Neil Mackay
Writer at large
The award-winning Neil Mackay has been a journalist, author and filmmaker since he moved to Scotland from Northern Ireland in 1996 to work on The Big Issue. From there, he became an essential part of the Sunday Herald team, eventually becoming editor until its closure. He has written several books and produced various documentaries. Mr. Mackay’s journalism honours include the 2019 Columnist of the Year award at the Scottish Press Awards and runner-up Columnist of the Year at the 2020 Regional Press Awards. He is currently writer at large, contributing opinion to Herald Voices and writing features for Herald Magazine.
The award-winning Neil Mackay has been a journalist, author and filmmaker since he moved to Scotland from Northern Ireland in 1996 to work on The Big Issue. From there, he became an essential part of the Sunday Herald team, eventually becoming editor until its closure. He has written several books and produced various documentaries. Mr. Mackay’s journalism honours include the 2019 Columnist of the Year award at the Scottish Press Awards and runner-up Columnist of the Year at the 2020 Regional Press Awards. He is currently writer at large, contributing opinion to Herald Voices and writing features for Herald Magazine.
Latest articles from Neil Mackay
Unspun 🗳️
Neil Mackay: Scottish Greens are sitting prettier than they ever were in government
By any rationale, the Scottish Greens should be out for the count on the canvas. They’ve just been unceremoniously booted from government, after all. However, reports of their demise may be greatly exaggerated.
Neil Mackay: John Swinney must spring Humza Yousaf's independence trap
JOHN Swinney’s arrival as First Minister captures the zeitgeist. Voters everywhere are desperate for responsible government by sober politicians. In that respect, he and Keir Starmer mirror each other.
Neil Mackay: Hatred of the SNP and the left has reached absurd new levels
Do we treat the SNP differently to other political parties? I come bearing no torch for Scottish nationalists, incidentally. The SNP deserves all the criticism it gets, as do Conservatives. Yet there seem to be different standards when it comes to the SNP.
NEIL MACKAY'S BIG READ
Apocalypse now? Academics fear for future as 'four horsemen' ride towards Scotland
Stark fears are growing that the climate crisis is fuelling conflict which in turn fuels migration and political extremism. Our Writer at Large hears from those raising the alarm
Unspun 🗳️
Neil Mackay: Swinney wanted election with Tory leader change. He should call one.
Every time the Tories crown a new leader without seeking a mandate, the SNP screams for a general election. Yet, strangely, they never seem to fancy an election when it’s them.
Dead at 22, the woman who should have been one of the greatest American writers
If she hadn’t died so young, who might Diane Oliver have become? Today, we can ponder that sad notion. Nearly 60 years after her death, Oliver’s fiction has been brought to the public eye for what’s effectively the first time.
Neil Mackay: The fools inhabiting Holyrood are destroying devolution
SURVEY Scottish politics in its current form with cold dispassion, and it’s hard to resist the pull of nihilism.
Neil Mackay: For goodness sake, how did I get to be so old?
I was born in 1970. The same amount of time has passed between my birth and today, as passed between the Battle of the Somme and when I was born. This shouldn’t be allowed.
Exclusive Greens in state of open civil war as rebels demand Harvie and Slater go
The Scottish Green Party is in a state of open civil war this weekend with party loyalists and rebels launching brutal attacks on each other.