Blair Bowman @mrblairbowman Twitter profile | Pikagi

Pikagi

Blair Bowman

@mrblairbowman

13,547

Followers

9,073

Following

5,344

Media

21,616

Statuses

Whisky Consultant & Broker | Icons of Whisky 2022 | Spear's 500 Recommended Whisky Advisor | No #3 - Top 100 Most Influential People in Drinks 2023 | GlobalScot

Edinburgh, Scotland

https://t.co/Db8y6WInfS

Joined January 2009

Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.

Pinned Tweet

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Today, I am thrilled, excited, and immensely proud to share that I have been selected as the #3 most influential person in the drinks industry by a distinguished panel of judges in the Drinks Retailing Top 100 Most Influential People 2023. I can't quite believe it.

Tweet media one

55

7

218

Last Seen Profiles

@Drewmcinty60167

@baigaaiga

@Bonigo_xyz

@_kuwanaM

@SamsungUK

@SFN252

@KuzaSME

@JosHill75

@akil01818786

@Jed_se

@alburteugene

@Bokep46277194

@cukienaknikmati

@auverora

@MaxInMontana

@skunkpott

@bokeplokalmalam

@manvel_theatre

@2_tha_oils

@HardenRoger

@gokutrash

@Jaco_1979

@AgbaneloUc69742

@NWSPendleton

@myas_cos

@DimmadomeCrypto

@Martin_RGB

@BerryTarte03

@kimoire_

@Karanjakibicho

@bone_lick

@bokeplokalmalam

@Rin_TaJi102

@7_UxU_r

@MaxxCreatives

@mireille_44gg

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

Surely no one living in Scotland would want take advantage of such a gaping loophole like this to effectively redeem an infinite number of 20p deposits.

331

973

7K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

9 months

I’m alarmed by the growing hostility towards those earning over £43k in Scotland. Calling it 'grotesque' and portraying higher earners as villains discourages any kind aspiration and also unfairly demonises hard working higher earners in Scotland.

427

322

4K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

We did it. Well done to everyone who stood up to this total farce of a DRS. Common sense has prevailed. What a monumental waste of time, resource and money.

Tweet media one

256

266

2K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Over the last few weeks I’ve experienced a dramatic increase in Twitter abuse for calling out @lornaslater 's shambolic Deposit Return Scheme, but I'll carry on regardless. The DRS must be halted.

131

211

2K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

The obvious irony here is that King Charles has done more to protect the planet and our environment than anything the Scottish Greens have ever done.

@scottishgreens

Scottish Greens

@scottishgreens

1 year

We need to talk about the monarchy. 👑 With a new King on the throne, this is exactly the time to question and challenge the system of hereditary privilege and build a proper democracy. #AbolishTheMonarchy

2K

402

1K

214

202

2K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

Hi @lornaslater , I’d recommend you watch this video from Michael Bergson (Owner of Buck’s Bar in Glasgow) that clearly explains the multiple issues with DRS from a hospitality perspective.

98

558

2K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

What a farce. Only 48 hours until deadline for producers @lornaslater has just said on BBC that giving small producers a one year delay “is absolutely something we are actively considering”. Total shambles. We deserve better than this incompetence.

179

389

1K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Good morning @lornaslater - have you seen the news this morning? Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Asda and Waitrose have all said DRS must be delayed. You’ve ignored 1000s of SMEs calling for a delay but you can’t ignore the supermarkets. Your DRS is untenable.

Tweet media one

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

Hi @lornaslater did you see this yet? That’s the UK’s biggest supermarket @Tesco saying that your DRS needs delayed in order to create an integrated UK-wide DRS. It’s “not fit for purpose, and worse, it risks driving up prices and undermining consumer confidence".

Tweet media one

42

254

677

93

421

1K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

🚨BREAKING 🚨: @HumzaYousaf has delayed Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme until 2024.

205

187

1K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

Oh dear. @lornaslater is in a lot of trouble. The House of Lords are extremely upset by all the DRS chaos.

162

329

1K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

I am gravely concerned about the handling of the Deposit Return Scheme by Minister for the Circular Economy Lorna Slater. The fact that Minister Slater is still in post is an insult to the people of Scotland.

74

225

1K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Only in the bizarre world of Scottish politics could a minister cause monumental damage to businesses across Scotland, untold amounts of chaos and stress, not to mention eye-wateringly expensive wasted resources, and still remain in post. It's truly unfathomable.

82

237

1K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Hear me out: how about a system where you separate your waste into different bins for different materials, and your local authority collects and recycles it for you every fortnight from outside your front door. It could be funded by your council tax. Might just work...

171

164

1K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

5 months

The claim by @patrickharvie that Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme was ‘deliberately sabotaged’ by Westminster is a complete fallacy.

99

179

1K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Earlier today live on BBC Lorna Slater lied when she said that “95% of the producers signed up in March”. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Only 15% signed up and did so under duress. I will give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she misread her script.

145

395

1K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Hey Siri, show me a video of someone being caught out live on TV for trying to blame someone else for a mess that is entirely their fault.

47

238

1K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Yes. Next question.

Tweet card media

Is Lorna Slater the worst minister in Scotland?

Humza Yousaf’s regime is not exactly a government of all the talents. There’s Patrick Harvie, the Zero Carbons minister, whose list of achievements is shorter than his fuse. There’s Shona Robison,...

www.spectator.co.uk

133

119

1K

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Hi @scottishgreens let me remind you that according to @lornaslater over £300 million has already been spent on your unworkable Deposit Return Scheme.

@scottishgreens

Scottish Greens

@scottishgreens

1 year

💰The coronation will cost £100 million. During a cost of living crisis, record foodbank use, sky high energy and food prices, climate and nature emergencies. 👉

266

96

268

39

238

973

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

9 months

This is absolutely bonkers. We are already the highest taxed part of UK and ScotGovt want to increase that ever further. Thanks, ScotGovt, for mismanaging our money on your vanity projects while we, the taxpayers, pick up the tab for your incompetence.

@faisalislam

Faisal Islam

9 months

Scotland’s new 6-band income tax system… just announced by Scottish finance minister Robison starter rate, basic rate, intermediate rate, higher rate top rate… the 45p rate starts at £75k in Scotland (45p rate elsewhere in kicks in at £125k). Divergence.

Tweet media one

97

95

289

97

173

944

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

5 months

Dear @scottishgreens , I think I speak for everyone when I say: For goodness' sake, end the Bute House Agreement and leave us alone. Yours sincerely, Everyone

29

96

965

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

A message for @lornaslater : You may think that this week has been “excellent good news” for your Deposit Return Scheme but you are mistaken. The damage and chaos you have caused to businesses in recent weeks and months is unforgivable. 1/8

25

196

929

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

The vile abuse I've started receiving from DRS Whatabouterists on Twitter is completely incongruous to the situation. All I have done is call out that the proposed DRS is unworkable for businesses across Scotland, especially SMEs. It’s bizarre how much this upsets some people.

159

105

921

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

In the last few days I’ve been contacted by: -A brewer that has been made redundant because of DRS. -A small distillery that has let their team go and is starting winding up process because of DRS. The damage has started @lornaslater . A DRS that ruins business is unacceptable.

52

297

908

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Breaking: Abdul Majid MBE, has won his judicial review case against Circularity Scotland Limited (CSL) “The Court of Session has held that the way that Scot Govt and CSL had set up the DRS was unlawful and did not comply with the regulations made by the Scottish Parliament”

Tweet media one

70

353

899

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

5 months

Fergus Ewing asks: “why a newbie MSP with no Ministerial experience was placed in charge of a hellishly complex scheme with a net cost over 25 years of £1.8billion?”

Tweet card media

Fergus Ewing blames Greens for £55m Biffa claim... and warns more may follow

EXCLUSIVE: The SNP backbencher asks 'why a newbie MSP with no Ministerial experience was placed in charge of a hellishly complex scheme with a net cost over 25 years of £1.8billion'

www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk

41

226

911

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

How to ruin the whisky industry in three self-sabotaging steps: 1) Forcibly implement an unworkable Deposit Return Scheme. 2) Propose the banning of all alcohol advertising. 3) Propose the banning of all peat use.

50

218

887

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

The amount of devolution whataboutery from Lorna Slater is insufferable. She is making the Deposit Return Scheme into a political grievance, all while people's livelihoods are literally being destroyed by her incompetence. It never needed to be this way if she had listened.

100

165

876

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Just what we need during a cost of living crisis. New Zealand’s new prime minister has halted their DRS roll out for exactly this reason. It’s about time you do the same @lornaslater .

Tweet card media

Drinks prices in Scotland could rise by a third under ScotGov return scheme

Beer, water and fizzy juice will soar in cost due to the Deposit Return Scheme, the Sunday Mail has learned.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

36

288

833

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

7 months

Only in Scotland could a politician be suspended for literally doing their job. While the Minister responsible for wasting +£100m on unworkable DRS, causing unforgivable chaos remains in post, hasn’t issued an apology to businesses and blames Westminster for her own incompetence.

15

194

820

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Be in no doubt that the delay has nothing to do with UK Govt and everything to do with the fact that Scot Govt ignored the businesses saying the proposed DRS was simply unworkable. Spin it how you like @HumzaYousaf but this mess was entirely made by @lornaslater & the DRS cabal

@HumzaYousaf

Humza Yousaf

1 year

Today's decision to delay Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme to align with a UK scheme is a direct result of the UK Govt's deliberate efforts to undermine devolution. Be in no doubt, UK Govt has sought to deliberately sabotage DRS to override the will of the Scottish Parliament.

1K

832

3K

81

216

794

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

5 months

What I'd really like right now is a govt that is boring— a boring FM and boring party who just show up and quietly keep things running. This would allow everyone else to go about their lives without govt interfering in businesses and personal matters. Is that too much to ask?

62

87

809

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Drive 350 miles to plant a tree? Nice work @lornaslater ! That’ll help save the planet.

Tweet card media

Revealed: Green Minister’s 350-mile eco trip... in a chauffeur-driven…

archived 14 May 2023 07:53:32 UTC

70

256

775

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

5 months

An obvious irony is that King Charles has done more to protect the planet and our environment than anything the Scottish Greens have achieved.

47

79

802

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Unlike Lorna Slater, Fergus Ewing has spent years engaging and listening to businesses impacted by the DRS. Fergus knows and understands all the details and subtleties of DRS. Lorna knows nothing about business or the real world implications and challenges created by her DRS.

25

145

773

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Speaking earlier today to BBC @ScotSecofState said: “I haven’t had a single letter from a business supporting the proposed scheme that Lorna Slater brought forward. Whereas I have had over one thousand letters of concern.”

112

210

754

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

. @Lornaslater on @BBCRadioScot just said that they estimate £300m has been invested in her now delayed and still unworkable DRS. What a shambles.

97

166

753

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

“A large part of that problem stems from the obsession with doing things differently rather than competently.”

Tweet card media

How much damage will Green chancers do before they’re called out? – Brian Wilson

What did Scotland do to deserve Lorna Slater? It certainly didn’t vote for her. Ms Slater is an accident who emerged through Andy Wightman walking out on the Scottish Greens and leaving a vacancy at...

www.scotsman.com

42

143

747

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

I’m sure this ‘idea’ by @lornaslater to offer a DIY DRS label is something that organised crime groups would never look to exploit or take advantage of. The minister is making this up as she goes along and it’s beyond a joke now. This needs to stop.

Tweet card media

Shoppers asked to manually put stickers on some bottles to claim 20p deposit back

Shoppers will have to stick labels on some bottles themselves to claim back their 20p under the Scottish Government’s Deposit Return Scheme.

www.sundaypost.com

72

211

726

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Breaking: Open Letter to Fergus Ewing:

Tweet media one

21

226

722

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

BREAKING: Lorna Slater chooses to pick a fight with Westminster rather than accept the reality that her DRS is still fundamentally unworkable.

93

119

724

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

£300m wasted on DRS. Immeasurable amounts of time and resources wasted by businesses during the hardest economic times in recent memory. 60 jobs lost at CSL. All because the government minister in charge refused to listen and work with businesses.

50

179

710

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

Hi @lornaslater did you see this yet? That’s the UK’s biggest supermarket @Tesco saying that your DRS needs delayed in order to create an integrated UK-wide DRS. It’s “not fit for purpose, and worse, it risks driving up prices and undermining consumer confidence".

Tweet media one

42

254

677

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

Shout out to the so-called 'whisky cask investment company' that just posted this absolute clanger!

Tweet media one

71

40

681

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Breaking: VONC against Lorna Slater

Conservative MSPs file motion of no confidence against Lorna Slater

Slater recently came under fire as the MSP responsible for Scotland’s deposit return scheme (DRS).

64

129

660

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

“David Harris, CEO of Circularity Scotland, is receiving an annual salary of £300,000” No wonder he is so desperate to make sure DRS isn’t halted. Businesses are folding and the directors of CSL are profiting from a DRS monopoly. This is unacceptable.

Tweet media one

70

339

657

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

One time I arranged a bridging loan on behalf the entire population of Scotland as part of a £2billion finance package but when giving evidence to a parliamentary committee couldn’t give details of the actual rate of interest for the loan.

Tweet media one

6

151

657

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Even @CocaCola_GB have said that: “…if Scotland introduces a DRS ahead of the rest of Great Britain, there will be unnecessary burdens and costs for businesses who will have to run separate systems for Scotland and England and Wales.”

Coca-Cola pushed Scottish Government to delay deposit return recycling scheme

COCA Cola pushed the Scottish Government to delay the introduction of its deposit return scheme citing “increased prices” and fears of “cross border fraud”, we can reveal. Shoppers will be charged …

www.thescottishsun.co.uk

58

210

644

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Unbelievable. So businesses won’t be offered compensation because the scheme will be going live in 2025. You couldn’t make it up. Ridiculous.

178

153

643

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

If Lorna Slater has any integrity, she would: 1. Accept that her DRS mess is entirely because of her inability to listen. 2. Pull the plug on her DRS and accept that UK-wide DRS is the only sane and logical choice. 3. Apologise to businesses for the chaos she has caused.

133

148

649

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

5 months

Fergus Ewing deserves an apology.

@holyroodmandy

mandy rhodes

5 months

Fergus Ewing was suspended from the SNP just for voting in support of a 'no confidence' motion in the Green minister and now the FM has sacked the Green minister...

45

427

1K

11

90

646

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Imagine if VONC in Lorna Slater had taken place after the DRS Gateway Review had been published and today's Judicial Review. The fact that no one is being held accountable for the DRS farce is extremely insulting to businesses. Spoiler: Lorna Slater is responsible for this mess

26

154

636

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

11 months

Lorna Slater, a government minister, doesn't have a government phone. Sorry, what??

@HRwritesnews

Hannah Rodger

11 months

How is this possible - Lorna Slater just said she ‘does not have a government phone’ and all gov business she does is done on official channels. She does not use her phone for government business. So if a spad, civil servant, other minister needs to call her they cannot? What?

178

151

764

191

146

631

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

5 months

This comment from Lorna Slater about the Deposit Return Scheme being axed by Westminster is completely and utterly false. The repeated narrative that the UK government is to blame is not true, no matter how many times she (and others) repeat it.

@bbcdebatenight

BBC Debate Night

@bbcdebatenight

5 months

“We have to re-establish that consensus on climate. Climate is not a niche issue” Scottish Greens’ @lornaslater defends bottle return scheme and says it is difficult to advance policy on climate change when other parties are “backing away” #bbcdn

55

14

62

60

145

639

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

This was inevitable. Remember the German DRS has only 11 staff. CSL had 53 staff (according to LinkedIn) and plans to increase staff in run up to what would’ve been an aborted launch in March. Not to mention a CEO on £300k. What a total mess this whole thing has been.

@BBCScotlandNews

BBC Scotland News

@BBCScotlandNews

1 year

BREAKING: Bottle return scheme firm 'on brink of collapse'

272

139

483

46

164

627

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

BREAKING: Only 664 producers of an expected 4500 have signed the @Circ_Scotland producers agreement.

58

174

629

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

[ @lornaslater visits a Domino’s Pizza] - I’m here to collect my pizza. - You’ve not placed an order for a pizza. - I actually mentioned in July 2021 that I was going to be placing an order for a pizza. - Ok, but you didn’t place an order. Would you like to order a pizza?

23

99

611

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

13th Feb: @lornaslater says that they have been working with UK Govt to get UKIMA exemption. 22nd Feb: @ScotSecofState says no request has been been made. So which one is it?

89

230

596

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

If @lornaslater is removed from her ministerial post next week she will be entitled to receive 25% of her salary as a “resettlement grant”. This seems entirely unjustified for such an incompetent performance in her role as a minister and a complete waste of tax payers’ money.

53

83

600

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

Hi @lornaslater - can you please explain how ordering 200 new @Biffa trucks for DRS is “green”? There is absolutely nothing “green” about your DRS scheme it is a total sham.

Tweet card media

Flagship Government recycling scheme will put 200 gas guzzlers on roads

A flagship Scottish Government environment-saving recycling scheme will lead to 200 extra gas-guzzling vans on the country’s roads.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

24

178

590

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Hi @lornaslater , businesses need clarity and answers on your Deposit Return Scheme. Are SMEs excluded? Is it being delayed? As you’ve said yourself there has been ‘plenty of time to prepare’. So why don’t you have any answers? Let me remind you how things currently stand…🧵

29

166

590

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

What's the point of introducing a Deposit Return Scheme for glass when there are literally hundreds of glass recycling points already? It’s almost as if @scottishgreens are trying to make our lives more complicated.

Tweet media one

82

127

580

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

I can not stress enough how grateful I am to @FergusEwingSNP for continuing to standup for all businesses in Scotland severely impacted by DRS.

23

88

565

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Breaking: Statement from @FergusEwingSNP

Tweet media one

38

137

561

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

Dear @LornaSlater , the proposed DRS has many flaws it will be: worse for the environment, limit consumer choice, increase costs & jeopardise Scottish jobs. We urge you to pause and revise the scheme with input from the 'real industry'. Let's ensure this DRS works for everyone.

Tweet media one

45

135

550

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

11 months

One year ago today, I sent an Open Letter to @lornaslater , signed by over 500 business leaders, demanding an immediate halt and revision of her ill-conceived Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). A 🧵…

19

107

550

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Fergus Ewing speaking the truth. Succinct and accurate as always. Fergus gets why the proposed DRS is a mess. It’s such a shame his party colleagues are stubbornly refusing to accept the reality that it is unworkable.

45

155

546

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

This is pretty damning stuff. @britglass have been repeatedly denied any meetings with @lornaslater or officials to discuss DRS since January 2020. The last contact from @Circ_Scotland was in August 2021. Furthermore…cont.

Tweet media one

24

254

537

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

This point of order from @RealStephenKerr pretty much sums up everything wrong with DRS and why it’s turned into such a mess thanks to @lornaslater ’s inability to answer legitimate questions and concerns.

26

113

538

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

“11 per cent more carbon savings will be delivered by keeping glass at kerbside in comparison to DRS.” There is nothing green about the proposed DRS, @scottishgreens . Stop misleading the public into thinking it is green.

Tweet media one

79

206

532

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

You may think this is all a big joke @lornaslater but let me assure you that there is absolutely nothing funny about the situation you have created. Your DRS will ruin businesses in Scotland. Your DRS will cause more CO2. Your DRS will only exist to create profit for CSL/Biffa

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

“…if we continue with this scheme we will face Armageddon, Armageddon!”

64

45

198

67

159

527

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Ridiculous DRS Fact of the Day: Scotland's deposit return scheme administrator, Circularity Scotland Ltd, has 53 employees and plans to increase staff despite not launching until March 1, 2024 (if it ever does launch). Germany's DRS scheme administrator has only 11 staff.

63

190

524

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

8 months

Over £70m owed to companies due to the collapse of DRS and Circularity Scotland Ltd. Yet, Lorna Slater remains Minister. How can she still be in office after such a disastrous and farcical handling of DRS?

Companies to lose millions on Scotland’s failed recycling scheme

archived 31 Jan 2024 03:39:09 UTC

22

180

530

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

6 months

We already have a glass recycling system in Scotland. It’s called…[wait for it]…glass recycling. You should look it up, @markruskell , it’s readily available in all local authorities, right outside your front door.

@markruskell

Mark Ruskell

6 months

Another reason why including glass in Scotland’s #DRS made perfect sense but was blocked by UKG and the 🥃🥃industry

105

45

157

36

85

522

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Let's be clear, if you're the kind of person who needs a 20p 'reward' for not littering in your community, there must be something seriously wrong with you. The Scottish DRS won't magically solve our litter problem. Let's hit pause and focus on real solutions that actually work.

33

71

521

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Alister Jack @ScotSecofState making it very clear that until there have been “proper grown up impact assessments done” there is no way he will be able to grant UKIMA exemption to @lornaslater ’s unworkable Deposit Return Scheme.

53

108

514

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

It was absolutely appalling of @lornaslater to accuse @ScotSecofState of lying not just once but three times during her ministerial statement on DRS last week. However it turns out that she only actually asked for the necessary UKIMA exemption TODAY!

Tweet media one

36

176

505

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Three things you need to know about the proposed Scottish Deposit Return Scheme: (Don’t get misinformed by people who don’t know what they are talking about or have a vested interest in DRS and will gain financially from it) A thread 🧵…

36

211

501

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

9 months

Hi @ShonaRobison - quick question, have you ever heard of the Laffer Curve?

Tweet media one

63

85

498

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

11 months

Lorna Slater's Circular Economy is working so well, it's already managed to lose the Scottish National Investment Bank £8 million! Keep up the good work, Lorna! We're so lucky to have such a brilliant and visionary government minister.

@mrdavidbol

David Bol

11 months

The CEO of the Scottish National Investment Bank has admitted it is likely the state-run bank will lose £8m of the £9m it invested in Circularity Scotland, which went into administration when the deposit return scheme fell apart.

15

39

46

38

138

493

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

David Harris has had over 74 directorships. 38 of these in companies that have been dissolved. He currently has 7 active directorships and at least 3 of these are in plastics companies.

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

“David Harris, CEO of Circularity Scotland, is receiving an annual salary of £300,000” No wonder he is so desperate to make sure DRS isn’t halted. Businesses are folding and the directors of CSL are profiting from a DRS monopoly. This is unacceptable.

Tweet media one

70

339

657

47

305

486

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

I always find it interesting when a tweet about DRS blows up and receives more likes than the number of votes @lornaslater received when she was elected.

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Over the last few weeks I’ve experienced a dramatic increase in Twitter abuse for calling out @lornaslater 's shambolic Deposit Return Scheme, but I'll carry on regardless. The DRS must be halted.

131

211

2K

20

67

491

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Very good to hear @ScotSecofState set out the obvious reasons why DRS needs to be UK wide and exclude glass.

104

134

486

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

If @HumzaYousaf is "annoyed as well as upset," I can't begin to imagine how "annoyed as well as upset" business owners across Scotland are feeling right now. It was clear from the outset that it was totally unworkable and their concerns were ignored.

Tweet card media

Yousaf warning on deposit return scheme deadline day

The first minister said he would struggle to see how the scheme could go ahead without glass.

60

113

482

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

5 months

Hi @johnnydundee , I'm sorry to be the one to break this to you, but the failure of the Scottish DRS to launch was entirely due to Lorna Slater's incompetence. It had—and I can't stress this enough—nothing to do with Westminster.

@JohnnyDundee

Johnny

5 months

Hi @STVNews The Scottish Government's bottle deposit scheme failed because the UK Government blocked it.

85

175

618

14

58

487

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

4 months

Hi @KevinStewartSNP , it's been a while since we were last in touch but I'm afraid this narrative of UKG blocking DRS simply isn't true. Furthermore, the Irish DRS is full of significant issues. Ireland sells 5m drinks containers per day, so 2m returns is far from successful.

@KevinStewartSNP

Kevin Stewart SNP

@KevinStewartSNP

4 months

Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme collected over 2 million drinks containers in its first month. Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme was blocked by Westminster. Westminster isn’t working for Scotland. #VoteSNP #Independence 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Tweet media one

0

337

568

61

104

458

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

So the “test” RVM in Orkney is refusing to accept bottles now it seems. We better all start getting used to wasting huge amounts of time with broken down RVMs. You can replicate this at home by placing a glass bottle in and out of kerbside bin 5 times.

56

149

442

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

Look what you’ve done @lornaslater .

@RhythmBrewsUK

Rhythm & Brews

2 years

First time I've seen "Not for sale in Scotland" on a beer label. Presumably this brewery has already decided it's not going to sign up to Scotland's incoming Deposit Return Scheme, and therefore won't be able to sell their beers up there.

Tweet media one

47

192

433

27

134

446

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

Good morning, UK Govt confirm they will block DRS.

Tweet media one

Tweet media two

Tweet media three

34

50

432

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

If you’ve followed this Deposit Return Scheme nightmare for the last few months and have even a slight interest you may wish to keep a close eye on the news today…

31

62

442

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

7 months

This is absolutely ridiculous. If anyone should be getting suspended it’s Lorna Slater for her Disaster Return Shambles. Fergus Ewing listened to businesses concerns. Lorna Slater did not. Fergus Ewing understood DRS and its implications for businesses. Lorna Slater did not.

@holyroodmandy

mandy rhodes

7 months

@theSNP has upheld its decision to suspend @FergusEwingSNP who voted against the party whip in a vote of no confidence in Green minister Lorna Slater re: the now abandoned DRS.

12

20

39

19

109

446

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Just imagine, by this time on Monday, DRS may have finally died and we can all go back to enjoying our lives again. I can't wait to spend my time doing something else. I had no idea it would turn into a six-month nightmare. It will be a glorious day when DRS is finally trashed!

56

48

433

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

Just so we are clear. @NicolaSturgeon is asking for an exemption to something that she hasn’t actually asked for yet. @ScotSecofState can’t respond until the request is actually put forward. So until @NicolaSturgeon or @lornaslater actually put in the request we are in limbo.

Tweet media one

Tweet media two

30

135

416

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Quite fascinating to see several conspiracy theories getting flung around that I am a “puppet” or that I am being “paid by the drinks industry”. These accusations are totally false and based purely on speculation. I’ve clearly upset some people by calling out the chaotic DRS.

50

47

417

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

New FOI minutes from meeting with Humza Yousaf, Lorna Slater and DRS stakeholders published. The comments from the stakeholders call into question the "it's all Westminster's fault" angle that both Humza and Lorna used repeatedly. This meeting was on the day DRS was halted.

Tweet media one

Tweet media two

Tweet media three

Tweet media four

16

157

410

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

Today, 16th August 2023, was supposed to be the day that the Deposit Return Scheme went live in Scotland. Thank goodness common sense prevailed.

24

45

416

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

Imagine if a business hired someone with very little experience and immediately put them in charge of a project worth £billions. No business would do this. Yet somehow, @lornaslater has ended up running DRS which will have enormous and long lasting consequences when it fails.

16

89

412

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

9 months

Hey Siri: show me how a country can instantly disincentivise any type of growth or entrepreneurship.

@PJTheEconomist

Paul Johnson

@PJTheEconomist

9 months

Scots earning between £100k and £125k will now face a marginal tax rate of 69.5%.

71

129

474

37

62

405

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

1 year

It's bizarre that some DRS Whatabouterists on Twitter are claiming I am solely responsible for the job losses at CSL. Lorna Slater hoisted them by their own petard. It was always obvious to anyone with an IQ above room temperature.

26

47

403

@mrblairbowman

Blair Bowman

2 years

Breaking: @_KateForbes confirms she would scrap both DRS and Alcohol Advertising Ban proposals if selected as next FM.

@Georgia_Edkins

Georgia Edkins

@Georgia_Edkins

2 years

Kate Forbes says she will take Nicola Sturgeon and Lorna Slater’s embattled DRS back to the drawing board - only in tomorrow’s Scottish MoS #tomorrowspaperstoday

Tweet media one

11

23

60

32

72

405