Ray Perman

Author, "The Rise and Fall of the City of Money", "Hubris: How HBOS wrecked Britain's best bank" and "The Man Who Gave Away His Island." Former journalist.

[Ray Perman @HubrisTheBook]

My new biography of James Hutton, who revolutionised our understanding of how the earth was formed is published today by @BirlinnBooks

[birlinnbooks @BirlinnBooks]

As ever, publication day brings with it an eclectic mix of books from Birlinn and @PolygonBooks, from two stunning poetry collections, to a history of salt cod from Shetland, to a biography of Enlightenment genius James Hutton, with much in between.

[Ray Perman @HubrisTheBook]

@RideEmber for the first time the normally brilliant Ember service let me down. The bus sailed past Kinross on the M90 and dumped me at Bridge of Earn. Half an hour wait until 11pm for the bus back so I can reclaim my car from the park and ride.

[Ray Perman @HubrisTheBook]

Looking forward to Old Edinburgh Club 7.30 pm talking about James Hutton: Geologist - a modest genius who revolutionised how we think about Earth. Paperback out soon so there are hardbacks at handsome discount for next few talks

https://t.co/k34PuHi1IS

[Ray Perman @HubrisTheBook]

Iran students stage first large anti-government protests since deadly crackdown https://t.co/yIpOYH9uSJ

The BBC was there

[Simon Schama @simon_schama]

Hello, news media .... anyone awake registering this ?

[Ray Perman @HubrisTheBook]

@AntonMuscatelli @KeithMa95432918 @heraldscotland Greater Manchester authorities started collaborating together voluntarily in 1986 and have worked together ever since. It can be done.

[Fay Young @fay_young]

UK Budget 2025? Get real. The world has changed

On Sceptical Scot John McLaren laments the disappointment of the UK Budget “doing nothing when so much needed to be done”

Who benefits from Starmer’s risk aversion to urgently needed reform? https://t.co/r19tJIGmy7

[Ray Perman @HubrisTheBook]

Citizens Panels on funding higher education in Scotland, Carnegie Trust initiative, awaited with interest.

“…a significant development in testing public opinion and attitudes regarding higher education funding in Scotland and potential options for the future.”

[Anton Muscatelli @AntonMuscatelli]

My op-ed in the Times today about the worrying finances of Scotland’s Colleges and Universities.

Today as a @RoyalSocEd Royal Society of Edinburgh we published a summary report on our conference on tertiary education funding.

You can find it here 👇
https://t.co/BYJ8SnQvPC

[Ray Perman @HubrisTheBook]

And why not?

[Fay Young @fay_young]

So #FixingBrokenGovernment
How about
Radical decentralisation
New regional structures. With Mayors!
Local government re-energised
Fewer (costly, unproductive) ministers and SPADs
In fact government must do less and do it better

https://t.co/7qAeLWbXin

[Fay Young @fay_young]

Hot on the heels of @AntonMuscatelli’s report comes @ProfJimG rigorous research into Scotland’s failing governance. Essential reading. Some will dismiss as partisan attack on SNP govt but that would be a grave mistake says @ProfJMitchell

https://t.co/7qAeLWbpsP

[Fay Young @fay_young]

#MuscatelliReport: is Scotland ready for radical action on regional economic development? - Sceptical Scot

John McLaren weighs options and obstacles in Sceptical Scot response to ⁦@AntonMuscatelli⁩’s thorough analysis of what needs to be done https://t.co/kVacN3aFkY

[Steve Rosenberg @BBCSteveR]

One Russian paper today reports that “Half of all clothes and shoe shops in Russia have shut down….[due to] drop in incomes & slowing economic growth.” Another wonders whether Russia is suffering from “economic stagnation or technical recession.” #ReadingRussia

[Ray Perman @HubrisTheBook]

Very hard-hitting report by @AntonMuscatelli. Scotland does have the powers to boost economic growth – it needs to refocus on economic development https://t.co/6ezmAmYhxP

[Fay Young @fay_young]

A tribute I never expected to write. David Gow, a dear friend, mentor and co-founder of Sceptical Scot has died far too soon. There will be many more tributes to come

https://t.co/5soUrqbnG2

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

David Gow obituary | The Guardian | The Guardian

David’s personality, intellect, skills made him brilliant in his vocation as a journalist. He never really retired. Sceptical Scot, run with estimable ⁦@fay_young⁩ became an important platform. https://t.co/AFmIDFmL0q

[Ray Perman @HubrisTheBook]

@davidhumeinst A very generous tribute to a truly remarkable man. He will be missed for his work with DHI, the RSE and as co-editor of the current affairs blog https://t.co/I7DD7QIHFj

[Ray Perman @HubrisTheBook]

@dhlexpressuk second missed delivery, different excuse this time: address wrong – except that it isn’t. Just type it into Google maps, every other company seems to find us easily enough. Shocking service

[Ray Perman @HubrisTheBook]

@dhlexpressuk failed to make my delivery today claiming no-one was at home. A straight lie: I’ve taken a day off to be here all day and @Tesco managed to find us in

[Ray Perman @HubrisTheBook]

@AntonMuscatelli It’s great and a shock to learn that all the PM’s messages are genuine!

[Anton Muscatelli @AntonMuscatelli]

Unfortunately, most people don’t realise just how close to the edge the University system is. Across all 4 U.K. nations. There is a systemic funding shortfall of the system which now requires a major independent review.

[Ray Perman @HubrisTheBook]

@oculusaye Return of the Zombies?

[Ray Perman @HubrisTheBook]

#MakeItHappen Camping it up with poor music and even worse jokes, Iames Graham has thrown away a story which was a genuine tragedy – for thousands of people who lost their jobs, for hundreds of thousands who lost their life savings…

https://t.co/8ThJJ2srq5