Andrew Neil has never been afraid of courting controversy, but is his claim that the Scottish press is in danger of disappearing just a vindictive rant? Or does he have a serious point as both The Scotsman and The Herald continue to struggle with circulation decline? The Drum investigates.

Andrew Neil, former editor in chief of Press Holdings, has never been the most popular man in Scottish media. And given his character and predilection for outspoken controversy, it is unlikely he ever wanted to be.

The Scottish press had a particularly painful 2007, which saw the first walkouts by newspaper staff for a generation, against a climate of cost cutting, rising profits, declining circulation and overseas ownership.