Louise Wilson
@louisewilso.bsky.social
Political Editor ✍🏻 Holyrood magazine 🏴 Policy geek 🤓 Board game lover 🎲 Not-bad climber 🧗🏻♀️ Newbie crocheter 🧶 She/her
“To get anything across the line, you needed two other parties to agree with you… Almost every time, that made the decision better.” An interesting chat with @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social on collaboration in politics, his Rare Cancers Act, and how he became an MP www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Scott Arthur: I can understand why people feel left behind
Winner of Holyrood’s Scottish MP of the Year award in July, Scott Arthur reflects on a successful two years in the Commo...
holyrood.com
The Scottish Parliament has backed a motion stating that Scotland “has a right to decide its own future”. It was backed by 84 MSPs to 18 against – after Reform MSPs walked out of the debate and refused to take part. www.holyrood.com/news/view,sc...
“'I think that’s a great question, Mr Brown,' she replies, careful not to insult him. It wouldn’t look good to have the deputy and the depute at each other’s throats." My latest sketch www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
Sketch: Jenny Gilruth addresses the elephant in the room
Keith Brown, depute leader of the SNP, is sceptical of the UK Government’s intentions
holyrood.com
After the Pisa results and two bleak reports on colleges and universities, the government response to all this damning evidence of an ignored portfolio has been lacking. Me for the latest @holyroodmag.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
The failures in education could be just as damaging as failing to fix the NHS
The government response to damning evidence of an ignored portfolio has been lacking
holyrood.com
No part of the system is working as it should, contrary to government claims about the emphasis it places on providing a good education. www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
The failures in education could be just as damaging as failing to fix the NHS
The government response to damning evidence of an ignored portfolio has been lacking
holyrood.com
After the Pisa results and two bleak reports on colleges and universities, the government response to all this damning evidence of an ignored portfolio has been lacking. Me for the latest @holyroodmag.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
The failures in education could be just as damaging as failing to fix the NHS
The government response to damning evidence of an ignored portfolio has been lacking
holyrood.com
Each portfolio area has some significant issues that will require addressing over the next five years, says @louisewilso.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
This new parliament must tackle the mounting issues across Scotland’s public services
Each portfolio has some significant issues that will require addressing over the next five years
holyrood.com
"The decisions this government must make over the next five years will be the difference between a functioning Scotland... and a Scotland that buckles. It is, quite simply, that serious." www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
John Swinney's government must make difficult and unpopular decisions
Ivan McKee and Jenny Gilruth must be brave enough to be able to call one another out when their natural instincts kick i...
holyrood.com
"Each portfolio has some significant issues that will require addressing over the next five years if Scotland’s public services are to remain on a sustainable footing." My look at what's on the agenda this session and what the PfG today must start to address. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
This new parliament must tackle the mounting issues across Scotland’s public services
Each portfolio has some significant issues that will require addressing over the next five years
holyrood.com
I spoke to him as a fresh report comes out demonstrating the extent of the funding gap facing Scottish universities each year. It hit £200m in 2023/24, and is expected to go up again for 2024/25 due to a fall in overseas students www.holyrood.com/news/view,bl...
‘Bleak’ and ‘unsustainable’: Funding gap puts universities under significant strain, report warns
Institutions collectively recorded a £200m deficit in 2023/24
holyrood.com
“If there isn’t public subsidy, then Scotland will not have a role in driving its economy through innovation and through research, which is not a good basis for any economic or industrial strategy.” Anton Muscatelli in why funding for unis is so crucial www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Anton Muscatelli: Universities are in a fragile state – MSPs must not play political football
In an exclusive Holyrood interview, the former Glasgow University chancellor says not enough resources are being put int...
holyrood.com
“If there isn’t public subsidy, then Scotland will not have a role in driving its economy through innovation and through research, which is not a good basis for any economic or industrial strategy.” Anton Muscatelli in why funding for unis is so crucial www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Anton Muscatelli: Universities are in a fragile state – MSPs must not play political football
In an exclusive Holyrood interview, the former Glasgow University chancellor says not enough resources are being put int...
holyrood.com
Ferguson Marine CEO Graeme Thomson said the job cuts were needed due to an “inevitable gap in workload”. www.holyrood.com/news/view,up...
Up to 70 job losses expected at beleaguered shipyard
The CEO of Ferguson Marine said redundancies were needed due to an ‘inevitable gap in workload’
holyrood.com
I also thought this was a fascinating read by George Thorley, on behalf of the Mercat Group of former council chief executives.
Holyrood@holyroodmag.bsky.social · 2mo ago"England is currently achieving a major reorganisation of local government at a pace and without the rancour that previous attempts to create unitary authorities has faced. "Yet in Scotland, the reverse process has been the case." www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
Wrote this for the last mag after Burnham's first speech. With No 10 North now up and running, it's worth thinking about what this might mean further north.
Holyrood@holyroodmag.bsky.social · 2mo agoScottish local government needs more than a mirror of Manchester’s mayor www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
Restore Britain's Rupert Lowe has been heavily criticised after referring to the 1996 Dunblane massacre as "one murder" during a conversation about gun control on Joe Rogan's podcast www.holyrood.com/news/view,ru...
Rupert Lowe dismisses Dunblane school massacre as ‘one murder’
Rupert Lowe's comments have been described as “insulting” and “despicable” by local politicians
holyrood.com
Hahahaha well I don't hold out much hope of England beating Mexico, if I'm honest.
Louise Wilson@louisewilso.bsky.social · 3mo agoI am not watching the football because I have things on tonight, but am I to understand it is all going swimmingly and to plan for England? 😂
I am not watching the football because I have things on tonight, but am I to understand it is all going swimmingly and to plan for England? 😂
"If you can change somebody’s life that fraction, it does major things for them. It gives them hope. It gives them a sense of achievement, even. And it gives them a bit of self-worth, knowing that somebody listened to them and somebody helped them." www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Money 'not being spent in the right places' to tackle child poverty
Despite the flagship Scottish Child Payment, one in five children in Scotland are still living in poverty. What more can...
holyrood.com
Deplorable language is just one part of a climate that enables racism to flourish, says @louisewilso.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
Deplorable language is just one part of a climate that enables racism to flourish
Language like ‘strangers’ and ‘fighting-age men’ should be called out, but it is not this alone that is creating divisio...
holyrood.com
“Inequality is important because it is psychologically harmful to grow up in a society where you know that you’re being left behind,” @davehawkey.bsky.social quoted in this nuanced article on child poverty by @louisewilso.bsky.social in Holyrood Magazine. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Money 'not being spent in the right places' to tackle child poverty
Despite the flagship Scottish Child Payment, one in five children in Scotland are still living in poverty. What more can...
holyrood.com
"I understand why many people are so angry that they would turn out to protest. But let’s be clear: none of this is the fault of immigrants." My latest column for @holyroodmag.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
Deplorable language is just one part of a climate that enables racism to flourish
Language like ‘strangers’ and ‘fighting-age men’ should be called out, but it is not this alone that is creating divisio...
holyrood.com
This is a really excellent report from @kirsteenpaterson.bsky.social on swimming, pools and govt commitments. Well worth a read, imo. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Staying afloat: If Scotland's getting free swimming lessons, it needs pools too
Gourock Outdoor Swimming Pool is open rain or shine, but many venues face a battle to remain open
holyrood.com
I was sickened to see the race-related attacks that happened in my city, writes @louisewilso.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
Deplorable language is just one part of a climate that enables racism to flourish
Language like ‘strangers’ and ‘fighting-age men’ should be called out, but it is not this alone that is creating divisio...
holyrood.com
"Even the judge at the High Court in Edinburgh had to say that he was left wondering just why the former chief executive of the SNP embezzled more than £400,000 from the party he led." Good piece on the Murrell scandal by @kirsteenpaterson.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
Peter Murrell sentencing leaves questions unanswered for SNP
Even the judge was left wondering why the former chief executive of the SNP did it. How he did it is another matter.
holyrood.com
BREAKING: Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell jailed for more than five years for embezzlement www.holyrood.com/news/view,fo...
Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell jailed for embezzlement
Nicola Sturgeon's estranged husband had previously admitted to stealing over £400,000 from the party
holyrood.com
