The editor of a pro-independence Scottish daily insists it “can and will” criticise the political party which played a role in its founding.
The National’s Richard Walker, pictured below, made the pledge about the Scottish National Party in an interview with Media Guardian.
The Newsquest-owned title was founded in November, with the announcement being made at a rally of SNP supporters.
The National’s pro-independence stance saw it being labelled a “McPravda for Scottish separatists” when it was first launched.
Hitting back, Richard said: “We can and will be critical of the SNP.
“But it’s different in a way because journalists want to be holding the establishment to account and in Scotland today the question is ‘who is the establishment?’
“The SNP is dedicated to radical change of the British constitution, so it is a radical party.
“The National is a radical paper that supports that.”
Richard, who also edits sister title the Sunday Herald, added that a new website for The National would be up and running by the end of February, but did not reveal whether or not a paywall would be introduced.
He added: ““There’s a question mark over whether we charge – personally, I’m always worried about giving away journalism for nothing and like any other business we need money to pay people.
“We already have a news website with the Herald Scotland and there seems little point in replicating that, so it needs to be a different kind of beast.”
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Criticize the SNP ? Good luck with that. We saw what happened when decent folk announced they wanted the UK to stay united. They were vilified and intimidated by SNP headbangers only for the silent majority to show its preference in the end. The National is a newspaper determined to keep picking the scab of the Scottish referendum for the dubious enrichment of its American owners. Radical ? No, it is a divisive and misconceived project.
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It’s only right they critisies the SNP, I vote SNP but for one reason only they offer a road to independence. I was pissed off after the referendum that the socialist bowed down to them, so not all us independence supporters are that into the SNP, a party that is now changing, are they listening ………..maybe, all has still to be seen. This surprise that the people of Scotland are only now turning to the SNP for an alternative is a myth that can easily be disproved by looking at the previous Scottish elections, hence the reason we got a referendum in the first place. So well done The National for looking after Scotlands interest not the SNP’s, and maybe people will realise that it’s not just SNP supporters that desire independence.
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