Established in late 2018, MurrayBlackburnMackenzie is an independent policy analysis collective, made up of Dr Kath Murray, Lucy Hunter Blackburn and Lisa Mackenzie. Between us, we have extensive experience in policy-making, research and communications.
We are Edinburgh-based, and work in both a voluntary and commissioned capacity.
You can make a donation to support our work here.
Scottish Parliament public petition on recording sex accurately in cases of rape or attempted rape
On 2 June 2021 we lodged a petition with the Scottish Parliament Public Petitions Committee, ‘calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to require Police Scotland, the Crown Office and the Scottish Court Service to record accurately the sex of people charged with or convicted of rape or attempted rape‘. We are…
Endorsements
Johann Lamont, former MSP and leader, Scottish Labour
“Thoughtful, respectful, rational, compassionate and informative. So important when others demand ‘no debate’. I cannot overstate my respect for and awareness of the importance of this voluntary commitment to women and girls.”
Jenny Marra, former MSP, Scottish Labour
“The most intelligent and robust analysis of the Hate Crime Bill and its impact on women’s rights came from MBM.”
Liam Kerr MSP, Scottish Conservatives
“MBM were very helpful to MSPs during a number of debates in the last parliament. There’s never any shortage of research, analysis and material for MSPs to go through when preparing for debates and legislation. So content that is incisive and authoritative is important, and that’s what MBM provided.”
Simon Fanshawe, Writer, broadcaster and co-founder of Stonewall
“Vital research to cut through the myths and establish the facts.”
Francis Wheen, Journalist and broadcaster
“This is such important work. Rigorous, detailed, evidence-based analysis is desperately needed as an antidote to toxic shouting-down and vacuous sloganeering on Twitter. The hardline shouters-down will shut their ears, of course, but many other people (including those in public office) will find it increasingly hard to ignore the reality that this project will reveal.”
Professor Lindsay Paterson, University of Edinburgh
“If policy is to be based on evidence, then the evidence has to be as independent of ideological points of view as is possible. MBM Scottish policy analysis has an admirable record of trying to achieve that.”