking beside them as equals, working together to tackle shared challenges and building a future based on friendship, respect and cooperation.
#SNP26
Matthew Ball retweeted
🇳🇴 Norway’s national wealth fund: £2 trillion.
🏴 Scotland’s national wealth fund under Westminster control: £0.
Norway has invested its energy wealth for the benefit of current and future generations, helping to support its public finances. Whilst Westminster has squandered this opportunity for Scotland.
‘We'd have a British sovereign wealth fund now that will be worth probably a trillion pounds’
Chancellor @JohnHealey_MP suggests what Britain could have gained if it had set up an energy wealth fund like Norway’s back in the 1980s
#Peston
Matthew Ball retweeted
NEW
Britain’s missing sovereign wealth fund… Treasury officials have modelled that had the UK done what Norway did with North Sea revenues, there would be a £1 trillion fund…
As Chancellor sets up Energy Wealth Fund, a look at the long historical argument about where the oil windfall went, including from interviews with those who have run Norways $2.4 trillion fund, now the biggest in the world, filled from the proceeds of the same North Sea.
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm4g…
Matthew Ball retweeted
There’s actually a green case for new North Sea production:
– Domestic gas is 18% less carbon-emitting than imports from the US and the Gulf states.
– Higher tax revenue can be used to support green energy, EVs and heat pumps. arguably.uk/p/is-net-zero-st…
Matthew Ball retweeted
The new gas field isn’t going to bring down your bills.
Gas is bought & sold globally, so the reality is, fossil fuels controlled by dictators have Britain in a chokehold til we fully embrace gas-free driving & heating and cut the link between electricity and gas.
BUT, fwiw, getting gas locally is still the right move while we’re transitioning off it. It’s a bit cleaner and brings jobs and tax revenue to Britain.
Matthew Ball retweeted
Britain’s £100,000 tax trap ft.trib.al/PozWvDe
Matthew Ball retweeted
The SNP will bring Scotland's bus network back into public control by the end of this Parliament, using franchising and regulation to improve services for passengers. #SNP26
ALT Bus stop sign on a rural rocky landscape with SNP's pledge to return bus networks to public control for the 2026 conference.
Matthew Ball retweeted
Kemi Badenoch will order a review of devolution which will consider withdrawing powers from the Scottish Parliament if she wins the next general election.
dailymail.com/news/article-1…
Matthew Ball retweeted
The Green Party of England and Wales now has a more pragmatic policy on nuclear energy than the SNP.
🟢New: I understand the Green Party has dropped its opposition to nuclear power generation. Motion C03 which was brought by Greens for Nuclear was voted through on the conference floor this afternoon.
The motion resolves that blanket opposition to nuclear fission will be dropped from Green Party policy, and clarifies criteria by which a Green government will assess new energy infrastructure.
Commentators that complain about lack of reform and consultation culture when faced with reform and swift decision making
It is very strange that perhaps the most significant piece of legislation in the devolution era was not mentioned during the Scottish parliamentary elections four months ago and must, apparently, be agreed by Christmas…
thetimes.com/article/58ee384…
Matthew Ball retweeted
Begging the SNP to read the room and, if not wholeheartedly support removing the triple lock, quit the insincere faux outrage on it.
A state benefit should not increase by a higher rate than wages year after year. Especially one that’s handed out with age as the only qualifier.
Matthew Ball retweeted
And the price of British energy is where globally?
Wind and solar now supply 40% of Britain's electricity demand.
What a remarkable change has been made over the last decade! That puts us ahead of most major world economies.
A bit of positive news for your weekend read at Electric Insights: reports.electricinsights.co.…
ALT The share of Britain’s electricity demand met by wind and solar power reached 40% in the second quarter of 2026, ahead of most major world economies. International comparisons cover 2025, or the most recently available data.
Matthew Ball retweeted
🚨🇮🇱 NEW: Israel’s election body has voted to ban all Arab parties from running in the upcoming general election
[@haaretzcom]
Matthew Ball retweeted
Scottish Government want Scotland's 32 councils radically redrawn - an "opening proposition" would see 6 to 10 strategic regional authorities and 120-160 community authorities focused on local decision-making.
Proposal is here:
gov.scot/publications/public…
Matthew Ball retweeted
Carney pushes idea of making Canada 'associate member' of EU, WSJ reports reut.rs/4yAWSOQ reut.rs/4yAWSOQ
