Sign in

Simon Holledge

@holledge.bsky.social
257 followers 326 following 433 posts

Conservationist | Hoffmannist | Scaligero | Tōfuist | Kyotophile | Internationalist | 36 operahouses/48 countries | 老霍 | Born@310 ppm | 🦋🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺🇯🇵🇨🇳🇭🇰 + 🇬🇱 | Pro devolved & empowered local democracy |

PostsRepliesMedia
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 2h
MARINA HYDE: "The latex Osama [bin Laden] was carrying a toy AK-47...I’d propped him against the door of the [ French] embassy to get the picture, it swung open and I was pulled inside...Things escalated fast...the incident was attended by 10 police squad cars..." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
It's true: this is my final column. You have exactly 24 hours to complain before my inbox self-destructs | Marina Hyde
Yes, after 25 years I’m signing off, and I’ve cherished every moment – especially storming the French embassy with a (toy) AK-47, says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde
110
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Mr and Mrs Trellis @thenorfolkcoast.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Ofcom rules say broadcasters cannot use politicians as newsreaders, interviewers or reporters in any news programmes. Demand that Ofcom takes immediate action.. bestforbritain.org/petition/far...
bestforbritain.org
Farage on GB News: Demand that Ofcom takes immediate action - Best for Britain
These cookies are needed for the website to work properly.
19404199
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
LIB-DEMs: Edinburgh boring? Prefer Rio’s COPACABANA Beach? LIB-DEMS to the rescue! Yes — with R Murphy’s help — they can turn Princes Street into COPACABANA, concreting, sorry ‘mosaicing’, a long slice of gardens for your samba party. That is what you wanted, right? @scotlibdems.org.uk
‘Focus on Edinburgh City Centre’, Summer 2026 From your local Lib Dem team and Charles Dundas.Copacabana Beach with Portuguese pavement, Rio de Janeiro
Photo: Mteixeira62, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
000
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
BBC: "The more cuts the BBC makes, the more its services suffer. This makes it more difficult for the broadcaster to justify public spending, which in turn leads to further cuts. The BBC is at risk of entering an inescapable doom spiral." www.theguardian.com/media/2026/s...
theguardian.com
BBC ‘risks entering inescapable doom spiral’ as further cuts hit TV and radio
Warning from union comes as corporation cuts local specialist correspondent roles as part of plan to save £500m
031
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Andy Wightman @andywightman.scot · 23/09/2026
In March 2000, John MacLeod announced that he was selling the Cuillin. 1/5
3711
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Layla Moran MP 🔶🕊️ @laylamoran.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
It is disappointing that the Government have broken their pledge to seek legal advice towards recognising a genocide of Uyghur Muslims in China. I urge the Government to honour this commitment and waste no time in raising concerns over human rights abuses. www.politicshome.com/news/article...
03811
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Osbert Lancaster @osbert.org · 22/09/2026
Connecting changemakers to explore what's happening and discuss what's next! Please join us and invite your networks! @greenspacetrust.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social @caltonhill.bsky.social @scotlink.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social events.humanitix.com/what-if-edin...
events.humanitix.com
What if Edinburgh was designed for wildlife as well as people?
A networking discussion for changemakers working for environmental and social change: exploring how we can respond in the climate, nature and human crisis.
145
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 22/09/2026
YouGov’s latest poll shows that 628 constituencies want to rejoin the EU. Only 4 don't. It’s time to talk about EU membership. bestforbritain.org/uk-membership-mo…
45880303
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Imagine buying a WHOLE state like it's a garage sale item. This is NOT a fake news." denmarkification.com?utm=.share.b...
denmarkification.com
Help Denmark Buy California – Because Why Not?
Buy it from Trump, the bigliest crowdfunding ever
011
Reposted by Simon Holledge
evacide @evacide.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Inside you are two wolves: one wishes to write a quick snarky headline and the other chimes in with "actually, it's much more nuanced than that" and begins to write a 2000-word blog post.
812816
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
"AI’s applications enhance productivity across both high-carbon and low-carbon energy supply pathways simultaneously. Whether AI enables more emissions than it avoids depends on the global balance between these competing pathways." www.nature.com/articles/s44...
nature.com
AI-driven productivity gains enable more CO₂ emissions than they avoid in a global energy–economy model - npj Climate Action
npj Climate Action - AI-driven productivity gains enable more CO₂ emissions than they avoid in a global energy–economy model
001
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
FYI @andywightman.scot The proposed 'deed of servitude' would give private motorised access through a 'Common Good' public park. Are there precedents for this? Is it normally allowed? In this case it would block access by foot.
100
Reposted by Simon Holledge
TechnicallyRon @technicallyron.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Due to a typo in the telegram chat a group of sad men are trying to protest with baklava on their faces.
06611
Reposted by Simon Holledge
The Edinburgh Reporter @edinreporter.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Rare wartime photographs go on display in Edinburgh Hundreds of long-hidden photographs have gone on display in Edinburgh, revealing life in rural Italy during the Second World War....
theedinburghreporter.co.uk
Rare wartime photographs go on display in Edinburgh
Hundreds of long-hidden photographs have gone on display in Edinburgh, revealing life in rural Italy during the Second World War. FERNANDA: LE FOTO RITROVATE - Undiscovered Photos of Italian Rural Life 1930-1950 has just opened at the Italian Institute of Culture on runs until 1 October. Dating from the 1930s to the 1950s, the photographs were discovered by filmmaker Giordano Viozzi after the death of his aunt, Fernanda Millevolte, with the original negatives having spent years in a drawer. The photographer and many of those pictured remain unknown, but the collection offers a rare glimpse into life among contadini - impoverished sharecroppers from southern Le Marche.
032
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
@caltonhill.bsky.social Have the CALTON HILL CONSERVATION TRUST published any opinion/statement about the proposed road access through Common Good land on public park area of Calton Hill? FYI @spurtle.bsky.social @edinburghminute.com @ntbcc.bsky.social @threadinburgh.scot @edinreporter.bsky.social
101
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Friends of Princes Street Gardens @princesstgardens.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Our mailing list signup is now available — see tally.so/r/zxAAG1
tally.so
Friends of Princes Street Gardens: Mailing List
Made with Tally, the simplest way to create forms.
013
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Rainforest Action Network @ran.org · 09/09/2026
The recent flooding disaster in #Nepal was caused by melting glaciers in the Himalayas loosening the rocky mountainsides. The glacier collapse read as a 5.2 magnitude earthquake. As climate change worsens, more of these flash floods are prone to happen. cnn.it/3UxpJVE
cnn.com
What we know -- and don't know -- about what cause the Nepal flood wave | CNN
It will take weeks to establish the exact causes, but a team of international scientists believes a huge chunk of glacier sheared off and fell into the valley below.
055
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Friends of Princes Street Gardens @princesstgardens.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Edinburgh Council report, "Non Statutory Planning Guidance - PRINCES STREET and WAVERLEY VALLEY STRATEGY UPDATE ”, Planning Committee, 9 September 2026 is here: democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s1...
Report to Edinburgh Council Planning Committee on Princes Street and Waverley Valley Strategy, 9 September 2026
031
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Friends of Princes Street Gardens @princesstgardens.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Do you want a say in what happens to PRINCES STREET GARDENS? Or do you want to leave it to council officers & erratic, volatile political groups who agree one thing today, another thing tomorrow? Sign up to the FRIENDS of PSG mailing list to stay in the loop: tally.so/r/zxAAG1
tally.so
Friends of Princes Street Gardens: Mailing List
Made with Tally, the simplest way to create forms.
145
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Friends of Princes Street Gardens @princesstgardens.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
"PRINCES STREET would see a widened pavement, lifts down to the GARDENS and shelters turned into small cafes under proposals recommended by COUNCIL OFFICIALS. . . ." 1/ www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinbur...
edinburghnews.scotsman.com
Edinburgh council recommended to take less radical option on future of Princes Street
‘Ambitious pragmatism’ v ‘radical rethink’
121
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Liz Webster 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧🇪🇺 @lizwebster.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Brexit did not restore sovereignty. It exposed Britain to subjugation as America’s poor relation: a market to penetrate, an asset to strip and a country too isolated to negotiate as an equal. The answer is not another flimsy reset, Britain needs to return to the European table.
12310
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Liz Webster 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧🇪🇺 @lizwebster.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
🚨 This Irish Times report demolishes the myth of Britain’s “special relationship” with America. When Washington complains that Britain is not “taking advantage of Brexit”, it means Britain has not yet surrendered enough to American commercial interests. 🔗 www.irishtimes.com/business/202...
irishtimes.com
US says Britain not taking advantage of Brexit
Choosing Brussels over United States ‘a problem’ for trade deal
26129
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Edinburgh Council @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social propose ROAD ACCESS to the back of GREENSIDE CHURCH along GREENSIDE CHURCH PATH on COMMON GOOD LAND belonging to CALTON HILL ("Proposed Deed of Servitude over Common Good Property: Greenside...") consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/cg/greenside/
consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk
Proposed Deed of Servitude over Common Good Property: Greenside, Calton Hill, Edinburgh - City of Edinburgh Council - Citizen Space
Find and participate in consultations run by City of Edinburgh Council
211
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Normal Island News @normalisland.co.uk · 02/09/2026
The BBC has explained that presenter Katty Kay's comments did not meet is editorial standards because those standards include not telling the truth about Israel and looking the other way when genocide is taking place 👀
211944
Reposted by Simon Holledge
The National @scotnational.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Tomorrow's front page of The National – our Programme for Government special
161
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Was the 2026 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL a success? The quality of everything I attended was excellent — but tickets were expensive — was everyone I know in the Usher Hall Upper Circle? — nothing sold out, many empty seats. #edinburghfestival #EIF #Edinfest 1/
Notice outside the Queen's Hall during the Edinburgh International Festival, 27 August 2027
100
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Liz Webster 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧🇪🇺 @lizwebster.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
🧵 This 👉first test of Burnham’s promised EU reset. Next week, the EU bans Brazilian beef/chicken after 🇧🇷 failed to comply with rules restricting antibiotics, incl medicines critically important to human health. Britain has *not* followed, ministers seek “information and assurances” from Brazil
215886
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
FYI @spurtle.bsky.social @ntbcc.bsky.social @edinburghlive.co.uk @edinburghminute.com @oldedinburgh.bsky.social @scotsman.com
261
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
A MOSAIC in astonishingly good condition has been discovered in Broughton, Edinburgh. It may possibly date back to Roman SPURTOLIUM.
Newly discovered mosaic in Broughton, Edinburgh, believed to date back to the heyday of Roman Spurtolium.
1183
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Calton Hill Conservation Trust @caltonhill.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Simon Holledge, Chair of the CALTON HILL CONSERVATION TRUST, is standing down on Tuesday 25 August 2026, after three and a half years in post. The recent photo shows Simon recently spraying the returfed area in the front of the National Monument.
Simon Holledge spraying the re-turfed area in front of the National Monument, Calton Hill, Edinburgh, 8 August 2026
054
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
META: If Meta is paying the 48 states, shouldn't it be also compensating foreign countries for its treatment of users?
020
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
META: "If approved by a California judge, META will pay a maximum of $18bn (£13.3bn) to 48 states, plus the District of Columbia and three US territories, marking the company's largest payment over child safety litigation to date." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Meta to pay up to $18bn to settle claims its platforms harm children
The deal has been reached during a California federal court trial over claims brought by US states.
000
Reposted by Simon Holledge
New Town & Broughton Community Council @ntbcc.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Looks as if they (Edinburgh Council) are planning for a prolonged outage ? We have had no further communication on this & unaware of any works to resolve. This is far from satisfactory (....an understatement).
363
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Changing Westminster’s VOTING SYSTEM shouldn't be left to the politicians. An independent commission could get the public and experts together in one room to examine the evidence and build consensus for reform. Add your name today: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...
petition.parliament.uk
Petition: Set up a National Commission on Electoral Reform to review the electoral system
I ask the Government to set up a National Commission on Electoral Reform, as advocated by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections. It should be an independent, time limited, expert led re...
001
Reposted by Simon Holledge
canada-keith.bsky.social @canada-keith.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Mary Trump knows Trump best. For those who voted for Trump You are as Responsible for Trump’s Actions as if You are Trump himself. May you have a Miserable Life even after your Trump is gone. Repost to Remind The Trump Voters. 😱😱😡😡😡😡🇺🇸⚖️⚖️😎
912115771
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Calton Hill Conservation Trust @caltonhill.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
NATIONAL MONUMENT — PERMANENT BLACK MARKER PEN tagging: Reported April & August, there's a proliferation on a back column. Permanent ink is difficult to wash off so @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social & Historic Environment Scotland are considering suitable removal/protection methods: update promised!
Graffiti on the National Monument, Calton Hill, 29 July 2026
181
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 20/08/2026
Oh... The Reform UK councillor sent the resignation letter to Kidsgrove Town Council, not Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/polit…
1118562
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Friends of Princes Street Gardens @princesstgardens.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
EDINBURGH INQUIRER: 'Sean Connery memorial first to face Princes Street Gardens moratorium' www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/no-room-fo...
edinburghinquirer.co.uk
Sean Connery memorial first to face Princes St Gardens moratorium
Plus: The Fringe shows worth braving a downpour for
021
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Osbert Lancaster @osbert.org · 20/08/2026
Waiting for the grown ups to get their act together? Not mutually exclusive, but I really liked @oliverescobar.bsky.social’s emphasis that democratic repair can start at all levels. As both say: politicians need to trust the public. buttondown.com/thrivablesco...
buttondown.com
Critical Mess to Critical Mass: democratic innovation for collective climate action
How democratic innovation can build trust to unlock and mobilise collective intelligence for meaningful collective action. With Prof Oliver Escobar.
053
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
WHY I NEVER USE META: Meta's business model: "Hook the users; hold them for as long as they can; harvest their data; hide the truth from the public when making public statements." Megan O'Neill, California's Justice Department. 1/ www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr...
bbc.co.uk
Meta 'hid the truth' over child safety, court hears, as social media trial begins - live updates
States are seeking billions of dollars from the social media giant, which owns Facebook and Instagram.
101
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Friends of Princes Street Gardens @princesstgardens.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
BAN on NEW PUBLIC ART WORKS in Princes Street Gardens? Apparently it won't affect the Muriel Spark memorial. See the 'Public Art Update' at the Council Culture & Communities Committee today (12 August 2026). democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s1...
'Public Art Update' report at the City of Edinburgh Council Culture & Communities Committee, 12 August 2026
021
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Calton Hill Conservation Trust @caltonhill.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Security camera needed? CALTON HILL ACCESS BARRIER again VANDALISED. At some date after 3 August, the padlock & attachment were snapped off. The gate is left open instead of closed at 10pm. Taxis are now using the road at least as late as 11pm. The padlock has been broken in the past (see photo).
Calton Hill Drive access barrier, Edinburgh, padlocks removed on 18 May 2025 and some time in August 2026
152
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
WHAT exactly are the SECURITY RISKS in WIND TURBINE INVESTMENT? “ ... the government concluded that there are national security risks associated with the use of Ming Yang wind turbines in UK offshore wind projects.” Do we need more information? #mingyang www.scotsman.com/news/politic...
scotsman.com
SNP accused of 'shockingly dismissive' attitude to national security over Ming Yang
SNP energy minister Stephen Gethins was criticised by expert Ian Williams
111
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Verminous Scot @etkwebster.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Reform interfering with an election at a polling station, why am I not surprised.
288
Reposted by Simon Holledge
spurtle.bsky.social @spurtle.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
CALTON HILL.—Work in progress. Emii Alrai’s 'Guardian' being installed today in time for the Edinburgh Art Festival. Details here: www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/news/work-pr... #Edinburgh #hyperlocal #news #art #EdinburghArtFestival
Contractors stand on a hill beneath a large modern sculpture. View of Leith Dock and wind-turbine jackets in the background.
1163
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Calton Hill Conservation Trust @caltonhill.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Astronomical Society of Edinburgh PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWING on Calton Hill this evening. They have eclipse glasses. It is DANGEROUS to look at the eclipse directly without protection! www.astronomyedinburgh.org/event/partia...
astronomyedinburgh.org
Partial Solar Eclipse Viewing on Calton Hill - Astronomical Society of Edinburgh
Join us in the evening on 12 August to watch the amazing partial eclipse of the Sun. We'll have our solar telescopes with us plus lots of free eclipse glasses to give away.
054
Reposted by Simon Holledge
Calton Hill Conservation Trust @caltonhill.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
CALTON HILL on TV: 'A House Through Time' returns this week, documenting the people who lived in a Calton Hill property over the years. Episode 1 on Thursday 13 Aug, BBC2, 21:00, with the story of the house's first residents in the 18th century. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Two - A House Through Time, Series 6: Edinburgh, Episode 1
In 1799, a church minister aids the escape of French prisoners from Edinburgh Castle.
151
Simon Holledge @holledge.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Is there a DESIGNER in the COUNCIL? The City of Edinburgh's new app is called ‘The City of Edinburgh’. Set up for iPad, not for phones? For street problem reports & council services — but now it’s just a port of website pages. Easy to navigate? Mmm . . www.edinburgh.gov.uk/edinburgh-co...
edinburgh.gov.uk
Edinburgh Council app
The City of Edinburgh Council. Putting our customers first and looking after Edinburgh.
000
Reposted by Simon Holledge
The National @scotnational.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
NEW: The SNP have issued a message to Andy Burnham after a new poll found that Scotland would vote to become independent from the UK if a second referendum were held tomorrow 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 www.thenational.scot/news/2...
54918
Reposted by Simon Holledge
The National @scotnational.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Former LBC host Sangita Myska has revealed how she 'completely fell apart' after lawyers for the radio station 'monitored' her social media following her dismissal
thenational.scot
Lawyers 'monitored my social media' after Israel interview, ex-LBC host says
2157