See those Ivory Coast players in orange, very bottom left in the (just) ‘More sport’ afterthought section?

That’s the report of Scotland’s 1 nil defeat last night, right at the bottom.

I read the Guardian all the time but won’t pay until they change their editorial policy to oppose Scottish independence at the same time as not opposing any other country’s departure from the brutal empire they apparently now regret.

I wrote this on February 19 February 2026, six weeks ago. Not even an acknowledgement far less a response.

Katherine Viner, Editor, the Guardian, katharine.viner@guardian.co.uk

Dear Katharine

I’d really like to contribute to the Guardian but cannot because of the 12th September 2014 editorial, telling Scots to vote No in the referendum on independence, a few days later: 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/12/guardian-view-scottish-independence

In 1967, aged 16, starting Higher History classes in an industrial Scottish town, our teacher suggested we needed to start reading a serious newspaper, and on the following Sunday, I walked into town, had a look around and bought the Observer. I was stunned by its content. My parents took a tabloid, and I had no idea such rich, fascinating material could be found every day of the week.

Ever since, until that day in 2014, I bought the Observer every Sunday and the Guardian on those weekdays I travelled by train.

In the late 1990’s, following my late father, I started to support the campaign for Scottish independence, satisfied that it had become an acceptably civic form of nationalism. I have stayed with the cause ever since and with increasing dedication.

The Yes movement in Scotland is now profoundly leftist, socially liberal, green, democratic and inclusive. Many born in England now march with us. More than 50% of us now support independence, in repeated polls, even in those skewed against us by suspect sampling.

I still read the Guardian online for its many great stories on matters unconnected with the Yes campaign. I cannot read your ‘Scottish’ correspondents due to their uncritical swallowing of inaccurate Unionist propaganda.

Please, in honour of your long history of criticising imperialist oppression, from Suez in 1956 until your more recent apparent recognition that Irish reunification is legitimate, reconsider your position on Scottish independence and at least do not campaign against it.

Yours sincerely

John

Professor John Robertson (rtd)