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The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Swinney must throw off shackles of platitudes and demand our freedom
Most people recognise that Britain is broken but the BBC's blatant stage-management of public discourse on behalf of the UK Government and the British Establishment echoes George Orwell's dark warnings of media control, where a Hamilton by-election 'Debate Night Special', conveniently given the apparent debating skills of the Labour candidate, did not include any of the candidates. This was followed on Thursday night by another 'BBC Special' focusing on Glasgow with two Labour Party representatives but only one SNP representative and no representative from the Scottish Greens. This blatant bias is a democratic outrage from a proclaimed 'impartial' public broadcaster where polls consistently show support for independence at greater than 50%. Through partial and slanted 'news', the public is being deliberately misled into thinking that the Labour Party can fundamentally 'change' broken Britain and that if more radical 'change' is necessary we should listen to the 'voice of Brexit'. The incessant denigration of all areas associated with the Scottish Government, especially the NHS, does not cease at the end of First Minister's Questions but is repeated nightly in Reporting Scotland bulletins while the fourth largest party at Westminster is rarely represented on the BBC's Politics Live panels which often include 'Brexit voices' now in Brexit denial. So how can the people of Scotland give voice to their aspirations within the democratically decadent structures of the UK? Where the SNP appear to be erring is in believing that the public who have been condemned by Westminster to austerity and failing public services for more than decade can see through the British Establishment mirage and realise that the 'fundamental change' that is necessary for Britain can only be delivered through Scottish independence. John Swinney may have steadied the SNP ship (which still disturbingly for any semblance of genuine UK justice has the cloud of Branchform hovering over it) but can he now assertively steer the ship through choppy waters to a new harbour beyond the control of London? Being honest and respecting your opponents are admirable personal qualities but Keir Starmer has demonstrated, in spite of his initial warm words, that he does not respect Scotland as evidenced through repeated decisions made at Westminster without consultation with the Scottish Government, even in a devolved area such as fishing. In other words, Starmer is treating Scotland with the same contempt as his Tory predecessors. Swinney's recent call for Starmer to honour the previous commitments of those PMs to Scotland on funding for the Acorn carbon capture project will regrettably only be advanced when Starmer sees political advantage to UK Labour at Westminster. Starmer's declaration that no matter the wishes of the people of Scotland, there will be no referendum as long as he is prime minister, demonstrates that democratic principles mean nothing to a prime minister who has already abandoned any social or moral principles he may have held with policies that have enriched the wealthy while the poor and disadvantaged, along with the people of Gaza, have been left at the mercy of those without any principles. This humanitarian scourge must be ended through robustly presenting the many arguments favouring independence which show that there is a better path for our people and for our children. For the SNP, this means recognising that the time has come to start acting in the manner of which they have misleadingly been persistently accused by their political opponents of focusing all their efforts on independence. The time for the First Minister being 'Mr Nice Guy' with the UK Government has passed as the Scottish public want the 'real change' that can only be delivered by the people of Scotland determining their own future. It's time for John Swinney to throw off the shackles of political courtesy and parliamentary rectitude within a manifestly corrupt UK political structure serving the British Establishment and refocus the efforts of the SNP and the Scottish Government on the critical fight for Scotland's future. Stan Grodynski Longniddry, East Lothian IN the two glossy flyers I delivered on behalf of the SNP in the Hamilton by-election with 300 to 400 words in each, there was NO mention whatsoever of the word Independence. Why no independence from the SNP? Are they ashamed of the word? It is the only idea that generates optimism and hope and breaks down the apathy and disillusionment currently around. 9000 SNP voters didn't vote for the party this time over 2021. That's more than the total SNP vote this time. SNP managerialism fixing rotten Labour policies won't cut it. Thom Cross Carluke
The Herald Scotland
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
River City row: Here's one way to save BBC Scotland soap
There was much shock and disappointment when the announcement was made in March. A petition to save the soap was organised, a debate was held in the Scottish Parliament, and that was about it. Oh, and my description of the move as cultural vandalism was called 'somewhat hyberbolic' by a BBC heid yin. Apart from keeping an eye on the petition's progress, my work there was done, or so it seemed. But no. On Tuesday, in a report by The Herald's arts correspondent Brian Ferguson, BBC Scotland accused Equity of punting misleading claims about River City viewing figures. The actors' union said half a million people watched each episode on average, but the figure is in fact 200,000. The corporation was also reported to be upset at suggestions River City's £9 million budget would be 'funnelled into cheap reality or factual TV', and used to make new drama series that would import cast and crew from England. A BBC spokesperson said: 'This is about value for money for the audience. We are not cutting our drama spend in Scotland – in fact, we will increase it to around £95m over the next three years.' Now, at the risk of adding hyperbole to the mix again, may I just sidle into this latest twist to have a look around? Equity did indeed use the 500,000 figure, as did Scottish Labour's culture spokesman Neil Bibby when he led the Holyrood debate on River City. Equity has since corrected – or as it says 'updated' – the figure on its website to 200,000. Read more The mistake was unfortunate, but in a strange way it might have done River City a favour. An audience of 200,000 an episode is still a pretty decent figure. Moreover, one assumes River City is cheaper to make. Here is something else to consider. As a Herald reader pointed out on our letters page, if BBC Scotland had to find money for new programmes it could look instead at its current affairs shows. As he said, does anyone watch News at Seven and Debate Night? So I asked BBC Scotland for the numbers and this was the reply: 'Since launch Reporting Scotland: News at Seven has a weekly reach of 80,000 and over the past 12 months Debate Night's weekly reach has been 121,000. Measuring news consumption by reach is a Barb standard and the definition of reach for news is watching for at least three minutes.' In short, they reach fewer people than River City. Now, you can argue, and the BBC does, that the audiences for news and drama are completely different, and comparing the two is not so much the stuff of apples and oranges as apples and trains. But I still think our reader had a point. If you can choose one drama over another, why not apply the same rule to current affairs? Keep the flagship, question the rest. It happened to The Nine after all. The BBC says Reporting Scotland: News at Seven has a weekly reach of 80,000 (Image: free) The row over River City was never just about numbers, though. Much more is going on here. There is unfairness, for a start. River City was hammered by the decision to show blocks of episodes with long gaps between. Fans of the soap, many of them elderly, could not keep up. One week Bob and Angus were there, doing their odd couple thing, the next they had slipped into some Bermuda triangle near Shieldinch. Can you imagine if that happened with Coronation Street or EastEnders? River City is important in other ways. As actor-writer Tom Urie told BBC Scotland's Scotcast: 'It feels like part of Scotland's story.' He's right. Like any long-running drama, River City has had its good weeks and bad, stories that worked and some that didn't. But like the country it came from, River City kept on going. It has tackled difficult subjects, most recently domestic violence, and helped more than a few people along the way. So no, it's not just about gangsters, though I'll admit there has been too much of that. Where River City has been truly invaluable is in bringing working-class voices on to our screens. They've been present in other soaps, but usually the character is there for comedy value, or to play a gangster. It is rare to have so many authentically working-class voices in a drama, far less attach them to ordinary, everyday characters, but River City does that. Read more Working-class voices are not heard nearly enough on television (and radio) and it matters that they are. As the saying has it, if you can see it, you can be it. What goes for actors goes for writers, directors, camera operators, sound technicians, and every other job you can think of on a set. If there's no River City there's no way into these professions for a lot of very bright youngsters from less than privileged backgrounds. With dramas taking years to get from page to screen, commissioning editors need to think ahead, anticipate the next big thing. I get that, and I understand why BBC Scotland is backing the new trio of dramas by Scottish writers. Short series are in demand, particularly after the success of Adolescence, but fashions change. What is never going to be out of favour is authenticity, particularly now AI is knocking on the door, and River City opens the door to more of that. For authenticity, for the training opportunities it offers, for laughs and tears, for just being there and giving enjoyment to so many, River City matters. And as every soap actor knows, once you get in that cab and leave, it is near impossible to come back. Please, BBC Scotland, think again. Alison Rowat is a senior politics and features writer on The Herald. Contact
The National
30-04-2025
- Business
- The National
BBC announces new presenter for flagship Reporting Scotland show
Laura Goodwin, who has worked as BBC Scotland's innovation correspondent since 2018, will join the programme next month alongside current presenter Laura Miller. It comes after Sally Magnusson (below) announced she was stepping down after 27 years in the role. Goodwin was born in South Africa and moved to Scotland at the age of 12, going on to study sociology at the University of Edinburgh. She started her broadcast career at Moray Firth Radio in Inverness before moving to STV in Aberdeen as a presenter and reporter. Goodwin will start her new role on Reporting Scotland from next month, presenting on Thursdays and Fridays. She said: "I am delighted to be officially joining the Reporting Scotland presentation team after six years working as a correspondent for the BBC. READ MORE: Thousands expected at Orange Order march for VE day 80th anniversary "To take over from Sally Magnusson, someone I hold in such high regard, is an incredible honour. "I look forward to sharing the week, and the Reporting Scotland desk, with the wonderful Laura Miller, delivering the stories that matter to our audience. "On a personal note, this is an opportunity that as a once very shy little girl, I could only have dreamt of and I am looking forward to getting started." Gary Smith, head of news and current affairs at BBC Scotland, said: "Laura is a brilliant addition to the Reporting Scotland team. "She is a consummate professional who presents with authority, flair and grace. "A great journalist and interviewer too, who gets straight to the heart of a story."
Glasgow Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
BBC Scotland reveal big change after departure of presenter
The broadcaster has announced that its BBC Scotland Innovation Correspondent, Laura Goodwin, will join Reporting Scotland as a lead news presenter alongside Laura Miller. Goodwin will take on the new role following Sally Magnusson's recent departure after 27 years in the role. The South African-born journalist, who moved to Scotland at the age of 12, joined the BBC in 2018 as an Innovation Correspondent. Since then, she has reported on the creativity and ingenuity of Scotland's business and academic community. READ MORE: 'Hit' BBC crime drama set to return for 10th series READ MORE: Legendary BBC presenter stepping down after 27 years Laura Goodwin - BBC Scotland reveal big change after departure of presenter (Image: Supplied) Laura said: 'I am delighted to be officially joining the Reporting Scotland presentation team after six years working as a correspondent for the BBC. "To take over from Sally Magnusson, someone I hold in such high regard, is an incredible honour. I look forward to sharing the week, and the Reporting Scotland desk, with the wonderful Laura Miller, delivering the stories that matter to our audience. 'On a personal note, this is an opportunity that, as a once very shy little girl, I could only have dreamt of, and I am looking forward to getting started.' Gary Smith, Head of News and Current Affairs at BBC Scotland, added: 'Laura is a brilliant addition to the Reporting Scotland team. "She is a consummate professional who presents with authority, flair and grace. "A great journalist and interviewer, too, who gets straight to the heart of a story.' The former student of Madras College in St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh will take up her new role on Reporting Scotland, presenting on Thursdays and Fridays from May. Laura started her broadcast career at Moray Firth Radio in Inverness. After that, she moved to STV in Aberdeen as a presenter and reporter.
Scottish Sun
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
BBC reveals Sally Magnusson's replacement as legendary presenter leaves Reporting Scotland
The legendary news anchor presented her last show this month Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE BBC has announced who will replace Sally Magnusson following her decision to step down after nearly 30 years as a presenter on Reporting Scotland. The veteran broadcaster, aged 69, confirmed in January that she would be stepping aside after joining the BBC's flagship news programme in 1997. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 BBC newsreader and now author Sally Magnusson spent 27 years at the helm Credit: BBC Scotland 5 Laura Goodwin is set to step up into the role in May Credit: Jamie Simpson/BBC Magnusson initially co-hosted the programme alongside Jackie Bird, 62, before later working with Laura Miller, 44. Today, the Beeb revealed that Laura Goodwin will take over as lead news presenter alongside Miller, following Magnusson's departure after 27 years at the helm. Goodwin, a South African-born journalist who moved to Scotland at the age of 12, joined the BBC in 2018 as Innovation Correspondent. Over the years, she has reported on the creativity and ingenuity of Scotland's business and academic sectors, most recently covering the approval of Shetland's spaceport. Speaking about her appointment, Goodwin said: 'I am delighted to be officially joining the Reporting Scotland presentation team after six years working as a correspondent for the BBC. "To take over from Sally Magnusson, someone I hold in such high regard, is an incredible honour. "I look forward to sharing the week, and the Reporting Scotland desk, with the wonderful Laura Miller, delivering the stories that matter to our audience. "On a personal note, this is an opportunity that, as a once very shy little girl, I could only have dreamt of, and I am looking forward to getting started.' Gary Smith, Head of News and Current Affairs at BBC Scotland, praised Goodwin, saying: 'Laura is a brilliant addition to the Reporting Scotland team. "She is a consummate professional who presents with authority, flair, and grace. "She is also a great journalist and interviewer who gets straight to the heart of a story.' BAFTA nominated BBC comedy series set to return for final ever series - and fans don't have long to wait A former student of Madras College in St Andrews, Goodwin went on to study Sociology at the University of Edinburgh. She began her broadcast career at Moray Firth Radio in Inverness before moving to STV in Aberdeen as a presenter and reporter, covering key news stories including the opening of the Queensferry Crossing, the new V&A museum, and the Scottish independence referendum. Goodwin will take up her new role on Reporting Scotland, presenting on Thursdays and Fridays from next month (May 2025). Reflecting on her departure, Sally Magnusson previously said: 'Leaving Reporting Scotland will be a real wrench after 27 years. I'll miss the buzz and challenges of live news presentation, which I've always adored. "But although my focus now turns to a growing writing career, an expanding family, and my work around dementia, I'm also looking forward to maintaining links with the BBC as a freelance broadcaster.' The journalist and mother of five anchored the programme for the last time in April. During her career, she has also enjoyed stints on Sunday Mornings with BBC Radio Scotland, as well as featuring in Panorama and Songs of Praise on television. Her most recent television documentary for BBC Scotland was Alzheimer's, a Cure and Me, which aired last year. This came after her mother, Mamie Baird, was diagnosed with mixed dementia in 2009. 5 Sally Magnusson with her daughter, Anna Lisa, and granddaughter, Remy, appeared in a documentary about dementia last year Credit: BBC 5 Reporting Scotland presenters, Laura Miller, left, with Sally Credit: BBC Goodwin's appointment is the latest development in BBC Scotland's news and current affairs portfolio, which recently launched two new programmes. Earlier this year, News at Seven, presented by Laura McIver and Amy Irons, and the podcast series Scotcast with Martin Geissler, replaced the channel's flagship shows The Nine and The Seven.
