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Whatever happened to political protest music? Has music lost its rage? Where have all the angry songs gone? I explore rock and revolution and find out why the likes of Ed Sheeran are scared to speak out - and who the artists are manning the barricades. My long read in @heraldscotland.bsky.social

'Ed Sheeran could have said f**k Kraft' Scots professor on why pop's gone pedestrian

Well-known academic Gregor Gall has a new book coming out on left-wing music. He talks to our Writer at Large about why rock and roll was more revolutionary in decades gone by

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Reposted by Neil Mackay

Which bands or singers switched you on politically? For me it was Stiff Little Fingers, The Specials and the Dead Kennedys. In my long read, I explore protest music and why it seems to have almost died out in the 2020s with academic and music writer Gregor Gall. In @heraldscotland.bsky.social

'Ed Sheeran could have said f**k Kraft' Scots professor on why pop's gone pedestrian

Well-known academic Gregor Gall has a new book coming out on left-wing music. He talks to our Writer at Large about why rock and roll was more revolutionary in decades gone by

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Neil Mackay @neilmackay.bsky.social · 11h

Hello there, sorry you’re having trouble. I think this link should take you to the subscription page. If not I’m sure someone can help @heraldscotland.bsky.social … maybe @derekmcarthur.bsky.social if he is on today? Apologies again. Thanks for supporting our journalism. Best. Neil

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'Ed Sheeran could have said f**k Kraft' Scots professor on why pop's gone pedestrian

Well-known academic Gregor Gall has a new book coming out on left-wing music. He talks to our Writer at Large about why rock and roll was more revolutionary in decades gone by

345810

'Ed Sheeran could have said f**k Kraft' Scots professor on why pop's gone pedestrian

Well-known academic Gregor Gall has a new book coming out on left-wing music. He talks to our Writer at Large about why rock and roll was more revolutionary in decades gone by

23728

Reposted by Neil Mackay

Live-streamed public executions by firing squad: how low can barbarian America go? America is lost. It’s so morally debased it can’t be saved. Only its collapse will lead to redemption. Until then, every civilised nation on Earth should turn its back on this pariah. In @heraldscotland.bsky.social

Live-streamed public executions by firing squad: how low can barbarian America go?

Where exactly is rock bottom for America? How low can that nation sink?

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Reposted by Neil Mackay

Blairer @haggisblarer.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

👇👇

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Charlie Lynch @charlielynch.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

No it’s not, and I’ll write how I choose to write

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Reposted by Neil Mackay

“Nairn’s films were strange affairs. He worked at a time when television was not formulaic, and had yet to be hikacked by morons; when some executives could actually read and write, and producers had great autonomy.” www.theoldie.co.uk/article/jona...

theoldie.co.uk

Jonathan Meades - The critical brilliance of Ian Nairn - The Oldie

The critic who cared too much - Ian Nairn wrote brilliantly about buildings, made glorious TV – and drowned his sorrows too deeply, remembers Jonathan Meades, who is 75 today

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Reposted by Neil Mackay

Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Keep your Great British lawn and your garden borders secure with the… WEEPING TOMMO™ From the new Private Eye, out now.

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Tickle-Me-Elmo has got an upgrade

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Back in the last century a brilliant half hour documentary would have appeared about her on bbc2

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Jesu Christos! New episode of the league of gentlemen just dropped

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Jim Lutomski🏴‍☠️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @ilejim.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

You’re very optimistic about the Trump regime

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Reposted by Neil Mackay

Every word that Neil says. We urgently need to de-yankify and unite with the civilised world. The US has descended into utter evil. Recovery may never happen as too many lines have been crossed. I salute those who are resisting. They have to reckon with half the nation who voted for this.

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Reposted by Neil Mackay

The Herald @heraldscotland.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

"The Trump administration is full of men and women - Pete Hegseth is one - who claim to be pious Christians. If their god is real, they will be sent hurtling to hell for what they’re about to do. Christ himself would damn them." www.heraldscotland.com/poli... @neilmackay.bsky.social

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Live-streamed public executions by firing squad: how low can barbarian America go?

Where exactly is rock bottom for America? How low can that nation sink?

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Reposted by Neil Mackay

Sarah Brand @drsarahbrand.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Would love to write a book for children but I don’t think I have what it takes to be an actor.

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Internet, the page is blank. Do your thing

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the pickwicker man @pickwick.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Oh I dunno, here’s a suggestion, reporter to reporter, maybe go and ask some LGBT folk and find the fuck out?

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Reposted by Neil Mackay

"we've made it super dangerous for people to be openly LGBT and now the number of openly LGBT people is in freefall?? More research needed but probably queerness was just a fad after all"

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This is a deliberate attempt to blood civilians, breach our moral boundaries and make us complicit in their filthy crimes. They want us to become as vile and debased as they are. Resist

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The Herald @heraldscotland.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Creepy weirdo-bad-hairdo awkward motherfucker freaky dongs

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Reposted by Neil Mackay

'Kids in Britain and France are being told directly that they have no future. Meanwhile, the state and adults sneer at them and call them snowflakes.' www.heraldscotland.com/poli... @neilmackay.bsky.social

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Reposted by Neil Mackay

The Herald @heraldscotland.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

'Unlike so many protestors here at home – usually middle-aged men in black masks with domestic violence convictions – the youth of France punches up, not down' www.heraldscotland.com/poli... @neilmackay.bsky.social 𝘐𝘔𝘈𝘎𝘌: 𝘑𝘰𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘦/𝘗𝘈

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Live-streamed executions. Welcome to Hell

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Reposted by Neil Mackay

Why can’t we be more like the French? In France, young people are punching up at those in power demanding better education not decline and more cuts In Britain, middle-aged masked men with criminal records for domestic abuse punch down an at anyone who isn’t white In @heraldscotland.bsky.social

What French student protests reveal about Britain's broken political system

In France, even children can see that the political system needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. In Britain, we seem incapable of understanding that truth, Neil Mackay says.

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Your country is Nazi. So fuck off twice, you daft prick

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