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From the editor: Why you should subscribe to The National for just £20

From the editor: Why you should subscribe to The National for just £20

The National3 days ago
Trust in journalists is low. Disinformation thrives on social media platforms. Reporters face major challenges in getting transparency from governments as officials misuse freedom of information rules. The rich and powerful use their wealth and status to block the publication of important stories.
In the past year we've even seen journalists arrested here in the UK. One of The National's own senior reporters was threatened with arrest while covering an arms factory protest.
We've faced a lot of hurdles from day one. We're Scotland's first and only pro-independence daily newspaper – so you'd expect that. But over the past 18 or so months, as we've used our platform to bring people informed reporting on Israel's genocide in Gaza and the UK Government's complicity in it, we've encountered all kinds of new problems.
Pro-Israel groups claiming to be well-intended campaign organisations complain about our work to Ipso, creating piles of paper work for our team and using up our time. Our journalists face relentless online abuse. Other members of the media have attempted to alienate us in our own industry.
But in the face of all this, we won't be silenced.
Our team is passionate about holding those in power to account, and being part of a better future not just for Scotland – but for everyone.
Our subscribers are a crucial part of helping us to do this. They support our work and allow our journalists to bring investigations to light, often ones which other media outlets would prefer not to touch.
They're also part of a bigger community, working with us to shape our editorial output and sharing their feedback.
We are so proud of how The National has grown since its inception in 2014 and we see a bright future for our award-winning team.
Times are tough for everyone and the cost of living is no joke. But if you have £20 to spare, a subscription to The National provides more than just interesting news coverage – it helps us to show a better future, and a better media, is possible.
Times may be bleak and scary right now, but we refuse to accept that they have to be.
Subscribe now for just £20 for an entire year of The National
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John Swinney ‘could be in danger of losing his Holyrood constituency seat' if people vote tactically
John Swinney ‘could be in danger of losing his Holyrood constituency seat' if people vote tactically

Scottish Sun

time29 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

John Swinney ‘could be in danger of losing his Holyrood constituency seat' if people vote tactically

The First Minister is facing a renewed challenge from veteran Tory Murdo Fraser next year SWINNERS & LOSERS John Swinney 'could be in danger of losing his Holyrood constituency seat' if people vote tactically Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JOHN Swinney could be in danger of losing his Holyrood constituency seat if people vote tactically, a top pollster has claimed. The First Minister is facing a renewed challenge from veteran Tory Murdo Fraser in Perthshire North next year. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The First Minister could be in danger of losing his Holyrood constituency seat if people vote tactically, a top pollster claims Credit: Michael Schofield 2 Analysis professional Mark Diffley thinks if voters snub Reform UK and Labour and cast ballots for Mr Fraser then Mr Swinney's 4,053 majority could be in jeopardy Credit: jo hanley 2020 And analysis professional Mark Diffley reckons if voters snub Reform UK and Labour and cast ballots for Mr Fraser then Mr Swinney's 4,053 majority could be in peril. Mr Diffley, of the Diffley Partnership, said: 'Tactical voting is a possibility but the Labour and Lib Dem vote shares in this seat in 2021 were negligible. 'Reform might expect to do well here and are likely to eat into Tory votes which makes the job easier for the SNP. 'The SNP took almost 50 per cent of the vote in 2021 and polls indicate that their vote share has fallen by around 15 points since, which might bring this seat into play.' Mr Fraser will be taking on Mr Swinney for a seventh time. He polled 15,807 votes compared to the First Minister's 19,860 in 2021, while Labour got 2,324. The Tory challenger said: 'Nigel Farage has already said he isn't worried about giving the SNP another five years in power. That should terrify every supporter of the Union living in John Swinney's backyard. 'If pro-UK voters in Perthshire want to deliver a verdict on the SNP leader being at the heart of 18 years of nationalist failure, then they must vote for me. 'I will be taking that message to local voters who are sick and tired of the SNP's continual focus on fringe issues, rather than delivering on the real priorities of the people.' Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay has said Mr Fraser has a 'realistic' chance of winning the seat. In his conference speech last month, he said: 'The SNP will do everything to protect John Swinney but those seats can be in play for us. Wouldn't that be some prize? Swinney paying the price for his abysmal record.' 'Sad to see him go' - GAA fans emotional seeing Michael D Higgins attend last men's All-Ireland final as President But even if Mr Swinney loses the constituency he is still likely to be elected as a regional list MSP. Mr Diffley said Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar will be hoping his party's 'unexpected' win by new MSP Davy Russell in last month's Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election has boosted their chances of forming a government. He added: 'The SNP is far less popular than it was at the last Holyrood election and polls show low support for the government's performance across key policy issues. 'But Labour has not capitalised on that and the national polls point, at this stage, to the likelihood of the SNP being re-elected next year. 'Many voters are disillusioned with both the UK and Scottish governments which partly explains the rise of Reform and the likelihood that they will do well next year.' Reform and Labour confirmed they will be standing in every seat but their candidates for Perthshire North have yet to be announced. A Scottish Labour spokeswoman said: 'Scotland has been badly failed by both the SNP and the Tories, and Scottish Labour will be fighting to win in every part of the country. 'Only Scottish Labour can get rid of this incompetent SNP government and deliver a new direction.' The SNP did not respond to our request for comment.

UN aid chief: some movement restrictions appear to have been eased in Gaza
UN aid chief: some movement restrictions appear to have been eased in Gaza

Reuters

time30 minutes ago

  • Reuters

UN aid chief: some movement restrictions appear to have been eased in Gaza

UNITED NATIONS, July 27 (Reuters) - United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher said on Sunday that some movement restrictions appeared to have been eased by Israel in Gaza on Sunday after Israel decided to 'support a one-week scale-up of aid.' Fletcher said in a statement that initial reports indicate that more than 100 truckloads of aid were collected from crossings to be transported into Gaza. 'This is progress, but vast amounts of aid are needed to stave off famine and a catastrophic health crisis,' he said.

The safe passage of aid must be allowed in Gaza
The safe passage of aid must be allowed in Gaza

Telegraph

timean hour ago

  • Telegraph

The safe passage of aid must be allowed in Gaza

The dramatic shift in Israel's policy towards Gaza follows weeks of mounting international pressure for more to be done to help the Palestinian people caught in the middle of this catastrophe. The arguments over who was responsible are largely pointless now. The casus belli was the October 7, 2023 invasion by Hamas and the murder of more than 1,000 Israelis, and the kidnapping of scores more. Without that atrocity what we are now seeing would not have happened. Those who march through European capitals every week, blaming Israel for wanting peace and security free from neighbours seeking their destruction, do not have to live in the region. Nor do they consider what any country would do if its citizens were taken hostage and kept as bargaining counters by terrorists. Had they been released and Hamas accepted Israel's right to exist this could have ended months ago. But with a humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza we are past the blame game, as the Israeli government is tacitly conceding by offering 10-hour daily pauses and opening aid corridors in densely populated parts of the Strip. This is 'to enable the safe passage of UN and humanitarian aid organisation convoys delivering and distributing food and medicine to the population'. There have also been air drops of aid in recent days. Critics will say this has come a bit late in the day, although the Israelis have challenged Hamas's accounts of what has happened to past aid convoys, many of which they say have been hijacked. Nonetheless, the new, open-ended, policy is indicative of the massive pressure now being applied to Jerusalem, with countries like France proposing to recognise a Palestinian state. As more pictures emerge from inside Gaza it has become impossible for the Israelis to maintain a narrative that the privation of the people is being exaggerated. Now they have opened up the aid corridors it is imperative that the world sees it is being delivered to women and children and not being intercepted by Hamas. To that end, opening the country to the free and safe movement of foreign media representatives can only be to Israel's advantage. The fact remains, however, that Hamas is still holding at least 50 hostages, of whom 20 are thought still to be alive. Their release is essential to any chance of an agreement to end the conflict. Furthermore, apart from Jordan and the UAE, what are other Arab countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia doing to help the Palestinians?

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