Neil Mackay

Neil Mackay

@neilmackay.bsky.social

Journalist, author, filmmaker and broadcaster. Writer at Large with @heraldscotland.bsky.social Made in Ireland, found in Scotland MDANT🎖️ AKA ‘the kind of strutting cosmopolitan socialist who’s made for Bluesky’

9.1K followers2.1K following7K posts

Neil Mackay reposted

Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

Instead of screaming about ‘woke’ could we try having a sensible discussion about whether or not the dead should be on display in museums? Scotland has removed some mummies from display and the culture warriors have gone nuts. Whatever happened to intelligent debate? In @heraldscotland.bsky.social

heraldscotland.comLet's try having an intelligent discussion about mummies in museumsRemoving the dead from display in Glasgow has sparked claims of cancellation. Neil Mackay says culture warriors should cut the cheap chat and engage their brains
Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

It's just struck me how old fashioned I sound in this column. I am asking for intelligent debate on a complex moral issue. That just doesn't happen anymore. Silly me.

Neil Mackay@neilmackay.bsky.social

Instead of screaming about ‘woke’ could we try having a sensible discussion about whether or not the dead should be on display in museums? Scotland has removed some mummies from display and the culture warriors have gone nuts. Whatever happened to intelligent debate? In @heraldscotland.bsky.social

heraldscotland.comLet's try having an intelligent discussion about mummies in museumsRemoving the dead from display in Glasgow has sparked claims of cancellation. Neil Mackay says culture warriors should cut the cheap chat and engage their brains
Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

Instead of screaming about ‘woke’ could we try having a sensible discussion about whether or not the dead should be on display in museums? Scotland has removed some mummies from display and the culture warriors have gone nuts. Whatever happened to intelligent debate? In @heraldscotland.bsky.social

heraldscotland.comLet's try having an intelligent discussion about mummies in museumsRemoving the dead from display in Glasgow has sparked claims of cancellation. Neil Mackay says culture warriors should cut the cheap chat and engage their brains

Neil Mackay reposted

George Takei
@georgetakei.bsky.social

My heart is heavy. Walter Koenig, our Ensign Pavel Chekov, passed away early today. Walter and I met on the bridge of the Enterprise in the 1960s, and we stayed friends for nearly six decades. When Brad and I married in 2008, Walter stood beside us as our best man.

Neil Mackay reposted

News Eye
@newseye.bsky.social

The achievements of the Serbian student movement will be studied for decades. This was their blueprint for revolution. The recipe for throwing a corrupt authoritarian from office. Read, learn, implement. (📸 Save and Saclony)

Neil Mackay reposted

Jesse Thorn
@jessethorn.bsky.social

My pal Danielle Koenig shared that her father Walter Koenig passed away last night at age 90. A performer whose kindness and warmth shone through the screen. He will be well remembered.

Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

“Digital crimes must be dealt with like real-life crimes.” A-fucking-men

Rafa Sales Ross@rafiews.com

In his acceptance speech, Lula says he will work to regulate digital platforms in Brazil. “Digital crimes must be dealt with like real-life crimes.” This comes after Meta directly interfered with the Brazilian elections, favouring Flávio Bolsonaro.

Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

Hi, I'm Neil. I've invented a Death Machine™ which will most likely obliterate the planet and all of humanity. Now, on other matters would you like to buy some shares in Death Machine Inc? If we actually survive this age of total fucking stupidity, historians will laugh at us for millennia to come

bbc.co.ukAnthropic warns of AI's 'catastrophic risks' ahead of blockbuster share listingThe company will be the first true artificial intelligence company to go public as tech firms continue to invest heavily in AI.

Neil Mackay reposted

Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

Torture, terror and extrajudicial executions: the Dirty War in Northern Ireland and my search for truth For decades I’ve investigated collusion between British military intelligence and terrorists One question has always remained: given the crimes committed how can Britain call itself a democracy?

heraldscotland.comStakeknife's Scottish spymaster: The dark secrets of Northern Ireland's 'Dirty War'Our Writer at Large has investigated Ulster's Dirty War for decades. Here, he talks to the veteran BBC reporter, John Ware, about the role of Scottish army officer Gordon Kerr

Neil Mackay reposted

Sunder Katwala (sundersays)
@sundersays.bsky.social

Replying to @sundersays.bsky.social

BBC report sanitises the overt racism: It notes that organisers warned marchers not to talk to journalists, then gives the "anti-immigration group"'s own sanitised description of itself. It does not report they chanted "England for the white man" in the streets. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukPro and anti-immigration protesters march in Herne BayThere was a heavy police presence for the marches by the Kent Nationalist Movement and its opponents.

Neil Mackay reposted

Peter Arnott
@peterarnott.bsky.social

This.

Neil Mackay@neilmackay.bsky.social

Torture, terror and extrajudicial executions: the Dirty War in Northern Ireland and my search for truth For decades I’ve investigated collusion between British military intelligence and terrorists One question has always remained: given the crimes committed how can Britain call itself a democracy?

heraldscotland.comStakeknife's Scottish spymaster: The dark secrets of Northern Ireland's 'Dirty War'Our Writer at Large has investigated Ulster's Dirty War for decades. Here, he talks to the veteran BBC reporter, John Ware, about the role of Scottish army officer Gordon Kerr
Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

A racist lady told a Nazi something and now Britain has a mercenary army made up of African migrants These assholes are stark raving mad and they actually vote

Neil Mackay reposted

Chris Green
@chrisbirder.bsky.social

Most people in the UK have no idea what went on in NI over the last 60 years.

Neil Mackay@neilmackay.bsky.social

Torture, terror and extrajudicial executions: the Dirty War in Northern Ireland and my search for truth For decades I’ve investigated collusion between British military intelligence and terrorists One question has always remained: given the crimes committed how can Britain call itself a democracy?

heraldscotland.comStakeknife's Scottish spymaster: The dark secrets of Northern Ireland's 'Dirty War'Our Writer at Large has investigated Ulster's Dirty War for decades. Here, he talks to the veteran BBC reporter, John Ware, about the role of Scottish army officer Gordon Kerr
Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

I can’t tell you how much it distresses me that journalism like this gets so little attention in this county. If I write about some culture war nonsense, it’s gobbled up. But work like this which questions the very nature of our democracy - and is about life and death? It’s so often met with silence

Neil Mackay@neilmackay.bsky.social

Torture, terror and extrajudicial executions: the Dirty War in Northern Ireland and my search for truth For decades I’ve investigated collusion between British military intelligence and terrorists One question has always remained: given the crimes committed how can Britain call itself a democracy?

heraldscotland.comStakeknife's Scottish spymaster: The dark secrets of Northern Ireland's 'Dirty War'Our Writer at Large has investigated Ulster's Dirty War for decades. Here, he talks to the veteran BBC reporter, John Ware, about the role of Scottish army officer Gordon Kerr
Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

I guess it takes a lot of water to wash a conscience like that clean

Prem Sikka@premnsikka.bsky.social

Reform UK's Suella Braverman claims massive taxpayer-funded water bill at home equal to 18 baths a day Claim to have used 1,504 litres of water daily at her £1.2million four-bedroom pad in a five-month period. Reform have promised benefit cuts for the disabled, old, sick, poor, unfortunate.

mirror.co.ukSuella Braverman claims huge taxpayer-funded water bill equal to 18 baths a dayEXCLUSIVE: Benefits-bashing Reform UK MP Suella Braverman claimed £45,000 in parliamentary expenses towards her utility bills, newly-emerged files show - leaving the taxpayer on the hook
Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

It’s so telling that Robin Ince has used the word ‘openly’ here. Any time I write a piece in the Scottish press that’s supportive of trans folk it unleashes a tidal wave of hate and threats that lasts for days. It is a deliberate exercise in silencing support and further isolating trans people.

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Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

Torture, terror and extrajudicial executions: the Dirty War in Northern Ireland and my search for truth For decades I’ve investigated collusion between British military intelligence and terrorists One question has always remained: given the crimes committed how can Britain call itself a democracy?

heraldscotland.comStakeknife's Scottish spymaster: The dark secrets of Northern Ireland's 'Dirty War'Our Writer at Large has investigated Ulster's Dirty War for decades. Here, he talks to the veteran BBC reporter, John Ware, about the role of Scottish army officer Gordon Kerr

Neil Mackay reposted

Nick Lloyd
@spaincivilwartours.bsky.social

This new electoral vídeo from Pedro Sánchez is quite something. Standing in front of Guernica defending the anti-war stance of his government, limiting military expenditure, denouncing the atrocity of Gaza. English subtitles.

Neil Mackay reposted

Punk Rock History
@punkrockhistory.bsky.social

73 years young 🥰 Happy birthday to Belinda Magnus, aka Pauline Black, frontwoman of the British ska band The Selecter, born on this day in 1953 in Romford, England Photo from the "Coventry Telegraph" archive, taken in July 1981 at "The Tic Toc Club" in Coventry #paulineblack #selecter #skahistory

Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

I take it the BBC are banning the poppy now too …

Leicester Gazette@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Two University of Leicester students speak out over ‘absurd’ and ‘Orwellian’ decision by the BBC and ITV Studios to edit out pride pins worn on University Challenge

leicester.newsBBC edits out pride pins on University Challenge in ‘Orwellian’ move* * * This story was published by **The Leicester Gazette** : a local, independent newspaper about Leicestershire. 1,000 people have already joined our community. Just use those buttons below to download our app and **sign up for free**. * * * Astrophysics student Samuel Carlier and History student Emmeline Hague-Wright were shocked to find that their LGBTQ+ pride pins had been edited out of their University Challenge appearance earlier this year. The episode, initially scheduled for BBC Two on 24 August, was delayed twice before airing on 7 September 2026. The pins showed the progressive LGBTQ+ pride flag, the bisexual pride flag and a rainbow feather. Speaking to the Leicester Gazette, Sam said: “Living in a liberal democracy and having the state broadcaster tell you ‘we’re editing how you look’, seems very Orwellian.” Sam described the choice to remove the pins before broadcast as “weird” and “absurd”. He said: “[Censoring] that seemed weird. If I had worn a rainbow shirt, would they have censored that? If the idea is to keep things impartial, where is that line in the sand?” A side by-side image of Sam wearing the pin and with it having been digitally removed. Photograph: supplied Sam contacted the BBC to try to understand why his pins had been edited out. He told the Gazette: “The BBC people said they’d ring me, and I chased them, they just said go to the complaints website and file a complaint there, that’s what I did.” Since then, Sam hasn’t had a response from the BBC as to why his pins were removed. After the episode had aired, Sam noted that his shirt ‘melted’ into itself occasionally, as a result of the editing. Photograph: supplied ## Students believe the decision was made following online transphobia Emmeline was also shocked when she found out that the feather pin she wore was due to be removed from the episode she was in. It was understood by Emmeline that there was online transphobia in response to previous episode of University Challenge, and she had been contacted by the BBC, anticipating support from the broadcaster. When the BBC contacted her, instead of an offer of support, she was told her pin was going to be removed. “At first it was mostly confusion,” she said. “I heard that they had received a lot of nastiness online from people and I thought they were going to call me to say ‘we have support services if needed,’ and that wasn't what I got at all.” Instead, Emmeline was notified that the episodes were going to be delayed. “It was out of left field, I was confused for a while,” she said. “This entire delay has been because of a feather and two badges on a teammate that were basically impossible [for viewers] to see.” Emmeline had expressed her frustrations with the repeated delays from the BBC, spanning from mid-July to early-September. She said: “We were announced on the website and then delayed again, and then announced on the website a second time, and delayed even further. Speaking about the removal, she said: “It takes a lot of time” she said. “Making it [the edit] look good would be even more expensive and time-consuming. It seems like drastically a lot of effort.” ## Join the conversation Our app is more than just a way to keep up – it's a gateway to award-winning journalism and the local community. __Want to support our work?__ Click here for membership__.__ ## Wider criticism on LGBTQ+ support The pins Sam wore during the episode. Photograph: supplied According to leading LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall UK, two in five LGBTQ+ students will hide their identities at university for fear of discrimination. Stonewall has reported that more than 36 per cent of trans students have received hostile conduct from university staff due to their gender identity. Reflecting on the digital removal of the pins, Sam spoke about how disheartening the choice was. He said: “There was maybe like a span of eight years where someone could be uncontroversially out in the open queer – now that’s gone again.” he said. The BBC has also been widely criticised for ‘an attack on the LGBTQ+ community’ by pulling its involvement with the popular show, RuPaul's Drag Race. The broadcaster pulled its involvement in September following “significant financial pressures” as the reason for axing their involvement. The criticism follows another recent controversial edit by the BBC. On its hit show, Strictly Come Dancing, a decision was made to edit out ‘Protect the Dolls’ from contestant Bethany Antonia’s T-shirt. It’s a slogan which has become widely used to support the rights of trans women. The BBC defended their decision, saying the changes were made to meet editorial guidelines. It comes as the LGBTQ+ community has faced challenges amid an increasingly less tolerant political climate. ## What the BBC had to say When we asked them about editing out the pins worn by Leicester’s University Challenge team, a BBC spokesperson said: “In line with our editorial guidelines, we advise that no badges, flags, and emblems or symbols are worn or visible during filming, along with clothing with obvious branding or slogans. If such items are not removed for any reason then a decision is made between the programme makers and the BBC regarding any edits to the programme.” The BBC said the delays to the episode were unrelated to the decision to edit out the pins. A spokesperson for ITV Studios said: “University Challenge is an entertainment quiz show and is made in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines requirements for impartiality.” The University of Leicester refused to comment on the matter. * * * **Before you go…** We’ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering we’re a small team on a shoestring budget. Now, we’re ready for the next stage of the Leicester Gazette. **Download our new app and get all of our journalism anytime, anywhere.** The app connects with **Bluesky** , **Mastodon** and **Threads** , giving you access to a network of around 60 million people. It’s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media – owned by the community. * * *
Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

There’s a deeply pathetic strain in British commentary where the writer is so desperate for attention - rather than to impart an idea or provoke debate, which is their job - that they simply act like a prick. This fool’s frantic longing to be noticed by someone - anyone - is actually quite sad

Neil Mackay reposted

Neil Mackay
@neilmackay.bsky.social

After the death of BBC Scotland, there’s only one possible course of action: the SNP must demand that broadcasting powers be devolved from Westminster to Holyrood. This country has been deliberately failed by London. So we need to take broadcasting into our own hands In @heraldscotland.bsky.social

heraldscotland.com'SNP must demand powers over broadcasting after death of BBC Scotland channel'Neil Mackay argues the closure of BBC Scotland's TV channel exposes a failure of leadership and makes the case for devolving broadcasting to Holyrood.