MurrayBlackburnMackenzie

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. 

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“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.”
Lindsay Paterson, Professor of Education Policy
University of Edinburgh

Latest posts

MBM review of the ONS paper ‘Methodology for decision making on the 2021 Census sex question concept and associated guidance’

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MBM review of the ONS paper ‘Methodology for decision making on the 2021 Census sex question concept and associated guidance’ Less than six weeks before the date of the 2021 census in England and Wales, the Office for National Statistics…

Read More MBM review of the ONS paper ‘Methodology for decision making on the 2021 Census sex question concept and associated guidance’

The thin blue line: What inadequate protection for freedom of expression means in practice

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This blog summarises why the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill needs to provide clearer protection for freedom of expression than is currently proposed by the Scottish Government. Some commentators have suggested that the Bill will criminalise making basic…

Read More The thin blue line: What inadequate protection for freedom of expression means in practice

Response to emergency consultation on protection of freedom of expression in the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill

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Our response to the Justice Committee’s emergency consultation on freedom of expression in Bill is provided below. A PDF version of the briefing can be downloaded here. The Issue Our concern is whether the law will provide a clear point…

Read More Response to emergency consultation on protection of freedom of expression in the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill

Freedom of expression protection in the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill: the doors are still closed

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The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill extends the existing offence of “stirring up hatred” in relation to race, to a wider range of characteristics. As described here, the Justice Committee agreed with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice on…

Read More Freedom of expression protection in the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill: the doors are still closed