RICHARD Walker’s article in Friday’s edition of The National highlights one of the main reasons that Scotland has come to embrace nationalism (Report’s dismissal of BBC bias show that a solution is as far away as ever, Feb 3). No doubt the BBC will refute that statement but I have lived long enough to believe it is true.
As a child in post-war Britain I had a great sense of Britishness. Scotland was a proud partner in a Union that shared the glories of a proud history. That history may well now be seen as tainted but that was the view of most people up to the 1950s. Before the coming of television most entertainment came from the BBC through the wireless, and I was unaware of anything being said that would upset my patriotism.
Once TV arrived I became more aware of the strong English bias. It was the coronation of the Queen of England, it was England’s parliament, and so on. Kenneth Wolstenholme insisted that sportsmen were either English or British. I also discovered that living in Aberdeen meant I did not live in the “north east” as I thought but further north than “the north”. While this sounds petty, it created in me a sense that I was not “one of us”, ie British. I was something outside of the country I had been proud to be part of. When included we were referred to as English, which is not at all true.
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The Scots were proudly British when they felt valued and equal partners in this Union. I learned through the BBC we are outsiders, depending on hand-outs, moaning Scots. We have to do as we are told because we are too small, too stupid and too poor to make any useful contribution to Great Britain. This is still the message from the BBC. Scottish news, which is a disgrace. I no longer listen to it in the morning because it is full of trivia and football!
Thank you BBC for putting me in my place. I now put you in your place with the off switch.
Angus Shaw
Cupar
HOW does one remain a principled politician in Scotland today, especially if as leader of the primary independence party you are subjected to an incessant barrage of negative media coverage? While Anas Sarwar and Alex Cole-Hamilton have been allowed to duck for cover from the media storm generated over the incarceration of transgender persons and deliberate conflation with the blocked Gender Recognition Reform Bill, much of it orchestrated by the right-wing press and aided by the BBC, Nicola Sturgeon is condemned even by some contributing to the pages of Scotland’s only independence-supporting national daily newspaper.
The overriding humanitarian principle that all persons should be allowed to live their lives as they wish, providing the lives of others are not adversely affected through doing so, is an ideal we should all be fighting to achieve and secure in a future fair and truly egalitarian society.
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Following the Westminster example and politically procrastinating on difficult issues such as gender recognition reform is not the way forward for any country, never mind one striving for self-determination (with any perceived “skeletons in the closet” likely to be ruthlessly exposed ahead of the next major battle in the people of Scotland exercising their democratic right).
Fortunately for Scotland the general public, in spite of much scurrilously misleading information and sometimes downright lies promulgated across the UK mainstream media, have not been blinded to the misinformation, sleaze and corruption around Westminster and have persistently voted for a party and leadership in Scotland that, while far from perfect, has respected and honoured the public’s trust in fighting for the best futures for all of Scotland’s citizens, not just a privileged few.
Self-determination is the right of the Scottish people and the more all of our efforts are focused on this primary objective, irrespective of personal opinions on emotive/controversial issues, and on convincing those yet to be convinced that fundamental constitutional change is critical to the future welfares of their families, the sooner the First Minister will lead Scotland to independence.
Stan Grodynski
Longniddry, East Lothian
THERE are cries from some enthusiasts in the SNP for the expulsion or resignations of any who could not stomach the utter bilge that was recently passed by our parliament. Frankly if this is the best our legislators can come up with, God help Scotland.
How on earth a government which has governed ably for many years could come up with this twaddle defeats me. Did they not realise that in Scotland this legislation would be greeted with derision by a large sector of the population? Did they not see how the English establishment would descend upon it with glee? Were they all on the bevvy?
I have been a loyal party member for years. There have been some policies I did not like but would have had to support. This utter bourach was just too much. The party cannot afford to ditch intelligent and thinking members over this rubbish.
R Mill Irving
Gifford
REGARDING the letter from Steve Arnott (Sunday National, Feb 5), Angus Robertson was neither arrogant nor anti-democratic as stated, but merely affirming the following statement in the 2021 SNP manifesto, namely: “[we shall] maintain and strengthen Scotland’s relationship with our EU partners with a view to rejoining as soon as possible.”
MD Clark
Midlothian
WHAT are the intentions of the big balloon hovering in plain sight? We should all be concerned and it raises the question: what exactly are the Tories going to do about Boris?
Bill Drew
Kirriemuir
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