On:
In: News

Some of our older readers may remember a time when the Scots Independent premises were manned by an employee who made sure all subscribers and distributors got their newspapers. This slick operation was carried out by Robert (Bob) Campbell who was also well known for his excellent organisation of The Bannockburn Rally. It is with sadness that we pass on the news from his family that Robert passed away on Saturday 2nd January 2016. He will be missed by many. Funeral service is at St Ninian’s Old Parish Church, Stirling on Friday 15th January 2016 at 11 a.m., thereafter to Logie Cemetery. All family andRead More →

On:
In: Margaret Hamilton

I have finally had enough. In the paper today it is announced that yet another SNP MP is being investigated because someone has made a complaint to the Westminster standards commissioner. Does nobody mention that there are many people being looked at by the standards commissioner from all parties? Might have something to do with the archaic system they have. If the paper work is written in the same ancient language as their practises then is it any wonder they need someone to guide those filling up the forms. It seems the left hand side of the first page of the Herald is kept solelyRead More →

On:
In: Guest Blogger

At the start of the year we bring you an article by Iain Lawson. Many of you will know him. He explains who he is if the first part of the piece. I write this in the last few days of 2015 which has been a brilliant year for those of us who support Independence. We deserved it after the enormous disappointment of the referendum where despite a great campaign and the conversion of hundreds of thousands of our fellow Scots to Independence, we narrowly failed to win. Unionists I am sure hoped that was the end of it but as we all know nowRead More →

On:
In: Margaret Hamilton

Today in The Herald I see that some of the unelected Labour and Lib Dem M.P.s from the last parliament are upset at not finding employment easily. Anne Begg is 60 and disabled and says that she has no plans to return to full time work. Many disabled, much younger, have difficulty finding even part time work so don’t think she will find many tears flowing there. “She said the sheer number of livelihoods lost in May, not just among MPs but also members of their staff, had been quite traumatic” I believe she is right. She didn’t seem to worry about this until nowRead More →

On:
In: Jim Lynch

Greetings to all readers, with a nice wee picture from Shetland, probably half way to Santa’s home in Greenland or Lapland, or wherever he doesn’t live.   Been reading this morning about criticism of a Minister who has been attempting to re translate the New Testament and generally getting pelters.  There is no doubt that Christmas has been commercialised to the Nth degree and there are many misconceptions.  For instance we sing about “sleigh bells in the snow”  – a line from one of the most famous songs we all know about Christmas, but I’ve never heard a sleigh bell in my life, they mustRead More →

On:
In: Jim Lynch, Political News

Wednesday 23rd December 2015 SCOTTISH DAIRY: A BRAND IN DEMAND SIX MONTHS OF SUCCESS FOR DAIRY SECTOR INITIATIVE As 2015 draws to a close, the SNP is welcoming the success of the Scottish Dairy Brand since its launch this summer at the Royal Highland Show. SNP MSP Graeme Dey has hailed the Scottish Government’s food and drink initiative which has to date attracted a dozen processors, 18 brands and 40 different products over three specialist ranges – all made using 100 per cent Scottish milk. There has been noted interest in the Scottish Dairy Brand products from markets in over 20 countries across the globeRead More →

On:
In: Grant Thoms

Three ‘budgets’ since the General Election and Chancellor Osborne dug us in deeper to his austerity highway to Utopia or at least a budget surplus by 2019-20, so he says. UK Chancellors through the decades are notorious for forecasting. No sooner do they make prediction than an unforeseen event arises that requires them to make an adjustment. It’s not that the Chancellor shouldn’t make adjustments, more that he shouldn’t set out financial statements promising so much when he clearly knows he has no guarantee of delivering them. This week, Scotland’s Finance Secretary has had just two weeks to make sense of the UK Spending Review.Read More →

On:
In: Guest Blogger

I think it is important to do a column from a disability point of view on independence, from my perspective I campaign and advocate for people with a disability every day, I have a greater insight than most as I have Cerebral Palsy. I was very disappointed that Scotland lost the Yes Vote by such a narrow margin, but it is perhaps an early indicator that one day we will get our independence. In the lead up there were a number of different campaigns running, such as Disabled For Yes representing people with disabilities who recognise the advantages of independence. The realisation the campaign aimsRead More →

On:
In: Clare Adamson, Political News, Uncategorized

Clare Adamson MSP welcomes legislation which will help modernise the criminal justice system A new law setting out improvements to the criminal justice system has been passed by the Scottish Parliament. Speaking after the Stage 3 debate, Ms Adamson said: “I am delighted that the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill has been approved by the Scottish Parliament today. I believe the Bill strikes the right balance between strengthening the powers available to police and prosecutors while protecting the rights of the accused and it takes forward a wide range of proposals all designed to modernise and improve our current criminal justice system in Scotland”. A newRead More →