@staylorish

Runs @These_Islands. “cannot stand the awesome reality of Scotland’s energy wealth” - Alex Salmond. Tweeting in a personal capacity.

 Edinburgh, Scotland
these-islands.co.uk
Joined October 2016
  • Tweets26.9K
  • Following3.5K
  • Followers11.7K
5KMedia
Sam Taylor retweeted
Sam Taylor@staylorish8h
1/ Lots of nationalists crying “but Sir Ian Wood definitely did tell us the oil was running out”. North Sea oil *was* running out in 2014, just as it is running out today. The question has always been about the quantity of economically recoverable reserves left to extract.
Sam Taylor@staylorishOct 21
1/ Nationalists often claim the No campaign in 2014 told them oil & gas would run out within 5 years, and this BBC article is always the evidence. Slight problem. The article simply describes a report produced by some environmentalists. And the UK government called it “nonsense”.
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Sam Taylor retweeted
James Mitchell@ProfJMitchell6h
Seeing more ill-informed commentary on a 1974 paper by Gavin McCrone from back then. It was not 'suppressed' but simply a contribution for internal discussion along with many others. When first distributed it was a 'starting point for any assessment' not definitive. 1/4
James Mitchell@ProfJMitchell7h
Indeed. Very extensively debated both in public and in Whitehall.
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So Jenny Gilruth and the EIS tell us that the PISA results are in fact fine! Good grief! On my blog now: ahouseinjoppa.wordpress.com/…

An Old Teacher’s Wrath: Jenny Gilruth, The EIS and Scotland

Just to remind you of a few ‘facts’ – those worthless items in modern Scottish politics – the PISA scores showed that Scottish 15 year olds were being outperformed by English 15 year olds in Maths,…

ahouseinjoppa.wordpress.com
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Sam Taylor retweeted
Sam Taylor@staylorish7h
Read some history! The idea of an oil fund was extensively debated in the 1970s and 80s. It’s all in Hansard. Criticising the decision not to establish one is perfectly legitimate. But pretending the possibility was denied until yesterday is just idiotic.
Laura Webster@LauraEWebsterr8h
Replying to @LauraEWebsterr
So forgive me if seeing the actual Chancellor suddenly admit that yeah actually we would have an oil fund worth over a trillion - just like Norway - and trotting it out as a great big Labour talking point is completely infuriating
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If hubris alone could deliver independence, the SNP would genuinely be close to achieving it.
Ross Colquhoun@rosscolquhoun6h
Replying to @ProfJMitchell
Patronising twaddle. If you can explain the reports existence whilst successive Tory and Labour Governments painted the opposite picture in Scotland, I’d love to hear it.
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Sam Taylor retweeted
James Mitchell@ProfJMitchell6h
Facts can be upsetting.
Ross Colquhoun@rosscolquhoun6h
Replying to @ProfJMitchell
Patronising twaddle. If you can explain the reports existence whilst successive Tory and Labour Governments painted the opposite picture in Scotland, I’d love to hear it.
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In his new book, @JohnDoyleDCU argues Britain would continue paying Northern Ireland's £5.7 billion state and unfunded public sector pension bills to a united Ireland, because not doing so would be unpopular with unions and the public in Britain.
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Sam Taylor retweeted
James Mitchell@ProfJMitchell7h
Indeed. Very extensively debated both in public and in Whitehall.
Sam Taylor@staylorish7h
Read some history! The idea of an oil fund was extensively debated in the 1970s and 80s. It’s all in Hansard. Criticising the decision not to establish one is perfectly legitimate. But pretending the possibility was denied until yesterday is just idiotic.
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Read some history! The idea of an oil fund was extensively debated in the 1970s and 80s. It’s all in Hansard. Criticising the decision not to establish one is perfectly legitimate. But pretending the possibility was denied until yesterday is just idiotic.
Laura Webster@LauraEWebsterr8h
Replying to @LauraEWebsterr
So forgive me if seeing the actual Chancellor suddenly admit that yeah actually we would have an oil fund worth over a trillion - just like Norway - and trotting it out as a great big Labour talking point is completely infuriating
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Sam Taylor retweeted
Sam Taylor@staylorishOct 21
Reminder: whatever he might claim today, this is what John Swinney said in February 2025. He welcomed the court’s decision to block Jackdaw, calling it “the only sustainable judgment you can arrive at in considering these questions”.
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1/ Lots of nationalists crying “but Sir Ian Wood definitely did tell us the oil was running out”. North Sea oil *was* running out in 2014, just as it is running out today. The question has always been about the quantity of economically recoverable reserves left to extract.
Sam Taylor@staylorishOct 21
1/ Nationalists often claim the No campaign in 2014 told them oil & gas would run out within 5 years, and this BBC article is always the evidence. Slight problem. The article simply describes a report produced by some environmentalists. And the UK government called it “nonsense”.
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2/ Sir Ian Wood said in 2014 that the SNP’s forecasts were far too high, and he has been entirely vindicated by subsequent events. His own estimates were also on the high side, but much closer to reality than the SNP’s.
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Sam Taylor retweeted
Sam Taylor@staylorish18h
The detail behind Professor Alf Baird’s claim that Scotland’s GDP is understated by £150 billion is really quite remarkable. His argument goes like this: “if we assume that Scotland’s GDP should be double the current number, then we can calculate that it would be twice as big”
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The detail behind Professor Alf Baird’s claim that Scotland’s GDP is understated by £150 billion is really quite remarkable. His argument goes like this: “if we assume that Scotland’s GDP should be double the current number, then we can calculate that it would be twice as big”
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John Swinney is like an AI girlfriend. He’ll tell you what you want to hear when you want to hear it, but he doesn’t care about you. Me over at the @Telegraph. spectator.com/article/the-sn…

The SNP’s craven support for the Jackdaw gas field

SNP leader John Swinney finally agrees with Westminster on something. The Holyrood first minister has welcomed Downing Street’s decision to press ahead with drilling at the Jackdaw natural gas field...

spectator.com
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Sam Taylor retweeted
Sam Taylor@staylorishOct 21
1/ Nationalists often claim the No campaign in 2014 told them oil & gas would run out within 5 years, and this BBC article is always the evidence. Slight problem. The article simply describes a report produced by some environmentalists. And the UK government called it “nonsense”.
BBC News (UK)
@BBCNews16 May 2014
UK's oil, coal and gas will run out in 5 years, researchers warn bbc.in/1qHoUo1

UK 'needs more home-grown energy'

The UK's proven reserves of oil, coal and gas will run out in little more than five years, a report looking at energy resources warns.

bbc.co.uk
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Sam Taylor retweeted
alexmassie
@alexmassie23h
Andy Burnham will have no truck with a Green party which says that anyone who believes in a two-state solution in the middle east is a "racist". But what about John Swinney & the SNP? Are they still happy to be pals with the Greens? thetimes.com/uk/scotland/art…

If Burnham can distance himself from the Greens, will Swinney?

Embracing politicians who brand Zionism racist reveals how far Scottish nationalism is willing to compromise for its independence cause

thetimes.com
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Sam Taylor retweeted
Sam Taylor@staylorishOct 21
1/ Tim Rideout, speaking at last weekend’s @SSRG2021 conference, shakily acknowledges that a Scottish currency might well depreciate against sterling. But he then makes a purely fantastical claim: that half of Scotland’s exports go to the EU, and not to rUK.
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Well that would be bloody stupid.
Pippa Crerar
@PippaCrerarOct 21
NEW: Miatta Fahnbulleh is leaning towards rejecting the giant Rosebank oilfield in what would be a blow for the North Sea energy industry and a major victory for climate campaigners. Story by @kiranstacey theguardian.com/environment/…

Energy secretary leaning towards rejecting Rosebank oilfield

Exclusive: Officials say Miatta Fahnbulleh minded not to give approval in victory for climate campaigners

theguardian.com
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Sam Taylor retweeted
Sam Taylor@staylorishOct 21
Reminder: Kate Forbes, allegedly the pro-business, pro-growth, voice of reason in the last SNP government, refused to support consenting Jackdaw when asked a straightforward question about it in February 2025.
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