Matthew Ball

Relentlessly political social researcher. Currently exploring how AI can enhance research methods.

[Matthew Ball @MattyBall93]

Scotland faces two futures...

Yes:
🇪🇺🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇸🇵🇹🇩🇪🇱🇺🇮🇪🇨🇾🇨🇿🇮🇹🇬🇷🇦🇹🇫🇮🇭🇷🇧🇬🇫🇷🇭🇺🇱🇻🇸🇮🇷🇴🇸🇰🇩🇰🇪🇪🇧🇪🇱🇹🇲🇹🇳🇱🇵🇱🇸🇪🇪🇺

OR

No:
🇬🇧

#itstime #indyref2 @YesScot

[Matthew Ball @MattyBall93]

Now is not the time for an independent Scottish Labour party. Voters want the party to focus on the real issues they are facing.

[The Daily Record @Daily_Record]

Leaked document from Scottish Labour election defeat shows plans to review links with UK party

https://t.co/wWuZyGFFbh
https://t.co/wWuZyGFFbh

[Representing Border @ITVBorderRB]

First Minister @JohnSwinney says 'some' SNP donors have asked for their money back. He says he can't say how many, but all 'requests have been fulfilled'

It's after we reported @theSNP will pursue its former chief executive Peter Murrell for cash he stole from the party.

[Colin Mackay @STVColin]

The SNP has begun a civil action against Peter Murrell and is applying for compensation under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The party’s NEC agreed last night to “begin court action to recover the money that has been stolen” John Swinney says in an email to SNP members

[John Swinney @JohnSwinney]

A strong economy is key to everything I want to achieve as First Minister.

We will make our planning system work better, expand apprenticeships and devolve powers to Regional Partnerships, helping to create more jobs.

Good to address the @ProsperScot Annual Forum today.

[Andrew Quinn @AndrewJQuinn97]

Exclusive: The SNP candidate for Aberdeen South has backed the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields.

Richard Thomson said "it makes no sense" to import oil and gas "when we could produce it at a lower environmental cost" from the North Sea.

https://t.co/KuB2bfYh5T

[Kieran Andrews @KieranPAndrews]

EXC: SNP will pursue Peter Murrell for money he stole from the party

National Executive Committee last night agreed to a proposal by First Minister John Swinney to launch compensation order to try and recoup cash from Crown Office, which has proceeds of crime seizure underway

[Paris Gourtsoyannis @PGourtsoyannis]

“You probably don’t realise quite how influential you’ve been in this whole improbable journey”

Douglas Alexander to Peter Mandelson, days after returning to Westminster & government https://t.co/sLmEesMXGz

[Andrew Quinn @AndrewJQuinn97]

Former Scottish Secretary Ian Murray told Peter Mandelson when he was made US ambassador: "Congratulations your excellency. What a wonderful appointment"

[Ben Zaranko @BenZaranko]

This chart is bonkers.

I think there's two possible explanations for why the UK runs so far ahead of other European countries – neither of them good. And the annual April jump speaks to a wider issue. For more detail, see my column in this weekend's Observer (link below).

[Matthew Ball @MattyBall93]

I also despise how parties have to try to game system too by not putting too many or too few candidates on. Just horribly complicated for all.

[Matthew Ball @MattyBall93]

I personally hate open list voting.

In a context of perfect voter knowledge of candidates it would be great. However, that is a fantasy.

Even I as a political nerd go into local council elections randomly putting my numbers against candidates of the same party. Imagine others.

[Matthew Ball @MattyBall93]

I personally hate open list voting.

In a context of perfect voter knowledge of candidates it would be great. However, that is a fantasy.

Even I as a political nerd go into local council elections randomly putting my numbers against candidates of the same party. Imagine others.

[Gerry Hassan @GerryHassan]

Scotland needs a debate after seven Scot Parl elections about moving to a better & more proportional electoral system. Ditching the discredited FPTP & getting rid of closed list regional voting.
https://t.co/MkcbkUol4K

[Brilliant Maps @BrilliantMaps]

Population of Scotland Visualized

Each square represents 0.1% of the county's population with the 8 biggest cities in a lighter color.

Credit: u/AidanSmeaton

Maps for other countries: https://t.co/tfRCcXxGWu

[Usman Akhtar 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @usmanakhtar00]

would it not be odd for there to be a holyrood or westminster inquiry into internal snp mismanagement

[Politics UK @PolitlcsUK]

🚨 NEW: Statistics from the Government's youth unemployment report:

- Mid- and lower-skilled jobs have fallen by around 1.6 million over the past 20 years

- Hospitality vacancies have nearly halved in the last 4 years

- Apprenticeships for 16-24-year-olds have fallen by 35% since the Apprenticeship Levy was introduced in 2017

- The proportion of 16-17-year-olds in paid work has nearly halved from 35% in 2006 to 19% today

- If every current inactive 18-24-year-old was in full-time work, this would contribute an additional £38 billion to UK GDP

- 58% of inactive young people (6 in 10) have never had a job

- Nearly half of all PIP claims among young people are now for autism and ADHD, compared to less than 1 in 10 among all PIP claimants

- 7 in 10 young people claiming a health and disability benefit are still claiming 10 years later

- Of those who first claim aged 16-24, 53% are still not in work after 5 years - dropping to just 48% after 15 years

- The number of 16-24-year-olds receiving DLA or PIP has risen from around 200,000 in 2012 to over 400,000 today, and is projected to reach 700,000 by 2031/32

[Alasdair Clark @alasdair_clark]

Murray Foote, the man who succeeded Peter Murrell as SNP chief executive, has written for @thecourieruk about the £400,000 embezzlement https://t.co/daFOz7X0Us

[The Reid Foundation @ReidFoundation]

Net-zero-related industries supporting more than 105,000 jobs in Scotland and contributing £10.2bn to the economy, according to industry research.
CBI calculates the green sector represents 4.9% of total output - more than double that of agriculture. https://t.co/2mLeRjUich

[Matthew Ball @MattyBall93]

Glad we are talking more about increasing housing supply in Scotland, not just demand side solutions

[First Minister @ScotGovFM]

We promised to support first time buyers and we will deliver.

First Minister @JohnSwinney and Social Justice and Housing Secretary @S_A_Somerville visited a housing development in East Lothian, where they saw progress underway to increase housing supply.

[Matthew Ball @MattyBall93]

Can we not also liquidate the Murrell estate to partially compensate the losses from this theft?

[Alasdair Clark @alasdair_clark]

EXCLSUIVE: Humza Yousaf says he hopes Peter Murrell gets a "hefty" prison sentence https://t.co/sKRKCb7yyP

[The SNP @theSNP]

Scotland has what it takes.

Countries like Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Ireland show what can happen when nations make their own choices: stronger economies, fairer societies and happier people.

Independence is Scotland’s chance to lower bills, protect our NHS, and put our future where it belongs: in Scotland’s hands.