ON March 9 The National reported that “images of the Morning Star draped over seats” at Scottish Labour’s annual conference had “sparked anger among some members” of the party.
The online version of the article went on to quote three critics of the paper – two of whom are no longer members of the party. It characterised the paper as a Cold War throwback believed by “centrists” to be sympathetic to Putin’s Russia.
Perhaps that is their belief. But it is the duty of any newspaper to examine such claims and assess their veracity – rather than blindly repeating them. A cursory examination of the paper’s coverage of Russia would turn up a prominent report last month on Putin’s regime being criticised for “defending the interests of big business and oligarchs”. The Star’s editor Ben Chacko is on the record saying he has “no sympathy” with Putin’s government, and he has described Russia as a “gangster capitalist state”.
READ MORE: There's ANOTHER Scottish Labour spat over a newspaper at conference
To most attending Scottish Labour conference, the presence of the Morning Star would be unsurprising. It is, after all, the paper of the labour (small l) movement – with 10 national trade unions represented on the management committee of the co-operative which owns it. Many of these unions are affiliated to Scottish Labour – including Community, arguably Labour’s most “centrist” affiliate, and, as of last week, shopworkers’ union Usdaw.
The paper is given out every year at Scottish Labour conference and other events – normally with the compliments of one of these affiliated trade unions.
Yes, the Morning Star is the only daily to support Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership – but that doesn’t make it a party paper. Chris Stephens, Bill Kidd and Colin Fox have contributed to the weekly Voices of Scotland comment column on multiple occasions.
Over the past year, the paper has expanded its coverage of Scottish issues – with the appointment of a full-time Scotland editor (me) and the trialling of Scottish editions giving more attention to news stories north of the Border. The copies on the seats in Dundee’s Caird Hall were of this kind – with not just a distinct Scottish front page, but comment from Scottish politicians and trade union leaders and a round-up of the Glasgow Film Festival.
The Star also hosted its first fringe meeting at Scottish Labour conference in recent years. But again, this is just the start – and we’ll be putting on a discussion for SNP delegates in Edinburgh next month too. It will take place at the Foxy Fiddler pub (two minutes’ walk from the EICC) from 5.30pm. We hope to see National readers there, and you can make up your own mind about the Morning Star.
Conrad Landin
Scotland Editor, Morning Star
READING George Kerevan’s article on the banks I am wondering if it would be possible to set up a Scottish People’s Bank where ordinary people can do their financial business in an environment different from that currently employed. We have heard of plans for a Scottish Investment Bank suitable for businesses, but this still leaves ordinary people at the mercy of the big institutions. I’m sure that if somebody could come up with something suitable, possibly backed by the Scottish Government, many of us would be happy to transfer what money we have and do business with it rather than with the current organisations.
Robert Mitchell
Stirling
READ MORE: The chilling tale of the biggest bank scandal in history
MAY I congratulate The National on one of the best editions yet. Great reports on BBC bias and the oil issue, George Kerevan and especially Carolyn Leckie on sparkling form, cracking letters from Iain Bruce, Steve Arnott and Mike Herd. It should be compulsory reading for every Unionist in Scotland!
Andrew M Fraser
Inverness
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