Latest news with #LesleyRiddoch
The National
6 days ago
- Business
- The National
Pro-indy figures write to Keir Starmer over referendum 'snub'
The Prime Minister dismissed the idea of an independence vote if the SNP get a majority at next year's Holyrood elections when he spoke to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme earlier this week. He claimed there was a need for Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom in order to remain safe, as he released his defence review in a visit to Govan. READ MORE: Douglas Ross slapped down by Holyrood Presiding Officer after FMQs ejection Despite how John Swinney has established his strategy as building "demonstrable support" for independence through Government, Starmer said no one had raised the subject with him 'as their first priority'. His comments came after a Norstat poll suggested that support for independence was at 54%, but would rise to almost 60% if Reform UK leader Nigel Farage took power at Westminster. Now, a group of leading figures in the independence movement have accused Starmer of "snubbing" democracy and devolution. Among those to have signed the letter include journalist and National columnist Lesley Riddoch, Believe in Scotland (BiS) founder Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, and Common Weal's head of policy and research, Dr Craig Dalzell. Lesley Riddoch (Image: Gordon Terris) The letter states that the Prime Minister's "offhand dismissal" of a second referendum has led the group to restate their commitment to campaigning for independence. It reads: "Sir Keir Starmer's offhand dismissal of Scotland's right to choose its own constitutional future is predictable yet hugely disappointing. "So this is a statement of our intent to keep campaigning for independence, an option currently favoured by more than half the Scottish population in recent opinion polls, and for the democratic right to choose – something embedded in legislation for Northern Ireland but repeatedly denied to Scotland." The group continued: "The Labour leader may think he is simply challenging the SNP before a critical by-election this week and Scottish elections next year. But Scotland's future is not an electoral game. READ MORE: Nigel Farage's Scottish conspiracy theories fit Reform's agenda. Don't fall for it "By denying a second referendum regardless of the 2026 election outcome, the Prime Minister is snubbing democracy, devolution and the many Scots who once viewed his party as the best democratic option to the Conservatives at Westminster." The group said that Labour, the Conservatives and Reform UK "clearly offer no democratic resolution to Scotland's constitutional impasse". The letter adds that this is "precisely why we restate our determination to keep working towards independence". The following individuals signed the letter: Lesley Riddoch, journalist Dr Craig Dalzell, head of policy and research, Common Weal Ian Grant, Independence Forum Scotland Dr Tim Rideout, convener, Scottish Currency Group Elise Tallaron, convener,Yes for EU Mary Sinclair, Yes Caithness Fraser Thompson, Time for Scotland Gordon Macintyre-Kemp, Business for Scotland Robert Furness, Yes Greater Glasgow Adrian Doherty, Yes Linwood Andrew Wilson, Scottish Independence Foundation Stuart Kerr Brown, Yes West Lothian Roza Salih, convener, Scottish Independence Convention Jacqui Jensen, Yes Perth Ken MacDonald. former BBC Scotland presenter Lloyd Quinan, Yes Craigmillar and Niddrie Mary McCabe, Pensioners for Indy Fatima Joji, Women for Indy Stephen Shilton, Christians for Indy Cameron McNeish, mountaineer and author The letter was also signed by the following regional campaign groups from Believe in Scotland: Aberdeen and Grampian, Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire, Central Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee and Angus, Edinburgh and Lothians, Fife, Inverclyde, Highlands and Moray, Mid Scotland, Orkney Islands, Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire. It comes after Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said that it was "a bit rich" for Starmer to make such comments on Scotland's constitutional future. When asked by The National if it was a political tactic from Starmer to suggest that Swinney was not focused on independence, she said: "It's hardly a surprise that Keir Starmer is repeating what we've heard from Tory prime ministers for years, the day after we saw an increase in support for independence if Nigel Farage becomes prime minister. "It seems a bit rich to be telling the people of Scotland what they are saying when their greatest concern is that the change that was promised by Labour hasn't happened at all, opening the door to Nigel Farage."
The National
15-05-2025
- Climate
- The National
Warning issued amid 'extreme' Scottish wildfire alert
A very high to extreme risk of wildfires was initially in place over the weekend and on Monday. However, an extreme warning has now been issued across the whole of Scotland from Thursday until Monday. READ MORE: Lesley Riddoch: What Scotland needs is real action on land reform It comes after the driest start to the year in 60 years, which lead Scottish Water to urge customers to use supplies sparingly. The SFRS have warned people against using naked flames outdoors "at all costs", adding that the vast majority of wildfires are caused by human behaviour. Area commander Michael Humphreys, the SFRS wildfire lead, said: "Responsible human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting. "That's why we're urging people to absolutely avoid the use of naked flames, including barbecues, at this time. "It only takes one spark to start a wildfire and things can get out of hand very, very quickly. "Discarded cigarettes and unsupervised campfires pose a significant threat, so it's vital to follow all safety advice when outdoors and to make sure you are familiar with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code at all times." Remote and rural communities are most impacted by wildfires, which have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land. READ MORE: I asked Aberdeen residents about GB Energy – and one thing was clear Humphreys continued: "Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage. "Livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated by these fires – as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities. "These fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment and the release of air polluting gases into the atmosphere."
The National
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Scottish Greens call to abolish monarchy ahead of Edinburgh protest
The Republic Day demonstration, organised by anti-monarchy campaign group Our Republic, will take place on Saturday at Calton Hill between 2pm and 4pm. Speakers at the event include National columnist Lesley Riddoch, poet George Gunn, SNP MSP Emma Roddick, Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman and Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie. Anti-monarchy campaigners protest ceremony for King and Queen on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, July 2024 (Image: Republic) Ahead of the event, Harvie said it was becoming 'increasingly unjustifiable' to maintain the monarchy in Scotland, adding that the 'outdated' institution was 'at odds' with the concerns of ordinary people. Harvie said that while people were experiencing widespread inequality through the cost of living crisis and the UK Government's cuts to disability benefits and the Winter Fuel Payment, the royal family has 'never had it so good'. READ MORE: Kate Forbes: This is why I will vote against assisted dying in Scotland The Scottish Greens co-leader added that Scotland has the potential to be an 'modern independent democratic republic', and that the powers of independence would help to tackle such inequality in society. (Image: PA) Commenting, Harvie (above) said: 'There is no place in modern Scotland for the monarchy. 'Our society is experiencing widespread inequality, with the cost of living crisis continuing to push many to the brink. However, it seems the royal family has never had it so good. 'The taxpayer-funded sovereign grant rises year on year. They don't pay capital gains tax, they don't pay corporation tax and they're exempt from stamp duty. They have received millions of pounds of income in rent from the NHS, schools and the armed forces for operating on the vast swathes of land that they own. 'It is completely at odds with the struggles faced by some of our most vulnerable communities. We should not have a system that only benefits the super-rich, while leaving the rest of us to pick up the bill. READ MORE: David Lammy 'must explain if he misled us on Israel arms exports', MPs say 'The monarchy is a profoundly outdated and undemocratic institution. We must have a serious conversation about the country we see ourselves as. 'The idea that we should show this preference for one unaccountable family, who take far more from society than they give, is the exact opposite image of Scotland I would like to see. I believe we can do so much better for the people living in our country. 'Scotland has the potential to be a modern independent democratic republic. It can be a greener and fairer country that redistributes the wealth hoarded by monarchy and the rest of the super-rich, and uses it to the benefit of the many people who are struggling. 'Ultimately, it should be the people of Scotland who are sovereign and I will continue to make the case that with the powers of independence we can tackle the profound inequality that is highlighted by the lifestyle that the royals enjoy.'
The National
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
How can UK democracy have been allowed to come under such a threat?
Those warnings are all policies of the Reform UK party. How can this be, how have we sunk to such depths? Over the last decade the main Westminster parties both in government and in opposition have demonstrated what is all wrong with our political system, with sleaze, corruption and dishonesty all playing a part. The vulnerable and needy left out in the cold and the rise in food bank use exacerbated. READ MORE: Lesley Riddoch: SNP must beware of Reform trying to woo Scots voters Those alarming results in England have given a green light to policies of the far right. Make no mistake, Reform UK are promoting far-right policies along with a dictator of a leader. England is going to experience councillors under the banner of Reform UK take control, take the reins and make decisions on policy matters like education, social care and housing that are vital local services – a breath-taking thought. Scotland's First Minister recognised the threat, heard the alarm bells and summoned a summit of political leaders, civic and faith leaders in Scotland, but since that summit, his concerns have been realised. How did we get here, how can we allow our democracy to come under such a threat? READ MORE: How would a 2026 election win for the SNP translate into independence? Reform was born out of the Brexit Party and we all know the economic and social damage that has raged in Scotland since we left the EU, the single market and the customs union, incidentally through no fault of our own here in Scotland – remember Scotland voted to remain. Surely those results in England speak volumes and are a wake-up call to Scotland, not to let the influence of England's alarming results creep over the Border. Scotland can take a different road, Scotland must protect her democracy when the opportunity presents itself in 2026 at the Holyrood elections. Catriona C Clark Falkirk PLENTY of food for thought in Monday's National. The fact that most of this is responses to the resistible rise of the ultra-right-wing Reform party is perhaps yet another sign that the Overton Window is still shifting rather inexorably rightward! If we are to reverse this trend, and we must, never has Scotland's independence been more vital! READ MORE: Third Aberdeenshire Conservative councillor defects to Reform UK On Monday's page 10 we had Tommy Sheppard telling us, quite rightly, that Reform/Farage are an ultra-Unionist party with nothing of value or substance to say to Scotland. On the very next page we have the witless, still wet-behind-the-ears Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay laughably telling us that Reform supporters are disaffected nationalists! Yet another example, if needed, of a man who is way out of his depth! I would suggest that we cut to the chase, stop pussyfooting around and call Reform what they really are – fascists! Drew Macleod Wick I'VE written before about Starmer being in counter-productive appeasement mode regarding Trump's America. However, there is something disturbing going on in UK domestic politics regarding our own bargain-basement used-car-salesman, chief gurning racist, discontent-manipulator using politics to enrich himself – Farage. It's long been identified that the remaining rump of the Tory party – Cameron's infamous 'swivel-eyed-loons'– are desperate to colonise Farage's Reform UK voters. They are realising too late that even a leader as off her trolley as Badenoch cannot out out-loon Nige. READ MORE: Scotch whisky left out as Starmer and Trump strike UK-US trade deal But Labour are also attempting 'muscular and heard-hearted' to appeal to the aggrieved, sprinkled with anti-migrant political pepper. It's never worked, it never will work and it will alienate the increasing number who see Labour as Tory-lite at best or those – like me – who remember the Iraq invasion and have a horrible sense regarding Gaza that Labour's penchant for being involved in situations that put tens of thousands of brown civilians in body bags is just too uncomfortable. In the US, MAGA label anyone who dislikes Trump's autocratic chaos as having Trump Derangement Syndrome. One state in Texas is trying to have TDS officially added to a list of mental illnesses! The Tories have had it for a while. Now Starmer's Labour seem to be suffering Farage Fixation Syndrome. Amanda Baker Edinburgh I WAS disappointed to see that the 80th anniversary of VE Day did not feature on the front page of the May 8 edition of The National. After then reading the edition I think it is disgraceful that not a single reference of VE Day features in the entire paper. In the ten years I was a town councillor for Gourock, the greatest privilege I had was representing the town at our war memorial. The names of 50 Gourock men who died fighting in World War Two are listed on the memorial. Each year when I see my own father wear his father's Second World War medals I beam with pride and am humbled at the living connection of someone that fought in the war. READ MORE: Scotland marks VE Day amid warnings of rising global fascism Every community in Scotland suffered and made great sacrifices during the war. It is an affront to the memory of those that made the ultimate sacrifice to have snubbed covering such an important anniversary. Commemorating our war dead, paying tribute to those to whom we owe our liberty and celebrating victory over the forces of Nazism is an event for all of Scotland, whether Unionist or Scottish nationalist. Christopher McEleny Gourock
The National
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
‘Steady as she goes' approach of the SNP just won't cut it
Sadly, under the direction of our main political party, our movement has been stalled since 2014. Steady as she goes – and areas under our devolved administration being less bad than other UK areas – just won't cut it against the economic and international problems facing us. Recent opinion polls are encouraging but are fickle, and motivated by dissatisfaction with Tory and now Labour governments. Unless a much more radical approach is adopted by the SNP, a rise for Reform UK is sadly much more likely than our self-government. Examples of such radical policies are contained within Sunday's Seven Days, with excellent articles by Prof Keith Baker on industrial strategy and Lesley Riddoch on the control of 'our' energy. READ MORE: Point-scoring 'debates' at Westminster dodge the important issues I regard myself as rock-solid Yes for independence but would reject it if the price was being governed by Nigel Farage. I would go for it on constitutional grounds but without great enthusiasm if control of our economy remained in the same multinational hands with continued wealth-gathering and extraction. Many of those we need to convert would not. Why risk it if our living condition will stay the same, they say, and yet we fail to offer an alternative! Regardless of how we demonstrate our desire for independence, we must gather a strong hand with plenty of good cards to play (to misquote a partial descendent of us). This will require a substantially larger and more stable support than we currently have. 50%+1 on a given day will never cut it. Like it or not, unless we plan to leave the UK by declaring UDI and risk international isolation, we need to negotiate an exit agreement with Westminster. This will require a strength of resolve to overcome an onslaught to undermine us. READ MORE: Scottish First Minister reaffirms support for trans people To grow this support, we need to follow the advice of the excellent articles of Gerry Hassan, also in Sunday's Seven Days, and that of Robin McAlpine from about two weeks ago. There is no easy quick fix. Gerry on Sunday and Robin in his short book Direction detail the strategy we must follow. We must convene all the pro-indy groups and involve a wide range of the public in assemblies to determine the manifesto for the way forward. Suggest a better strategy if you can, but no excuses for the status quo please. That would result in not only me never seeing independence, but all our grandchildren not seeing it either. Campbell Anderson Edinburgh AMID all the current arguments about our future, the question of why, almost uniquely among the nations, Scotland has repeatedly allowed another country to rule us is worth asking. Our centuries-old willing (mostly) subservience has carried on into modern times and is still going strong. Anyone interested in the roots of this mindset could do worse than explore Calvin's theory of double predestination – teaching that regardless of any good we might do, our fate has already been decided before our birth. This fatalistic, grim argument was enthusiastically adopted by our established church, and seems to have influenced Scots thinking. Pessimism, lack of confidence, cultural cringe and an obsequious attitude towards a foreign monarchy might in part be a spin-off from a joyless, powerful theology. If I'm wrong, there has to be some other explanation for our national shortcomings when so many are perversely opposed to running our own affairs. The rest of humanity sees independence as the natural order. Jim Butchart via email WITH the death of Pope Francis we extend condolences to Catholics worldwide, but even as they compose his obituary as a 'progressive' let us remember some facts. The Vatican still teaches an exorcism course. Priests are told that they 'must not hesitate' to refer parishioners to exorcists if they suffer from 'genuine spiritual disturbances'. However, we should not fear that neurodivergent brain wiring such as autism will be mistaken for 'genuine' demonic possession. The exorcists have a team of psychologists ready to make that call, all of whom are of course practicing Catholics. READ MORE: How is snapping photographs of the Pope's tomb 'paying respects'? Remember Mr Bergoglio's response to the Charlie Hebdo murders was to explain that he would readily punch someone who insulted his mother? Despite his professed contrition over child abuse cover-ups, many survivors have said this seldom translated into action. He always opposed women's control of their own fertility and, despite his begrudging allowing of gay 'blessings', maintained that homosexuality was 'intrinsically disordered'. The views of the leader of a private religious group are his own business, but don't forget the Catholic Church receives taxpayers' money to run schools. Neil Barber Edinburgh Secular Society
