Andrew Neilson
@neilsonandrew
Director of Campaigns @TheHowardLeague. Co-florist @BadLilies. Chair @PoetrySociety. Poems and essays about poems. Scot at large. 🏴 Views own.
We're working to end the detention of people on IPP and 'two-strike' prison sentences. Find out why thousands of people are still in prison serving sentences that were abolished many years ago: howardleague.org/what-are-ipp-s…
NEW: We have begun legal proceedings in the High Court to challenge the government’s decision to authorise the use of PAVA spray in prisons holding children. Read more: howardleague.org/news/howard-le…
A treasured possession. 'Black Spiders' (1982) by @KathleenJamie. Possibly the only poet I know of who shares my interest in the 5,000-year-old Caiy Stane. undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/edinburgh/caiy…
How can we solve the crisis in our prisons? A thread committees.parliament.uk/committee/519/…
Ten more years of injustice: Figures lay bare scale of IPP scandal The latest IPP annual report shows at current rates it will be another decade until the remaining IPP prisoners are freed - the government must do more. With @HagopianAlicja independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/…
I am very, very sorry to hear this. A long time ago, when I had just joined @TheHowardLeague, I met Malcolm and, apropos of nothing, he said to me: "you write extremely good press releases, Andrew". It made my month.
My esteemed former colleague Malcolm Dean, creator of the Guardian's legendary Society section, has died, aged 86. theguardian.com/media/2025/jul…
After weeks of pay talks we have reached a dead end. No formal offer, indication any offer would be well below the claim. Napo has no choice now but to ballot for strike action @Napotheunion
Probation Union to ballot members for industrial action | Napo napo.org.uk/news/probation…
“As report cards go, such a dire account of dysfunction in Pentonville instils little confidence that ministers have a grip of the situation.” Our response to the Pentonville prison inspection, covered by the Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/1…
Urgent Notification for Pentonville to @ShabanaMahmood 👉130 illegally held after release day and 10 let out early in the last 6 months 👉new arrivals with no pillows, bedding or cutlery 👉44% men said they were frightened 👉22 hour bang up for most men 👉3 suicides in 2025
Fantastic to see #NorthSeaPoets @NiallCPoetry and Karen Solie make the shortlist 👏
The Forward Prize for Best Collection – We’re proud to reveal the #ForwardPrizes 2025 shortlist for Best Collection! Five powerful books from some of the most compelling voices in poetry today. 👏 Congrats to the poets & publishers! 🔗 Full list: buff.ly/SS35YlZ
OK, we need to talk about sentencing. howardleague.org/what-is-senten…
"I think that the proposal that the Howard League and Lord Thomas have come up with is certainly worthy of careful consideration." A former Justice Secretary discusses recommendations put forward by our working group to end the IPP scandal: independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/…
Cyril Connolly asked Wystan Auden to write a poem that would make him cry. Here is the poem. It has perhaps the greatest ending to a poem ever. It also (always) feels timely.
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A great piece on possibly my favourite writer. Good critical writing about poetry is increasingly rare. I'm biased perhaps, because I was born and grew up by the North Sea, but this collective just keeps putting out great content. I wish I was part of it!
'I’ve been thinking about Elizabeth Bishop’s “Crusoe in England” for many years.' Each Nick and Scratch by Heart: Elizabeth Bishop's Island Industries – Lisa Brockwell on the perversity of nostalgia buff.ly/frklvl8 #NorthSeaPoets #PoetryCommunity #ElizabethBishop