A GAELIC-speaking MSP has called on a budding Scottish Labour candidate to apologise for "deeply disrespectful" remarks she made about the language.
Vonnie Sandlan, who works as head of office for Dunfermline and Dollar MP Graeme Downie, announced on Twitter/X on Tuesday that she had been shortlisted to be a Scottish Labour candidate in the Glasgow Central constituency for the 2026 Holyrood election.
In response to the post, a previous attack she had made on Gaelic education spending was highlighted, when she branded it “middle-class quasi-private education”.
She added that she believed Gaelic was a “regional, not national” language.
Sandlan defended her comments after they resurfaced, saying: "I don’t make any apologies for wanting better for the many, many Glasgow children who are unable to access their right to education as their needs are not being effectively met."
Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar and a Gaelic speaker, has said Sandlan must issue a full apology, adding that her party must make clear if it respects the language.
“These comments are depressingly ill informed and deeply disrespectful to Scotland’s Gaelic-speaking communities. Ms Sandlan should issue a full unreserved apology," he said.
"Gaelic is one of Scotland’s national languages. The SNP Government has strengthened its status in law through the Scottish Languages Act 2025, expanded Gaelic-medium education, and provided funding to protect vital community development roles.
"Far from being elitist, Gaelic-medium schools are council-run and open to families from every background.
“Labour should make clear whether they respect Gaelic as part of our shared national heritage, or whether they support a candidate who undermines and disrespects it.”
Previously, Sandlan worked as the president of the National Union of Students for Scotland for several years.
According to her LinkedIn profile, she has also previously worked as a senior policy officer for Colleges Scotland and a communications and public affairs manager for the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
On the same profile, Sandlan’s bio says she has a “low tolerance threshold for injustice, and a values set which is rooted in communities”.
