Latest news with #Scotland'sVoice
The National
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Budding Scottish Labour candidate defends anti-Gaelic remarks
Vonnie Sandlan, who works as head of office for Dunfermline and Dollar MP Graeme Downie, announced on Twitter/X on Tuesday she had been shortlisted to be a Scottish Labour candidate in the Glasgow Central constituency for the 2026 Holyrood election. Her post was accompanied by a picture that pledged a 'new direction'. In response to the post, a previous attack she had made on Gaelic education spending as highlighted, where she branded it 'middle-class quasi-private education'. She added that she believed Gaelic was a 'regional, not national' language. READ MORE: Scottish Greens need to 'broaden appeal' outside middle class voters Diane Moore, who shared the comment, said: 'Will the Gaelic schools be in your constituency? Will they take kindly to your characterisation of their council-run school as a 'middle-class quasi-private education' for a 'regional, not national language'? What will 'a new direction' mean for them?' Sandlan's original comment said: 'The number of Glasgow kids who have not been able to secure their right to education because their needs aren't met is really significant. 🌹I'm beyond proud to share that I've been shortlisted by Scottish Labour to be their candidate in the Glasgow Central constituency for the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections. If you're a local member and would like to say hello, please email me at LabourVonnie@ — Vonnie Sandlan (@VonnSand) August 19, 2025 'Spending this money on a middle-class quasi-private education is unbelievable. Gaelic is a regional language, not a national one.' In response to Moore, Sandlan defended her attack on the language. She said: 'I don't make any apologies for wanting better for the many, many Glasgow children who are unable to access their right to education as their needs are not being effectively met. That was my point and remains my position. All children deserve a great school experience.' Previously, Sandlan worked the president of the National Union of Students for Scotland for several years. According to her LinkedIn profile, she has also previously worked as a senior policy officer for Colleges Scotland and a communications and public affairs manager for the Equality and Human Rights Commission. READ MORE: Labour refuse to release files on secret meeting with Gideon Sa'ar On the same profile, Sandlan's bio says she has a 'low tolerance threshold for injustice, and a values set which is rooted in communities'. Earlier this week, Scottish Labour were criticised for distributing a fake newspaper called Scotland's Voice to prospective voters. In multiple posts to social media, activists and politicians have been pictured campaigning with copies of 'Scotland's Voice' – which appears to be a multiple page campaign leaflet in the format of a newspaper. One copy had the headline 'Ready To Deliver Scotland's New Direction' while another has 'Scotland's Best Days Are Ahead Of Us', accompanied by a picture of leader Anas Sarwar.
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Scottish Labour slammed for fake ‘Scotland's Voice' newspaper
It comes as the party have announced a slate of new candidates in recent weeks with the 2026 Holyrood election on the horizon. In multiple posts to social media, activists and politicians have been pictured campaigning with copies of 'Scotland's Voice' – which appears to be a multiple page campaign leaflet in the format of a newspaper. READ MORE: Scottish university ranked among worst in the UK for Palestine repression One copy had the headline 'Ready To Deliver Scotland's New Direction' while another has 'Scotland's Best Days Are Ahead Of Us', accompanied by a picture of leader Anas Sarwar. I'm delighted to announce that I have been selected as @ScottishLabour candidate for Strathkelvin & Bearsden. This constituency needs an MSP who will fight for them in parliament. This morning I was in Lennoxtown, speaking to voters. They want change at Holyrood in 2026. — Cllr Colette McDiarmid (@coletteeastdun) August 16, 2025 SNP MSP George Adam took aim at the campaigning material, 'It is deeply ironic that Labour now claim to be Scotland's voice when their Scottish leadership has failed to stand up to their London bosses on one single issue since they came to power last year,' he told The National. Previously, the Society of Editors has hit out at political parties for using fake newspapers as campaign material, pledging to "name and shame" culprits. "We have written to representatives of all political parties urging them to put an end to this mimicry as well as vowing to name and shame those who continue to attempt to pull the wool over voters' eyes," the society said in January 2024. During the Southside by-election in Glasgow in March, the SNP also took aim at a leaflet which claimed that GB Energy is 'lowering bills and creating jobs'. READ MORE: Two charged after alleged 'gangland firebombing' of Edinburgh taxi firm Keir Starmer, in comments which have been often repeated by his opponents, previously said Labour would help 'families save up to £300 off their energy bills' by 2030. However, the party has faced accusations of having 'lied' to the UK public after Ofgem announced that the price cap would rise to £1849 per year from April – an almost £300 increase since Labour entered government in July 2024. Bob Doris, the SNP MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, then hit out at the 'mock newspaper', which he said had been 'designed by Labour to intentionally mislead voters'. He then asked: 'Will Anas Sarwar do the right thing and recall it from further circulation?" Scottish Labour have been approached for comment.
