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Sceptical Scot

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Tony O'Donnell

About Tony O'Donnell

Recently returned to Edinburgh from Brussels, where he worked for the both the European Commission and Parliament. He was previously a BBC and news agency journalist and is a former NHS psychologist.

Is the BBC helping British democracy?

December 6, 2020 by Tony O'Donnell 5 Comments

The BBC was once among the UK’s most respected institutions but no more – and it faces fresh competition from new upstarts like Andrew Neil’s GB News and Murdoch’s UK News. Break-up or renewal ahead?

Time to get real – or press the panic button?

October 12, 2018 by Tony O'Donnell 2 Comments

‘… it’s time to stop feebly blaming an unacceptable status quo for Scotland’s poor economic and social progress. And, instead of excusing that under-performance via the stock promise that independence will remedy current woes, the SNP must get real and begin serious preparations for the break-up of the UK.’

A leur façon: the French and pop music

May 20, 2018 by Tony O'Donnell Leave a Comment

‘This further reinforces a sense of opposition to the system, yet while French rap artists address burning social issues, they incorporate French regard for poetry and philosophy to achieve music more lyrical and subtle than that of their American counterparts.’

Adverse childhood, austerity and personal responsibility

February 1, 2018 by Tony O'Donnell Leave a Comment

‘Carol Craig has seen and shown how the child is father to the adult, identifying the childhood stresses that result in lifelong damage. But without substantial easing of the economic tensions that strain a household to breaking point, the requisite change isn’t coming any day soon’.

Take a look across the sea to Ireland

September 30, 2017 by Tony O'Donnell 3 Comments

‘And while England’s Brexiteers prepare to sign a blank cheque to gain their version of independence at any price, what are the chances of Scotland gaining control over its own post-Brexit destiny?’

Broadcasting on every platform – Mind the Gap!

May 7, 2017 by Tony O'Donnell 3 Comments

“But positive ratings alone will not be enough to defend intelligent audiences from the suppliers of fake news, peddlers of propaganda and from chauvinist, tabloid shlock. Democracy needs the BBC to live up to that stellar reputation.”

Marching on Holyrood

March 26, 2017 by Tony O'Donnell Leave a Comment

But the only cloud gathering on this golden occasion was one of dark doubt, not about the utter commitment of those who spoke, but whether they, or anyone else, had the power or strategy to outdo Canute and halt the inexorable tide bearing the UK out of the EU.

You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone

January 19, 2017 by Tony O'Donnell 1 Comment

“Behind this current, impoverishing turmoil lurks a similar, equally certain idea of English identity that’s clearly contradicted and compromised by the ideals of the EU. It may be that this sense of identity sees shame in accepting the need to collaborate internationally…”

Still time for MPs to overturn Brexit

September 12, 2016 by Tony O'Donnell 1 Comment

“Had the referendum been a court case, there would surely be a re-trial scheduled already.” The public was singularly ill-informed when it went to the poills in the June 23 EU referendum. Time for MPOs to reassert the primacy of parliamentary democracy.

A cheeky word from our sponsors

September 1, 2016 by Tony O'Donnell Leave a Comment

We’re reaching the parts other online digital journals never make even when ScotRail is having a good day…A lighthearted spoof on ourselves.

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Welcome to Sceptical Scot, Scotland’s premier non-tribal forum for passionate, informed debate. Sceptical Scot is for all who care about Scotland’s future, regardless of how they vote: for party, independence or union, EU or Brexit. We aim to provide an arena that is both broader and deeper than current online/print offers with a rich diet of well-researched, polemical, thought-provoking writing. Read more » about About Sceptical Scot

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