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.
Edinburgh
Joined September 2012
- Tweets1.6K
- Following950
- Followers690
- Likes1.1K
Pinned Tweet
My new biography of James Hutton, who revolutionised our understanding of how the earth was formed is published today by @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.
ALT A stack of seven books on a stone bench in the Birlinn garden
@WigtownBookFest thank-you for another great event. It’s my favourite festival, always fun. Sorry my visit is so broth year.
@CalSleeper the last time I took the sleeper from London to Edinburgh there was water, so we couldn’t wash or use the toilets. This time there’s a delay to boarding and the lounge is apparently full.We’re held in a goods loading area. No information how long the delay will be.
No water last time. An hour in, 50 people waiting, including children. Still no information about what the delay is and when it might be fixed. With ticket prices this high you’d expect some customer service @CalSleeper
Ray Perman retweeted
Ray Perman (@HubrisTheBook) was @FT Scottish Correspondent during the North Sea oil rush of the 1970s.
He pays tribute to Ian Clark, the visionary chief executive of Shetland Council. Scotland needs such leadership today
Ray Perman retweeted
How to manage data centre mania?
For Sceptical Scot, Ray Perman @HubrisTheBook takes a quizzical long view of disruptive technology.
History leads the way to constructive control of the gold rush - it leads to Shetland. sceptical.scot/2026/08/data-…
Save the CCA: Keep 350 Sauchiehall Street as a Public Cultural Asset - Sign the Petition! c.org/fKxBwyWWbB via @UKChange
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
rayperman.com/james-hutton-t…
Iran students stage first large anti-government protests since deadly crackdown bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yj…
The BBC was there
Ray Perman retweeted
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? sceptical.scot/2025/12/uk-bu…
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.”
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 👇
lnkd.in/dyhyMhum
And why not?
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
sceptical.scot/2025/12/enoug…
Ray Perman retweeted
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
sceptical.scot/2025/12/enoug…
Ray Perman retweeted
#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 sceptical.scot/2025/11/musca…
Ray Perman retweeted
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
Very hard-hitting report by @AntonMuscatelli. Scotland does have the powers to boost economic growth – it needs to refocus on economic development scottishlabour.org.uk/wp-con…
Ray Perman retweeted
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
sceptical.scot/2025/11/david…
Ray Perman retweeted
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. theguardian.com/media/2025/n…
Ray Perman retweeted
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.
University boss calls for major review of Scottish higher education bbc.in/4pG5pMy
#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…
sceptical.scot/2025/08/make-…
Ray Perman retweeted
Thank you @LGSpace for a beautiful presentation of my personal questioning of what rewilding means – it wasn't a word we knew (@HubrisTheBook and I) when we began our woodland adventure 30 years ago. littlegreenspace.org.uk/feat…
Ray Perman retweeted
Money Talks, Money Walks tomorrow night @EdinburghLoM
Looking forward to @HubrisTheBook, Russell Napier and stand-up historian Susan Morrison revealing nooks and crannies of Edinburgh's financial history, launching new audio walking tour guidigo.com/Tour/United%20Ki…
