We, the co-editors of sceptical.scot, Fay Young and David Gow, have reluctantly decided to cease regular publication of this online cultural and current affairs magazine after seven eventful years.
Update, October 2022: Events, including the war in Ukraine, Johnson’s replacement by Truss, market mayhem and, not least, a political awakening from inert somnolence in Scotland have prompted us to post the occasional piece we deem especially stimulating – see Prof James Mitchell on the changing political landscape, Prof John McLaren on a dearth of economic debate and Prof Anton Muscatelli with a credibility test on populist policies – and there will be more. As we said above: we have ceased regular publication on a weekly basis. But the need for informed scepticism is greater now as we enter (perhaps) the end-game of Conservative rule post-2010…
The magazine began life on March 15 2015 but its origins go back to the September 2014 referendum on Scottish independence and the long preceding campaign. A group of us (writers, journalists, activists, artists etc) felt strongly that #indyref1 had been a momentous moment but one that left too great a binary divide between supporters of independence and/or unionism.
From the start, the editors sought to go beyond that divide by publishing comment and analysis of Scottish political, socio-economic and cultural life that was/is based on evidence and challenges easy assumptions. The editorial board, like the editors, shared a variety of views on the best way forward for Scotland and its 5.4m people, not least within an international perspective, but, equally, shared the commitment to evidence-based reporting and comment.
Over the past seven years we have published 1200 posts and attracted half a million views – perhaps a comparatively small output and readership but reflecting the dedicated efforts of a handful at best of (largely retired full-time journalist) editors. In recent years, these posts have focused increasingly on policy fields such as education, health, the economy and devolution and on the ever-growing gap between policy objective/target and performance/outcome.
The most read (and commented) post by far has been Stephen Mullen’s The myth of Scottish slaves (67K views). But pieces by Prof Walter Humes on education such as Seven reasons why Scottish education is under-performing or John McLaren on the economy such as How Scotland ranks have done well. Two of 15 original pieces from the pen of Darren ‘Loki’ McGarvey – Down to the river of death (on young male suicides in the Clyde) and Depression, delusion and disorder (on growing up in Glasgow) – especially pre-figured his award-winning career.
There have also been well-read pieces on the initial days of the Covid-19 pandemic, the “tangled history” of Edinburgh’s St James’ Quarter (now in pamphlet form) and on tensions within the SNP (Prof James Mitchell). The two co-editors have contributed on the political economy (Can Scotland meet the EU economic criteria?) and poetry (Five poems for a general election in hard times and In my country: a poem for refugee week) while the original designer, Justin Reynolds, still attracts many readers with his So, what’s so bad about being a Trotskyist?
It has, however, proven harder than the editors initially thought to bridge that binary divide in Scottish politics which, as a growing number of commentators recognise, has become mired in stagnant, sterile positioning as the economy deteriorates. (This pre-dates by a long way the terrible war in Ukraine). There are signs that the tectonic plates may be shifting a smidgen but it is for others to report and comment on this.
For the co-editors it is more obvious that the Scottish polity – and parts of civil society – is simply not prepared to get out of its comfort zone, rethink Scotland’s position within a rapidly changing geo-political environment, join in European and global debates on the way forward or, bluntly, abandon its parochialism and provincialism. There is simply a brick wall of often sullen incomprehension in front of us.
It will be for other, much younger, perhaps more enthused, certainly more willing editors, writers and journalists to “shake up Scotland” in a period when the media in our country are traversing a profound crisis. Again, there are signs of a possible revival of public interest journalism and we truly wish and hope it comes to pass. We leave the field, trusting that we have made a small contribution to this over the past seven years.
Above all, we thank all our contributors for their enthusiasm and energy and, of course, you, the readers who have been highly supportive over the past seven years. The overwhelming bulk of our articles and blogs are archived at the National Library of Scotland – a privileged legacy that gives us a great sense of pride and serves as a lasting tribute to all our authors.
Logo by David McAllister; image of co-editors outside National Library courtesy of passer-by; featured image by the editors
Outlander says
Well it’s a great shame that we don’t a soap box to stand up on anymore, viewing opinions is at the core of the Scot – no matter where they are in the world. Goodbye, good luck and we hope that some young ones will pick up the reins.
Ian Davidson says
Sorry to see you go. I fully understand your rationale. Scotland is very much “stuck” in public policy terms. Best wishes, Ian.
Fraser says
Sad to see Sceptical Scot close up. You did a great job over the past seven years and I am sure many readers, like me, learned a lot from the variety of interesting articles you published. Let’s hope the younger generation rise to your challenge.
Fraser
helen rumjanek says
So informative with clear explanations. Loved especially the articles by Prof James Mitchell.
Carol Craig says
So sorry that you are shutting up shop but understand why. You’ve added greatly to an understanding of Scotland and you will be sorely missed.
helen rumjanek says
Absolutely!!
Gordon Munro says
As ever you’ve called it out and thanks for providing the space. The space is needed and let’s hope your call for others to step up is heeded.
john mclaren says
A sad farewell to what will be a much missed resource.
So long and thanks for all the fish!
Bob Shaw says
I’m really sorry to see SS go. It was a breath of sanity and careful thought that will be missed.
Thanks for all your work, and the efforts of your contributors!
Frank says
From a comrade south of the border hope it’s allowed for me to say that you will be missed.
So few independent voices around. A few of us here in Liverpool started a blog of left leaning reminiscences and meanderings a couple of years ago but it’s hard to keep it up.
Fay Young says
Thank you Frank…perhaps you’ve seen the Mercat Group. Chance for synergy there?
Craig P says
Sorry to see you go, just as I have discovered sceptical.scot!
Reinhard Behrens says
Dear Fay and David,
I would like to join the chorus of regretters above in expressing my sadness of you ending your unique initiative. It is nearly ironic that your understandable personal decision should coincide with this point in our history: never seems to have been the upholding the facts over propaganda of all sorts shown itself more crucial than at this point, when whole countries can be kept in cynical ignorance! “Wehret den Anfängen” as the German saying goes ( Loosely: ‘fight the initial signs of untoward things’ or perhaps more succinct: ‘Be suspicious!’) but in order to do that successfully one has to have a grasp of all the facts. I guess this is the burden when living in a democracy that can only properly function with well informed citizens. Thank you for your years of filling us up with facts. Now it is up to us to run with them! Good luck in all your new ventures for which I wish you much energy and strength through hope and positivity! Auf Wiedersehen, Pets!
David Gow says
Vielen Dank Kamerad! Es war zwar keine einfache Entscheidung…
Reinhard Behrens says
Was sein muss, muss sein!
George Thorley says
Dear Fay and David
I share the common concern that you have closed down your organisation as I and my Mercat Group buddies all agree, you have provided an essential forum for for new thinking; challenges to the status quo and speaking truth to power. You will be sadly missed however what an amazing legacy of articles; thoughts and suggestions you have generated since Sceptical Scot’s inception. You should be rightly proud of your considerable achievements.
Good luck as you face the future which from any perspective looks to be challenging for all.
ronald young says
Deeply sorry to hear of your passing. To my eternal shame, I have not been a regular reader and the news has therefore come to me – resident in Romania – via a casual phone conversation.
But scepticism is desperately needed these days and it’s particularly sad to hear that the site is closing because you judge there is too much binary thinking in the country.
After 30 odd years of being out of the country, I’m actually thinking seriously of returning and will need sceptical voices when I do….
Mike Wilson says
This is a sad development. Might there be enough of ‘us’ willing to pay for a quarterly print journal?
Outlander says
As it’s now ‘goodbye and thanks for all the fish’ for you, I wonder if we can hope that someone else will pick up the baton and the soap box ?
Peter Shaw says
All very sad, also since part of the general quagmire, inclement climate, bad faith (manufactured by some, followed “inside the box” by others) , helplessness of many of the best, truculence of the worst, that are prevalent in most politics and much of society on this island and its neighbouring province, since around 2012. Ten years. Ten years since the rearrival of Head Poisoner Crosby, to bale out the slack, smug and foolish Cameron by whatever toxic polarising dogwhistling manipulative means he wished.
And I can’t find any trace of Fraser Whyte, his blog vanished, also gone from Twitter …. one of the quiet voices of good faith and reason on that latter medium.
All a loss, many losses. Crises, distress and still seething irrationality in many parts, when there is ample cause for fair anger, instead of the snarling and cold paid belligerence, over the lives and li elihoods of so many.
I hope Fraser is – and yourselves are – personally still alive, kicking and relatively buoyant, resilient.
Best wushes in whatever you do, privstely and publicly.
David Gow says
Many thanks Peter. Yes, we haven’t heard from/seen Fraser in quite a while – and the skies darken on a daily basis! But “pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will”…
Peter Shaw says
I know the Gramsci quote well, from experience as well as reading – a good psychological balancing act, hard to maintain in “praxis”, but precisely for that reason the point of the maxim!
FCK Sceptical Scots says
Good Riddance to this bunch of misleading rats. You will definitely not be missed by those that matter.
It is greatly hoped for that you never return. Scotland will be a better place without you and your delusional readers.
David Gow says
ciao
Peter says
Charming!
I take it you’re not very sceptical yourself.