Louise Wilson
@louisewilso.bsky.social
Political Editor ✍🏻 Holyrood magazine 🏴
Policy geek 🤓 Board game lover 🎲 Not-bad climber 🧗🏻♀️ Newbie crocheter 🧶
She/her
Policy geek 🤓 Board game lover 🎲 Not-bad climber 🧗🏻♀️ Newbie crocheter 🧶
She/her
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Louise Wilson
@louisewilso.bsky.social
· Apr 19
Ferguson Marine and British Steel are under pressure – is heavy industry dead?
Shipbuilding and steel making are woven into the fabric of the UK – but without a coherent strategy, such industry might not have a future
www.holyrood.com
“Romanticism is natural, and our industrial past is something to be proud of. But nostalgia shouldn’t dictate policy.”
The Covid-19 Inquiry said Nicola Sturgeon's 'Gold Command' meetings sidelined senior ministers, essentially turning Cabinet into a "decision-ratifying body and not the ultimate decision-making body".
Sturgeon told reporters today she stands by that decision. www.holyrood.com/news/view,mi...
Sturgeon told reporters today she stands by that decision. www.holyrood.com/news/view,mi...
‘Mistakes were made’ by Scottish ministers during Covid, Kate Forbes says
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has accepted that “mistakes were made” by the Scottish Government in its response to t...
www.holyrood.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:54 PM
The Covid-19 Inquiry said Nicola Sturgeon's 'Gold Command' meetings sidelined senior ministers, essentially turning Cabinet into a "decision-ratifying body and not the ultimate decision-making body".
Sturgeon told reporters today she stands by that decision. www.holyrood.com/news/view,mi...
Sturgeon told reporters today she stands by that decision. www.holyrood.com/news/view,mi...
Reposted by Louise Wilson
We're attracted to simple big stories to explain complicate problems. In Scotland the idea of the energy transition is a key example.
When oil and gas workplaces close down and workers lose their jobs we're told it's down to the transition. Except usually it isn't. Here's why🧵
When oil and gas workplaces close down and workers lose their jobs we're told it's down to the transition. Except usually it isn't. Here's why🧵
November 20, 2025 at 6:02 PM
We're attracted to simple big stories to explain complicate problems. In Scotland the idea of the energy transition is a key example.
When oil and gas workplaces close down and workers lose their jobs we're told it's down to the transition. Except usually it isn't. Here's why🧵
When oil and gas workplaces close down and workers lose their jobs we're told it's down to the transition. Except usually it isn't. Here's why🧵
Reposted by Louise Wilson
"It’s batshit crazy. The party has turned into a 1970s tribute act that nobody wants to see"
Alex Salmond started Alba to advance Scottish independence. A year after his death & with an election ahead, the party is struggling to move on www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Alex Salmond started Alba to advance Scottish independence. A year after his death & with an election ahead, the party is struggling to move on www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Hard Partying: Alba's difficult year
A year after Alex Salmond's death, the Scottish independence vehicle is struggling to move on
www.holyrood.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:22 AM
"It’s batshit crazy. The party has turned into a 1970s tribute act that nobody wants to see"
Alex Salmond started Alba to advance Scottish independence. A year after his death & with an election ahead, the party is struggling to move on www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Alex Salmond started Alba to advance Scottish independence. A year after his death & with an election ahead, the party is struggling to move on www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
The First Minister was asked twice today: Where is the Mossmorran just transition plan, promised 18 months ago?
He said lessons were being learned from Grangemouth. Grangemouth's JT plan also came too late. Clearly that isn't one of the lessons learned. www.holyrood.com/news/view,fi...
He said lessons were being learned from Grangemouth. Grangemouth's JT plan also came too late. Clearly that isn't one of the lessons learned. www.holyrood.com/news/view,fi...
First Minister grilled over missing Mossmorran transition plan
Conservatives and Greens pile on pressure over future for ExxonMobil workforce
www.holyrood.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:45 PM
The First Minister was asked twice today: Where is the Mossmorran just transition plan, promised 18 months ago?
He said lessons were being learned from Grangemouth. Grangemouth's JT plan also came too late. Clearly that isn't one of the lessons learned. www.holyrood.com/news/view,fi...
He said lessons were being learned from Grangemouth. Grangemouth's JT plan also came too late. Clearly that isn't one of the lessons learned. www.holyrood.com/news/view,fi...
John Swinney said his favourite goal last night was the last one, scored by Kenny McLean in stoppage time, for its "sheer audacity".
November 19, 2025 at 3:05 PM
John Swinney said his favourite goal last night was the last one, scored by Kenny McLean in stoppage time, for its "sheer audacity".
NEW: John Swinney has suggested the removal of Keir Starmer as prime minister after next May may help the push to Scottish independence.
He says if the SNP wins a majority, he says he has "no doubt" Starmer would be ousted - which breaks the "logjam" around a referendum being called.
He says if the SNP wins a majority, he says he has "no doubt" Starmer would be ousted - which breaks the "logjam" around a referendum being called.
November 19, 2025 at 2:58 PM
NEW: John Swinney has suggested the removal of Keir Starmer as prime minister after next May may help the push to Scottish independence.
He says if the SNP wins a majority, he says he has "no doubt" Starmer would be ousted - which breaks the "logjam" around a referendum being called.
He says if the SNP wins a majority, he says he has "no doubt" Starmer would be ousted - which breaks the "logjam" around a referendum being called.
Reposted by Louise Wilson
The failure to ensure a just transition at Grangemouth has caused alarm. But not all hope is lost, writes @louisewilso.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Grangemouth: 'We could still clutch victory.... but you need to hurry up'
The failure to ensure a just transition at Grangemouth has caused alarm. But not all hope is lost
www.holyrood.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:44 AM
The failure to ensure a just transition at Grangemouth has caused alarm. But not all hope is lost, writes @louisewilso.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
I hadn't been watching the football and then I turned on the football to watch Denmark be handed a penalty and scored, so I genuinely thought I had cursed the nation. So I turned it back off.
What I'm saying is, you're welcome.
What I'm saying is, you're welcome.
November 18, 2025 at 9:56 PM
I hadn't been watching the football and then I turned on the football to watch Denmark be handed a penalty and scored, so I genuinely thought I had cursed the nation. So I turned it back off.
What I'm saying is, you're welcome.
What I'm saying is, you're welcome.
Reposted by Louise Wilson
"We are going to have to produce something that’s not just immigration and net zero."
Reform MSP Graham Simpson speaks to @louisewilso.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Reform MSP Graham Simpson speaks to @louisewilso.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Graham Simpson: I'm aiming for over 20 Reform MSPs next year
Simpson defected from the Tories to become Reform’s sole MSP. He’s ambitious about growing the ranks
www.holyrood.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:14 PM
"We are going to have to produce something that’s not just immigration and net zero."
Reform MSP Graham Simpson speaks to @louisewilso.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Reform MSP Graham Simpson speaks to @louisewilso.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Both the Scottish Parliament and UK Parliament's websites appear to be impacted by this outage.
Cloudflare's outage seems... bad? X, ChatGPT, multiple other sites down
November 18, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Both the Scottish Parliament and UK Parliament's websites appear to be impacted by this outage.
In his first major interview since defecting, Graham Simpson told me that while his relationships with most MSPs had not changed, one Tory MSP was “not even looking at me, let alone talking to me”.
Russell Findlay was asked about that comment today.
Russell Findlay was asked about that comment today.
Russell Findlay has accused former Conservative MSP Graham Simpson of committing an “act of treachery” for defecting to Reform UK. www.holyrood.com/news/view,to...
Tory leader accuses Reform defector of ‘act of treachery’
Russell Findlay said Graham Simpson was “clearly is a bit of a reformed snowflake”
www.holyrood.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM
In his first major interview since defecting, Graham Simpson told me that while his relationships with most MSPs had not changed, one Tory MSP was “not even looking at me, let alone talking to me”.
Russell Findlay was asked about that comment today.
Russell Findlay was asked about that comment today.
Reposted by Louise Wilson
"I’m not going to get down and dirty and start attacking individuals for their character or personality, when it should be a debate about policy."
Reform UK's Graham Simpson speaks to @louisewilso.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Reform UK's Graham Simpson speaks to @louisewilso.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Graham Simpson: I'm aiming for over 20 Reform MSPs next year
Simpson defected from the Tories to become Reform’s sole MSP. He’s ambitious about growing the ranks
www.holyrood.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:21 AM
"I’m not going to get down and dirty and start attacking individuals for their character or personality, when it should be a debate about policy."
Reform UK's Graham Simpson speaks to @louisewilso.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Reform UK's Graham Simpson speaks to @louisewilso.bsky.social www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
I spoke to Graham Simpson, the only Reform MSP, about his defection, his efforts to improve standards at parliament, and his ambition for next for. In the latest @holyroodmag.bsky.social | www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Graham Simpson: I'm aiming for over 20 Reform MSPs next year
Simpson defected from the Tories to become Reform’s sole MSP. He’s ambitious about growing the ranks
www.holyrood.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:53 AM
I spoke to Graham Simpson, the only Reform MSP, about his defection, his efforts to improve standards at parliament, and his ambition for next for. In the latest @holyroodmag.bsky.social | www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
I keep seeing Miliband's name bandied about but all I can think is what a terrible choice that would be - for no other reason than it gives oppo parties a really easy line of, "couldn't win an election himself, became PM anyway".
Verdict of one Labour grandee I just bumped into: “Ed Miliband is the person most likely to be the most next Prime Minister”.
November 13, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I keep seeing Miliband's name bandied about but all I can think is what a terrible choice that would be - for no other reason than it gives oppo parties a really easy line of, "couldn't win an election himself, became PM anyway".
NEW: Anas Sarwar has said he "absolutely" has confidence in Keir Starmer, and describes briefings against him and other ministers as "deeply unhelpful".
November 13, 2025 at 12:56 PM
NEW: Anas Sarwar has said he "absolutely" has confidence in Keir Starmer, and describes briefings against him and other ministers as "deeply unhelpful".
NEW: Anas Sarwar has said he "absolutely" has confidence in Keir Starmer, and describes briefings against him and other ministers as "deeply unhelpful".
November 13, 2025 at 12:55 PM
NEW: Anas Sarwar has said he "absolutely" has confidence in Keir Starmer, and describes briefings against him and other ministers as "deeply unhelpful".
Interesting the Scottish Government is to investigate a maternity services review. I wrote this about the issues facing rural women's healthcare three(!) years ago for @holyroodmag.bsky.social, when concerns about Galloway and Moray were first raised www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Rural women face health inequalities caused by their gender and geography - and they have had enough
Campaigners in Caithness, Moray and Galloway are calling for women's health services to be improved
www.holyrood.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Interesting the Scottish Government is to investigate a maternity services review. I wrote this about the issues facing rural women's healthcare three(!) years ago for @holyroodmag.bsky.social, when concerns about Galloway and Moray were first raised www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Reposted by Louise Wilson
There will be no overnight count for the Scottish Parliament election next May, it has been announced. www.holyrood.com/news/view,no...
No overnight count for 2026 Holyrood election
Ballot boxes will not be opened until the morning of Friday 8 May for counting to begin
www.holyrood.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:39 AM
There will be no overnight count for the Scottish Parliament election next May, it has been announced. www.holyrood.com/news/view,no...
An autumnal walk to soothe the soul.
October 26, 2025 at 6:25 PM
An autumnal walk to soothe the soul.
Reposted by Louise Wilson
What day and what time you have a stroke has a massive impact on the care you get.
Nowhere in Scotland delivers thrombectomy overnight and weekend access is limited. Thrombolysis is not available 24/7 either.
When every minute matters, that is dangerous. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Nowhere in Scotland delivers thrombectomy overnight and weekend access is limited. Thrombolysis is not available 24/7 either.
When every minute matters, that is dangerous. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
'Stroke care is very good if you give it a chance – but often it doesn’t have the resources'
Stroke patients are being failed by huge gaps in the service. Fixing the problem could bring wider benefits to the NHS
www.holyrood.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:19 AM
What day and what time you have a stroke has a massive impact on the care you get.
Nowhere in Scotland delivers thrombectomy overnight and weekend access is limited. Thrombolysis is not available 24/7 either.
When every minute matters, that is dangerous. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Nowhere in Scotland delivers thrombectomy overnight and weekend access is limited. Thrombolysis is not available 24/7 either.
When every minute matters, that is dangerous. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
What day and what time you have a stroke has a massive impact on the care you get.
Nowhere in Scotland delivers thrombectomy overnight and weekend access is limited. Thrombolysis is not available 24/7 either.
When every minute matters, that is dangerous. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Nowhere in Scotland delivers thrombectomy overnight and weekend access is limited. Thrombolysis is not available 24/7 either.
When every minute matters, that is dangerous. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
'Stroke care is very good if you give it a chance – but often it doesn’t have the resources'
Stroke patients are being failed by huge gaps in the service. Fixing the problem could bring wider benefits to the NHS
www.holyrood.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:19 AM
What day and what time you have a stroke has a massive impact on the care you get.
Nowhere in Scotland delivers thrombectomy overnight and weekend access is limited. Thrombolysis is not available 24/7 either.
When every minute matters, that is dangerous. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Nowhere in Scotland delivers thrombectomy overnight and weekend access is limited. Thrombolysis is not available 24/7 either.
When every minute matters, that is dangerous. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Reposted by Louise Wilson
"When you have emergency departments working at double capacity, they’re dealing with twice as many people as they’re resourced to do, those people cannot get the care that they’re supposed to get."
Stroke patients are being failed on multiple fronts. My long-read: www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Stroke patients are being failed on multiple fronts. My long-read: www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
'Stroke care is very good if you give it a chance – but often it doesn’t have the resources'
Stroke patients are being failed by huge gaps in the service. Fixing the problem could bring wider benefits to the NHS
www.holyrood.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:50 AM
"When you have emergency departments working at double capacity, they’re dealing with twice as many people as they’re resourced to do, those people cannot get the care that they’re supposed to get."
Stroke patients are being failed on multiple fronts. My long-read: www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Stroke patients are being failed on multiple fronts. My long-read: www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
"When you have emergency departments working at double capacity, they’re dealing with twice as many people as they’re resourced to do, those people cannot get the care that they’re supposed to get."
Stroke patients are being failed on multiple fronts. My long-read: www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Stroke patients are being failed on multiple fronts. My long-read: www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
'Stroke care is very good if you give it a chance – but often it doesn’t have the resources'
Stroke patients are being failed by huge gaps in the service. Fixing the problem could bring wider benefits to the NHS
www.holyrood.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:50 AM
"When you have emergency departments working at double capacity, they’re dealing with twice as many people as they’re resourced to do, those people cannot get the care that they’re supposed to get."
Stroke patients are being failed on multiple fronts. My long-read: www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Stroke patients are being failed on multiple fronts. My long-read: www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...
Happy Autumn from this wee guy, who had his breakfast hanging out his mouth.
October 14, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Happy Autumn from this wee guy, who had his breakfast hanging out his mouth.
"This is agriculture minister Jim Fairlie’s defining moment. Is being an MSP everything he dreamed it would be? Is this the topic he hoped to focus on when he was invited into government?"
SKETCH www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
SKETCH www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
October 12, 2025 at 2:28 PM
"This is agriculture minister Jim Fairlie’s defining moment. Is being an MSP everything he dreamed it would be? Is this the topic he hoped to focus on when he was invited into government?"
SKETCH www.holyrood.com/comment/view...
SKETCH www.holyrood.com/comment/view...