Sent to the Herald: 22 September 2006. Not published.
Dear Sir,
Your front page headline “two thirds of Scots want more power for Holyrood” is welcome news. But how much more power? Consistently opinion polls are pointing to independence for Scotland being the most popular constitutional option available to us. The recent Sunday Times poll confirmed what those of us in the independence movement already know, that Scots wants Independence. That said, Nicol Stephen was probably aghast at even the mild tone of your front page. Either that or he was too busy dreaming about upgrading his Ministerial Mondeo to another model.
Instead of producing an editorial telling Holyrood to “wake up”, it is perhaps you who should heed your own advice. There is not a single daily newspaper in Scotland that supports Independence, flying in the face of the views of the majority of the people (which is why Nicol Stephen et al do not want a referendum, as they know who will win). The likes of the Record, Mail, Hootsman, Scotland on Sunday are overtly unionist and peddle nothing but fear about our national aspirations. I say “Wake up The Herald”: Get off the fence before next years Scottish Parliament elections and, instead of toying with the ludicrous notion of Joke McConnell thinking up “bold, distinctive policies”, get behind your country and the campaign for independence.
Yours for Scotland,
