Brian Wilson Writes - online.

My goodness, the revolution has reached Mangersta.

Welcome online, at last, to Brian Wilson who joins the world of blogs with his Brian Wilson Writes, an online version of his West Highland Free Press column.

This is as auspicious an occasion as double-width looms beings introduced to the Harris Tweed industry. Although he's moved on from politics Brian's take on current affairs has always been required reading.

It took land campaigner Andy Wightman's patience to haul Brian away from print and into the digital age.

Until now his take on politics has only been available in the Free Press, and I hope giving the column away online doesn't affect circulation.

There's plenty for him to comment on more than once a week and instead of posting facsimiles of the Free Press I hope the blog as platform for more than re-printing the Free Press column

And there are plenty out there who'll violently disagree with Brian's opinions because of his politics and often because of their own insecurities. Provoking the SNP with a meatslicing turn of phrase is one of life's minor pleasures for Brian, and is quite amusing for the rest of us. But mostly he's to be read for his original insights, on the Highlands, Scotland and the wider world.

I expect some cybernats will be rolling up their well-paid sleeves up on hearing the news that they have a new target. But the online nats, like the midges, are always with us if slightly less annoying, so don't let that put you off Brian.

There's no obligation to publish derogatory comments, it's bizarre that furious, online guttermouths don't understand that.

As I keep reminding my own nationalist friends and foes, read without prejudice, and at least read to the end before pouncing on the keyboard.

Tory Conference shorts

Flying visit

At least I was up early enough to spot him this week. Brian Wilson, former Labour Minister, was in the foyer of the Tory Conference early this morning having been involved in a 7.30am fringe meeting on Flying Matters, the pro-airports pressure group. “I came in under cover of night and I’m leaving as soon as I can,” explained Mr Wilson. I hope he didn’t read the Guardian on the way to the airport - the Tories have just promised to scrap plans for Heathrow’s third runway.

Put down of the day

Oliver Letwin to the Independent’s Steve Richards who claimed to have read all the Conservative policy papers and thought their education plans would cost more money.

“I congratulate you. You are the only person in England who has been reading our policy documents,” said Mr Letwin graciously. “Unfortunately you have drawn the wrong conclusions”

Barging in

No chance of Brian Wilson crossing the path of David Trimble, the former First Minister of Northern Ireland, who is at the Tory conference with an eye to being a member of a David Cameron cabinet.

Mr Trimble,a boating enthusiast, was thrilled when he heard the Tory conference was being held in Birmingham. He piped his wife Daphne aboard the Trimble barge and spent three days travelling to the event on their very own canal boat. All he has to do now is turn the darned thing around and get it back to its moorings in time.

Scottish red eye dawn

Just out of the Iain Gray speech which took place at a bleary eyed 9.35am. Mr Gray had a train to catch so I had to bolt my Loch Fyne kipper breakfast and get over to the conference centre pronto. If you think that was early I see my old West Highland Free Press comrade, Brian Wilson, was due for an 8am appearance on the fringe to talk about food air miles. As the skipper Para Handy would say, "That's devotion for you".

It was a bit early for a rallying call to the Glenrothes ramparts but Iain Gray had a go anyway and he had one or two lines that will resonate beyond the party faithful. Here's the distilled soundbite version of what he said:

"In 1979 nationalist MPs opened the door and ushered Margaret Thatcher in to power. Thirty years later, and Nationalist MSPs are dusting off their doorman's cap, hoping to do David Cameron the same favour."

"Scotland's greatest resource is not its finite oil reserves. It is the limitless reserve of our people's potential.

"The people of Scotland don't want independence. They want the best chance to take the opportunities being part of Britain presents. They want a strong Scottish Parliament, standing up for Scotland's interests within the UK."

11.09 update - Rust never sleeps. The SNP have press released a comment on the "poorly attended" attended Iain Gray speech. What are they talking about, I saw at least one Labour MSP there and two Scottish MPs there?

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