20th September 1997
A new chapter in Scotland's history has opened.In a result beyond all of our expectations, the Scottish Nation hasdecisively grasped the opportunity to break the UK's constitutional log jam. We are now, with a massive three quarters of voters in favour, set to win back our Parliament in a tremendous expression of confidence and hope for Scotland's future...
5th July 1997
The spectacle of the disintegrating anti-Scottish English dominatedTory Party is one that will please many in the mainstream of Scottishopinion, which is left of centre and committed to the type ofsocial progress that has been mocked and abused by the Toriesat Westminster for the last 18 years.
5th July 1997
I wrote to Ann Taylor, the Leader of the House of Commons todayasking her why Labour had not yet referred the case of Govan MPMohammad Sarwar to the Parliamentary Commissioner for StandardsSir Gordon Downey, despite Alex Salmond writing to the Prime Ministertwice urging him as Leader to do so...
24th May 1997
THE 'ABOMINABLE NO MEN' OF SCOTTISH POLITICS.Well New Labour are now the new government and Donald Dewar is the new Scottish Secretary. Not only is Donald an able and widely respected politician, he is a previous shadow Secretary of State for Scotland with a long political record in Scotland. As such, I hope that Donald will follow a more independent-minded line than George Robertson was able to do...
29th March 1997
VISIONS OF A 'GOLDEN AGE'..Visions of a 'Golden Age' - Allan Macartney reflects upon multi-lingualismand Scotland's identity in Europe.
POLL TALK 5..A brief re-cap on Scotland's History - Tories please take note..
SCOTLAND'S PLACE IN THE WORLD..The Scottish people have been silenced for far too long - it'stime we regained our place in the world..
15th March 1997
"...Next Monday, the Scottish National Party and Welsh Nationalists Plaid Cymru will lead a debate at Westminster. The motion we are debating promotes an alternative political agenda based on socialjustice and equality rather than the Thatcherite philosophy which now dominates the policies of both the Tories and Tony Blair's New Labour....."
8th March 1997
"...Two new members joined the SNP and the prominent 'Scots Asiansfor Independence' just a week later - Mr Abdul Majeed, the formerChairperson of the Pollokshields Tory Party association and MrHaji Mohammed Sadiq the immediate past Vice-President of the CentralMosque in Glasgow, who is also a former Labour Party supporter...."
1st March 1997
"Fergus Ewing is the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber. As seen in the Highlands top Newspapers, Fergus Ewing is the first PPC in Scotland to have his own column within an Internet publication."
22nd February 1997
"... The debate crystallised what many Scots already know - that theWestminster system is irrelevant to the future of Scots. Thesignificant conclusion from the debate is that independence willhappen. Blair and Major disagree on the route but they both firmlybelieve that it will happen with change or without......"
15th February 1997
"... Friday and the end of the working week, saw Major attacking constitutional change in Scotland in a speech to Tories in Wales. Of course he made a huge blunder when he talked about a thousand years of 'British history', even though British history started in 1707 and not 997....."
8th February 1997
"An opinion poll last week in 'The Herald' newspaper showed that the Scottish National Partyare winning the argument over Scotland's future against Michael Forsyth and his band ofanti-Scottish Tories. Since the Scottish Secretary of State decided to concentrate hisattention on the SNP, we have won the first round of the pre-election battle, and intend togo on winning for Scotland right through to the General Election. But the Tories'anti-Scottishness is their fundamental weakness north of the Border...."
1st February 1997
Peter Wishart is the keyboard player with Scotland's leading celtic rock band Run Rig. Singer for the band, Donny Munro, last month launched his election campaign to stand for the position of MP for Ross, Cromaty and Skye with the hope that he can win votes as the new Labour MP for the area. In responce to his fellow musician and friend's political stand, Peter Wishart steps boldly forward in support of the Scottish National Party with the knowledge that it is the only political party in the UK which stands for true independence for Scotland...
25th January 1997
"Over the next few weeks everyone in Scotland is going to get a shock. Everyone in Scotland is going to discover that some of their vital services from their Local authority are under threat: the school round the corner, the swimming baths down the road: the old folks home across the street: the car park in the centre of to And you will start to notice that the roads are not being repaired, the bins are not being emptied as often, or the service you call doesn't answer..."
4th January 1997
".. Happy Birthday to 'Highlander' from the Scottish National Party ...
One year on from your launch, you are already a sturdy contributor to Scotland and theworld. May you grow from strength to strength!"
"At last, it's 1997! There has to be a General Election this year and the SNP are enteringthe Election campaign with our strongest, most sustained, pre-election support ever. Morale in the Party is high, and no wonder. The SNP has come a long way since the last election in 1992. Just look at our successes: ..."
28th December 1996
"... Are you looking forward to a White Christmas? I know many people, especially children, lookforward to snow, but equally there are many Scots who dread this time of year and the coldweather our climate brings us, because they cannot afford to heat their homes......"
21st December 1996
"... The budget for the Scottish Office which was announced last week included a 25% cut in thehousing budget. The Scottish Secretary Michael Forsyth also announced that £15 million wouldbe available for a 'rough sleeping initiative' over the next three years but it won't startuntil April when our cold winter may have already claimed a few lives......"
14th December 1996
"... Last Tuesday, Kenneth Clarke delivered his last budget speech before the General Election.On Wednesday we heard Gordon Brown's response from New Labour. Their message was identical -both Labour and the Tories are offering London Budgets to woo Middle England. Scotland isleft out in the cold....."
6th December 1996
"... The 30th of November is St Andrew's Day - Scotland's National Day. Each year the Saltireflies on our public buildings and our broadcasters make a little - too little - reference tothis national event. ...."
23rd November 1996
"... With control or our own resources Scotland would be the eighth richest nation in the industrial world - and yet we are not permitted to decide on anything for ourselves. We have nearly 70% of Europe's crucial oil reserves, and yet we must stand outside the door when the decisions are taken in Brussels. We produce more, save more and export more than those south of the border, and yet we are told that we live off London taxes...."
23rd November 1996
"... Ireland is playing a full role in the development of Europe - it is leading Europewith the Presidency at the moment . Scotland by contrast has no focus or control of what isbest for Scotland and best for the Scottish economy. Scotland is represented in Europe by aTory Government driven by internal divisions and dominated by a backward looking LittleEngland mentality...."
16th November 1996
Westminster certainly knows how to hold on to stolen goods. Today the Stone of Destiny wasreturned over Coldstream Bridge to Scotland, seven hundred years after Edward I reportedlystole it, however the theft of Scottish resources still goes on.
9th November 1996
The Government have now published the Firearms Bill but are still refusing to allow a freevote - a vote without parties' whip being used. It is of great regret to me that the Torieshave taken this position, particularly when calls for a free vote have increased from allquarters, including MPs from all parties.
2nd November 1996
The Scottish judicial system is not safe in Westminster's hands, and our distinctive andrespected legal system should not be left in the care of meddling Westminster politicians...
19th October 1996
".. On Friday the Scottish National Party published startling new research evidence thatScotland has paid a relative surplus to the UK Treasury of a massive £91 billion since theConservatives came to power in 1979, which amounts to £18,000 for every single person inScotland! ..."
".. One of Labour's leading figures has recently expressed his opposition to the removal ofbenefit from sixteen and seventeen year olds which was introduced by the Tories. ..."
".. From now to the General Election, the SNP's Scottish Cabinet will lay to rest the fears andsmears of our Unionist opponents once and for all. On a point by point, case by case basis,we will expose their bogus arguments. ..."
5th October 1996
".. We are not an ordinary political party. Our objective is to break the power of the UK State over the Scottish people," he declared. And highlighted differences between the SNP and their unionist opponents. "The unionists are selling a negative - we are arguing a positive. They are peddling fear - we offer hope. They are Scotland's past - we are Scotland's future. ..."
21st September 1996
".. Every spending commitment made by the SNP has been fully costed, and we havespelt out in detail how our commitments will be financed. By liberating the Scottish peoplefrom the smothering grip of the Union, we will be able to release the energies and talentsof the Scottish people..."
7th September 1996
Janet Law is the SNP Education Spokesperson and Convener of Perth and Kinross Council Education Committee. In this week's Scottish Columns she talks about Scotland's Education system and how it is being seriously undermined by outside rule. Best for Scotland - Education for all!
"... this year marks the 500th anniversary of the very first Scottish Education Act - the first such measure anywhere in the world."
31st August 1996
Kay Ullrich is the Scottish National Party's Social Policy Spokesperson. In this weeks 'Scottish Columns' she talks about the benefits of independence being the 'key' to a dynamic economy and the steps required to eradicate poverty in Scotland.
"The Scottish National Party believe that the measure of the richness of a society is the level of support which it provides for its citizens, and the elimination of poverty..."
24th August 1996
Dr Ian Glen is the Health Spokesperson for the Scottish National Party and Councillor for the Aviemore ward on the Highland Council. "Scotland has a tradition of excellent healthcare but Conservative misrule and the introduction of the internal market in 1991 has eroded that tradition...."
17th August 1996
Roseanna Cunningham is the Member of Parliament for Perth and Kinross, she is also the SNP Home Affairs Spokesperson. Scotland's Independance is the only way by which Scotland's housing problem can be solved, Roseanna Cunningham explains why...
10th August 1996
Andrew Welsh is Member of Parliament for Angus East and Vice President of the Scottish National Party.
3rd August 1996
The instantly recognisable catchphrase of the National Lottery is 'It could be you'. But asfar as the disbursement of its proceeds to charities and other groups are concerned, thefickle finger of fortune is much more likely to point at organisations based in London thananywhere else in the United Kingdom.
27th July 1996
Michael Russell is Chief Executive of the SNP and a Director of the Gaelic TV Production company Eala Bhan Ltd....
20th July 1996
Scotland's leading Internet publication, Highlander Web Magazine, speaks out in support for the SNP....
Alex Salmond is the Member of Parliament for Banff & Buchan and is leader of the SNP. An economist aged 42 , he is widely regarded as one of the most effective Scottish politicans of his generation....
Highlander Web Magazine