ET tu, The National? On behalf of the many disgusted independence activists who have today taken to social media in relation to the latest hatchet job on Alex Salmond, I feel the question must be asked: “What the hell were you thinking?"
I have today seen numerous people stating they will cancel their subscriptions, including one friend who has championed your paper at every opportunity, who has delivered it on the doorsteps and handed it out on the streets and who has now cancelled their subscription and has vowed never to hand out a copy again. Way to go, guys!
Alex Salmond was acquitted of every single charge, yet his anonymous accusers show no sign of relenting in their campaign to destroy him, and now continue to do so with the aid and abettance of the one paper which had the broad support of the independence movement.
I say “had” in the past tense. Many were suspicious of the paper already being a stablemate of the ultra-British-nationalist Herald, and for them this has surely been the straw which broke the camel’s back. Others, however, were your core customer base and for them this will undoubtedly be a “Ratner moment” which will see them take their once-valued custom elsewhere.
As a very active independence campaigner I value the contribution made by The National to our efforts over the last few years, but I can’t let this pass without comment. There must now be nothing less than a front-page apology from the paper for its decision to give the anonymous accusers a platform, and an open and honest admission as to how that decision was made. If such an apology is not forthcoming then I fear that this paper’s days are numbered.
Jim Cassidy
Airdrie
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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