It's not often Scotland qualify for a major international football tournament. You have to be over the age of 30 to have firm memories of the 1998 World Cup in France, the last time we were on the big stage.
A whole generation has grown up with no idea of what it’s like to cheer on their home nation at a major summer event.
That will change come Monday when Scotland step out at Hampden to take on the Czech Republic in the European Championships.
It is a historic moment for Scottish sports fans and the whole nation should be able to enjoy it.
But schoolchildren, who will still be in class when the game kicks off at 2pm, are at risk of missing out.
Today we are calling for common sense to prevail and for our youngsters to be allowed to enjoy the match.
The Scottish Government should issue guidance to teachers on how pupils can join in this national celebration without falling behind on lessons.
Perhaps youngsters could be challenged to write up their own match reports?
There could be any number of educational benefits attached to this sporting extravaganza.
Scotland have an exciting team and hopefully further tournaments are just around the corner.
But this is the first time the national team has been here in 23 years.
Let the children watch the game and cheer on the Dark Blues from every classroom in the country.
Cabinet of spivs
During wartime, those who capitalised on the dire emergency to make a profit out of other people’s misery were rightly regarded as the lowest of the low.
Now in 21st-century Britain, in the midst of the worst health crisis of our lifetimes, we find ourselves ruled by a cabinet packed with spivs.
The High Court has ruled the Government’s award of a coronavirus contract to a company run by friends of adviser Dominic Cummings was unlawful. We would never have guessed.
The anti-corruption campaign group the Good Law Project won its case against Michael Gove’s Cabinet Office over the payment of more than £500,000 of taxpayers’ money to Public First at the outset of the coronavirus crisis in March 2020.
In short, pals of Michael Gove and Dominic Cummings were handed contracts without tender.
In the real world you would be sacked for such shenanigans but in Tory Britain they just keep on profiteering.
