Latest news with #CitySightseeingGlasgow
The National
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Tom Devine speaks after Neil Oliver binned from Glasgow tour buses
As The National reported on Friday, Oliver has been quietly axed from City Sightseeing Glasgow, where he previously provided English language commentary and had his portrait featured on the side of the service's buses. Now, leading historian Sir Tom Devine has responded to Oliver being dropped by the tour guiding business, saying the GB News host had taken a slot which could have been filled by a real historian. READ MORE: Theatrics of Unionist duo on Question Time were cringeworthy Devine told The National: 'It has taken some time for Oliver's name to be removed from the city's tourist buses. Now that it has finally happened, I am pleased. "He is not a historian. Scotland is currently awash with excellent historians, any one of whom could have been selected as the face of this tourist campaign. 'I suspect the decision to delete his image is partly to do with the fact that he has become a much more controversial figure in recent years because of his eccentric opinions on politics and other issues, which have undermined his former public standing.' READ MORE: Bob Vylan member responds to Glastonbury backlash with lengthy statement Oliver has descended into the realm of conspiracy theories in recent years, claiming Covid lockdowns are part of a new world order and that vaccinations can give people "turbo cancer". He called the prospect of a new independence vote 'cancerous' and most recently had one of his YouTube videos blocked by the platform for using antisemitic language. His involvement with the tourism service has long been questioned, given his fierce support of the union and Glasgow's majority-Yes vote in 2014. West Coast Motors, the firm who operate the City Sightseeing Glasgow tour bus service, did not respond to requests for comment.
The National
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Tom Devine 'pleased' by Neil Oliver's axing from tourism service
The National reported on Friday that Oliver had been quietly axed from City Sightseeing Glasgow, where he previously provided English language commentary and had his portrait featured on the side of the service's buses. Now, leading historian Sir Tom Devine has responded to Oliver being dropped by the tour guiding business, saying he is 'pleased' by the decision. READ MORE: Theatrics of Unionist duo on Question Time were cringeworthy Devine told The National: 'It has taken some time for Oliver's name to be removed from the city's tourist buses. 'Now that it has finally happened I am pleased. He is not a historian. Scotland is currently awash with excellent historians, any one of whom could have been selected as the face of this tourist campaign. 'I suspect the decision to delete his image is partly to do with the fact that he has become a much more controversial figure in recent years because of his eccentric opinions on politics and other issues, which have undermined his former public standing.' Oliver's removal has been called for since the broadcaster went on several anti-Covid regulations rants on GB News in 2021, as well as his previous remarks regarding a potential second referendum. READ MORE: Bob Vylan member responds to Glastonbury backlash with lengthy statement He called the prospect of a new independence vote 'cancerous' and most recently had one of his YouTube videos blocked by the platform for using antisemitic language. His involvement with the tourism service has long been questioned, given his fierce support of the union and Glasgow's majority-Yes vote in 2014. West Coast Motors, the firm who operate the City Sightseeing Glasgow tour bus service, did not respond to requests for comment.
The National
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Neil Oliver quietly dropped from Glasgow tour bus after backlash
Oliver provided English language commentary for tourists on board the City Sightseeing Glasgow buses, which featured a picture of his face on the side of the vehicles. Four years after calls were made to remove Oliver from the City Sightseeing services, it seems that he has finally been dropped. READ MORE: This is why an independent Scotland should stay well away from Nato The firm's website no longer contains any information regarding his English-language narration, and eagle-eyed Glaswegians noticed his portrait is not featured on the buses anymore. Though the same sentence has been removed from the City Sightseeing information page, Visit Scotland's website still says "our English recorded commentary is provided by renowned historian Neil Oliver", suggesting that this removal has been done quietly. City Sightseeing Glasgow was urged to drop Oliver, who has narrated the service since 2012, following his comments on GB News regarding pandemic-era lockdowns and vaccines, and his remarks on a potential second independence referendum. Conspiracy theorist and former TV host Neil Oliver (Image: GB News) Most recently, the GB News presenter has been criticised for indulging in conspiracy theories on his YouTube channel and had a video blocked by the platform over his use of antisemitic language. Otto English, author of Fake History, told The National: "Given Neil Oliver's long journey into conspiracy and irrelevance, I'm simply flabbergasted that it didn't happen years ago. "I hope Glasgow gets the commentator it deserves in his place." He left his previous role as president for the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) amid a row over his expression of admiration for race-row historian David Starkey, though he claimed the decision to step down was due to the end of his three-year tenure. He faced backlash during his time with NTS for his support of the Union and describing a second independence referendum as 'cancerous'. Oliver was blasted by former Glasgow Kelvin MSP Sandra White for his Covid jibes during the pandemic, calling lockdowns the 'biggest mistake in world history' and saying he'd happily risk catching the virus. READ MORE: Keir Starmer suggests he didn't read through 'island of strangers' speech White previously told The National that Oliver should 'absolutely not' be allowed to lead commentary on the tours and called for an end to any potential contract the firm had with him. Given his fierce pro-Union stance, his authority to narrate historic tours of Glasgow was also called into question, considering that Glasgow voted Yes to the 2014 referendum. West Coast Motors, the firm who operate the City Sightseeing Glasgow buses, has been approached for comment.
The National
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Neil Oliver quietly dropped from Glasgow tour buses
Oliver provided English language commentary for tourists on board the City Sightseeing Glasgow buses, which featured a picture of his face on the side of the vehicles. Four years after calls were made to remove Oliver from the City Sightseeing services, it seems that he has finally been dropped. READ MORE: This is why an independent Scotland should stay well away from Nato The firm's website no longer contains any information regarding his English-language narration, and eagle-eyed Glaswegians noticed his portrait is not featured on the buses anymore. Though the same sentence has been removed from the City Sightseeing information page, Visit Scotland's website still says "our English recorded commentary is provided by renowned historian Neil Oliver", suggesting that this removal has been done quietly. City Sightseeing Glasgow were urged to drop Oliver, who has narrated the service since 2012, following his comments on GB News regarding pandemic-era lockdowns and vaccines, and his remarks on a potential second independence referendum. Most recently, the GB News presenter has been criticised for indulging in conspiracy theories on his YouTube channel and had a video blocked by the platform over his use of anti-Semitic language. He left his previous role as president for the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) amid a row over his expression of admiration for David Starkey, though he claimed the decision to step down was due to the end of his three-year contract. He faced backlash during his time with NTS for his support of the Union and describing a second independence referendum as 'cancerous'. Oliver was blasted by former Glasgow Kelvin MSP Sandra White for his Covid jibes, calling lockdowns the 'biggest mistake in world history' and saying he'd happily risk catching the virus. READ MORE: Keir Starmer suggests he didn't read through 'island of strangers' speech White previously told The National that Oliver should 'absolutely not' be allowed to lead commentary on the tours and called for an end to any potential contract the firm had with him. Given his fierce pro-Union stance, his authority to narrate historic tours of Glasgow was also called into question, considering that Glasgow voted Yes to the 2014 referendum. West Coast Motors, the firm who operate the City Sightseeing Glasgow buses, have been approached for comment.
