The launch of Newsquest’s pro-independence Scottish daily the National did not impress all pro-independence supporters. A comment piece in Shetland News, which came out in favour of Scottish independence ahead of the referendum, branded Monday’s first edition of the National as shockingly myopic – apparently miffed because the islands were left off the map of Scotland the title uses in its banner. “When a Scottish newspaper reproduces a map of its home nation on its front page and forgets to include Shetland, I despair,” said Jodan Ogg, in a comment piece reviewing the first issue of the National. “Above the offending map is the declaration: ‘a new newspaper for a new Scotland’. The problem is that this idea of a new Scotland is as limited geographically as it is politically … What shocks is the myopia, the complete lack of attention given to any aspect of Yes-supporting Scotland external to Glasgow and its surrounding areas.” National editor Richard Walker is already on the case. Ogg, telling Monkey’s colleague Mark Sweney on Tuesday morning: “We somehow managed to eradicate Shetland, we were asking for it with that one. We found it again and its on the masthead today.” Didn’t Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael say the islands would consider becoming self-governing if Scotland voted for independence?
