The Guardian continues to locate itself among the ‘free press’:

The Guardian has something many news organisations today don’t: guaranteed independence. With no billionaire or large corporate owner, our journalists are free to report without interference. Our role is to hold power to account, not answer to it. We value whatever you can spare, but a monthly subscription makes the most impact, enabling greater investment in our most crucial, fearless journalism. Thank you.

Those of us ‘up here’ know that the Guardian, to this day, reports events in Scotland biased in favour of the Scottish Labour Branch’s interests. For many examples, see – https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=Guardian

On February 19th 2026, to explain though regularly reading reports on matters not directly connected to Scotland, I could not help them with a contribution. No response, far less an acknowledgement, so a reminder sent today.

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)