In the Herald today, Neil Mackay’s ‘big read’ exclusive on the breakup of the far-right group Patriotic Union (PA), leads with this claim: Today, The Herald on Sunday’s exclusive investigation carried out by our Writer At Large exposes extremists linked to the Scottish Conservatives and SNP https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23505742.uk-far-right-extremists-shattered-scottish-rebellion/ What is the evidence for these links? See this in the Herald article: Taking the second case first, a former Conservative candidate attends PA rallies – fair enough, a link. First, though, a PA member ‘works as a cameraman’ at SNP conferences and Cop26? Really? Is that all you have Neil? Is the … Continue reading Far right extremists ‘linked to the SNP?’ – Neil Mackay’s outrageous lie!

What has he written? You expect me to read it? I’ve done enough of that before. The headline is quite enough. Why is Mackay getting the above award? For full text: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=Mackay Continue reading Herald’s Mackay wins ‘The Pot Calling the Kettle Black’ award, again

I often just ignore Mackay’s ill-informed, hysterical and, of course, mercenary, reports in the Herald. Then, sometimes, I think I should correct them just in case someone is daft enough to believe them. Today he writes: Waiting times, ambulances delays, GP appointments – the NHS in both Scotland and England is on its knees. To work out just how bad it’s got, we spoke to the two frontline doctors leading the campaign to save the NHS. Neil Mackay reports THERE’S only one way to understand what has gone wrong with the NHS: sit down with the two doctors leading the campaign to … Continue reading Neil Mackay’s big heap of…NHS Scotland is NOT collapsing

in the Herald today: Professor James Mitchell is one of the nation’s leading expert on the constitution, devolution, the Scottish Parliament and Government. He’s seriously worried about the state of our democracy. In a no-holds-barred conservation with our Writer at Large, he lays it on the line about independence, the SNP, Westminster and systemic political failure IF you want to diagnose the health of Scottish democracy, there is only one man to turn to: Professor James Mitchell from Edinburgh University, a leading authority on Scottish politics. He has spent a lifetime dissecting the constitution, devolution, and the workings of the Scottish Government. … Continue reading No Neil Mackay, Scottish democracy is in relatively good health

I try not to read Writer at Large, Neil Mackay, but that headline sneakily telling those who pay attention that he didn’t say that but that he’d like to suggest it’s actually true, needs a rebuttal. He even writes: What do those supposed UK data, almost certainly England & Wales data, have to do with an article clearly headlined as being about Scotland? Shoddy, lazy, dishonest? How about some facts? Cases reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in 2020-21 compared to 2019-20, show a statistically insignificant increase in hate crimes relating to sexual orientation . We don’t … Continue reading Neil Mackay’s big fib on homophobia in Scotland

Nicola Sturgeon has asked the people of Scotland to judge her on her record over education. Neil McLennan, one of the nation’s most distinguished educators, has judged her … and he finds her record badly lacking. By our Writer at Large Neil Mackay SPEND a few hours talking to Neil McLennan and it is difficult to imagine him even giving a pass grade to the Scottish Government when it comes to education. His assessment will sting Nicola Sturgeon. https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19834326.neil-mackays-big-read-snp-nationalism-destroying-education—devastating-assessment-sturgeon-schools-leading-scottish-educationalist/ This is going to come across as a bit snobby but, hey, ‘one of the nation’s most distinguished educators?’ I was in … Continue reading Mackay’s ‘distinguished educator’ is barely distinguishable

Over recent weeks we’ve seen tensions around the planet ratchet up considerably. There’s the weaponisation of space; Cold War in the Pacific threatening to turn hot; and tensions along Europe’s eastern frontier. https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19723673.neil-mackay-snp-vision-independent-scotland-fit-world-threat-war-grows-daily/ Straight-off, you think, well if it’s so dangerous out there for smaller countries, there must be examples of some applying to unite with bigger, more weaponised neighbours who could protect them from…..China? Russia? Iran? Belorus? Tell us Neil? Why not I wonder? Is that because nobody is currently threatening their smaller neighbours? Even North Korea has gone quiet. Has he seen this: As for the SNP vision, … Continue reading Neil Mackay, Scotland’s Ross Kemp

I haven’t looked at the text. The headline is enough. He has to be kidding or worryingly lacking in self-awareness. This is the man who wrote: From Neil Mackay in the Herald in January 2020 (Who are these unnamed dark forces above?) I wrote then, equally disturbed by Mackay’s mythologyzing of facts: From Lord Robertson in 2014 From Professor Tom Devine in 2018 Neil Mackay may be ‘Scotland’s Columnist of the Year’ but he’s feck all use as an investigative reporter. Does ‘columnist just mean ‘blether?’ This is pathetic clickbait to make us anxious and cling to the Union but based on … Continue reading Neil Mackay’s lack of self-awareness hurts

We need read no further, the headline tells all and is all wrong, very wrong, again. I’ve been drawn into rebutting Mackay’s scare stories more times than I care to remember. Should you have a perverse notion to read them try this: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=Mackay Perhaps one of his most deranged was this in January 2020: Echoing the mad language of Lord NATO Robertson, he ignored the facts from Scotland’s top historian and researcher: So, probably wasting more time than I should, is there any evidence for, in particular, the second part of his claim. He is correct to say we have … Continue reading Neil Mackay paid to be oh so wrong again?

From the Herald’s Writer at Large (anything goes), yesterday: Extremism is now mainstream. Globally, the far right is shaking democracy to its foundations. How did this happen? To find out, Writer at Large Neil Mackay speaks to Dr Joe Mulhall, one of the world’s leading experts on the far right and a man who risked his life infiltrating extremist organisations in order to discover their plans to seize power. Scotland has long had its own far right groups from Combat 18 to the National Front and BNP. However, the far right additionally plays into the loyalist-republican divide in Glasgow. There’s … Continue reading Neil ‘Troubles’ Mackay’s Big Nightmare: The inside story of Scotland’s teeny far-right