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We investigated Who Runs Scotland. Here's what we found out.
Who Runs Scotland?
That's the question we have been trying to answer in our latest series.
Often, in media coverage, it seems that the power in our country lies entirely within the Scottish Parliament and at Westminster. But influence and power is often consolidated outside of the spotlight; by lobbyists, wealthy individuals, think tanks and industry interests.
Over the last month, we have spotlighted the people, organisations and businesses that wield this power across Scotland.
We kicked off by revealing the businesses who have been attempting to woo the Scottish Government most, by meeting with first minister John Swinney and his ministers.
Chief among these were fossil fuel giants, influential PR firms and the short-term lets industry. Our analysis also found that 44 per cent of lobbying is by companies and business groups. This is higher than charities, campaign groups and trade unions combined.
Scottish Government ministers are not the only target for lobbyists. Who Runs Scotland also looked at who was attempting to win friends and influence people at the Scotland Office, now run by Labour's Ian Murray.
The second part of our series examined the PR firms who clear the way for business and political interests to gain access to our decision-makers.
Major PR companies are stuffed with former politicians, spin doctors and advisors. Former Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy is now running his own lobbying enterprise - Arden Strategies - helping defence firms and fossil fuel giants to share their views with ministers north and south of the border.
Our helpful (but not entirely serious) 'revolving doors score' highlighted just how close the politics and PR worlds are.
Who Runs Scotland also took an in-depth look at our print media, which is now remarkably one-third owned in a single US tax haven. We examined who is running our defence industry, and the groups attempting to hold sway in the nascent space sector.
High pay was another focus of our reporting. We looked at the assets and controversies surrounding Scotland's richest people, and revealed that more than 400 people in Scotland's universities earn more than first minister John Swinney.
We also discovered how public agencies wield power. Our reporting revealed the number of public bodies that have little-known powers to seize evidence, search premises, and even spy on Scots. These so-called specialist reporting agencies include the SSPCA, NHS Scotland, and the Food Standards Agency. They came to prominence during the Horizon scandal, where the Post Office used its powers to investigate, wrongly charge and privately prosecute hundreds of innocent people.
This series took our small team of journalists months to put together; requiring freedom of information requests, in-depth data analysis, interviewing, contact building, intensive fact-checking and editing. Investigative journalism takes time and effort to complete responsibly and accurately.
And we couldn't have done it without the more than £11,000 we raised from our crowdfunding campaign last year. We wanted to look at Who Runs Scotland, and our supporters backed us with their money, as they have always done.
Ten years ago, we started The Ferret with a crowdfunded investigation into fracking, and we are grateful that people across Scotland still find our work important enough to support today.
The Ferret is an independent, investigative journalism cooperative dedicated to holding power to account.
Since 2015, we have reported on corruption, environmental issues, human rights, and political influence in Scotland.
Our work is supported by members who believe in journalism that challenges, exposes, and informs. If you value in-depth, fact-based reporting, you can support our work by becoming a member.
Join us today
View all episodes
Who Runs Scotland?
That's the question we have been trying to answer in our latest series.
Often, in media coverage, it seems that the power in our country lies entirely within the Scottish Parliament and at Westminster. But influence and power is often consolidated outside of the spotlight; by lobbyists, wealthy individuals, think tanks and industry interests.
Over the last month, we have spotlighted the people, organisations and businesses that wield this power across Scotland.
We kicked off by revealing the businesses who have been attempting to woo the Scottish Government most, by meeting with first minister John Swinney and his ministers.
Chief among these were fossil fuel giants, influential PR firms and the short-term lets industry. Our analysis also found that 44 per cent of lobbying is by companies and business groups. This is higher than charities, campaign groups and trade unions combined.
Scottish Government ministers are not the only target for lobbyists. Who Runs Scotland also looked at who was attempting to win friends and influence people at the Scotland Office, now run by Labour's Ian Murray.
The second part of our series examined the PR firms who clear the way for business and political interests to gain access to our decision-makers.
Major PR companies are stuffed with former politicians, spin doctors and advisors. Former Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy is now running his own lobbying enterprise - Arden Strategies - helping defence firms and fossil fuel giants to share their views with ministers north and south of the border.
Our helpful (but not entirely serious) 'revolving doors score' highlighted just how close the politics and PR worlds are.
Who Runs Scotland also took an in-depth look at our print media, which is now remarkably one-third owned in a single US tax haven. We examined who is running our defence industry, and the groups attempting to hold sway in the nascent space sector.
High pay was another focus of our reporting. We looked at the assets and controversies surrounding Scotland's richest people, and revealed that more than 400 people in Scotland's universities earn more than first minister John Swinney.
We also discovered how public agencies wield power. Our reporting revealed the number of public bodies that have little-known powers to seize evidence, search premises, and even spy on Scots. These so-called specialist reporting agencies include the SSPCA, NHS Scotland, and the Food Standards Agency. They came to prominence during the Horizon scandal, where the Post Office used its powers to investigate, wrongly charge and privately prosecute hundreds of innocent people.
This series took our small team of journalists months to put together; requiring freedom of information requests, in-depth data analysis, interviewing, contact building, intensive fact-checking and editing. Investigative journalism takes time and effort to complete responsibly and accurately.
And we couldn't have done it without the more than £11,000 we raised from our crowdfunding campaign last year. We wanted to look at Who Runs Scotland, and our supporters backed us with their money, as they have always done.
Ten years ago, we started The Ferret with a crowdfunded investigation into fracking, and we are grateful that people across Scotland still find our work important enough to support today.
The Ferret is an independent, investigative journalism cooperative dedicated to holding power to account.
Since 2015, we have reported on corruption, environmental issues, human rights, and political influence in Scotland.
Our work is supported by members who believe in journalism that challenges, exposes, and informs. If you value in-depth, fact-based reporting, you can support our work by becoming a member.
Join us today