News Saturday August 23rd Referendum campaign OK for schools Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is one of only five councils in Scotland who have not banned Referendum campaigners from campaigning in schools. Research published today by the BBC found that 27 of the 32 councils in Scotland had banned campaigning activity from school premises, but Comhairle nan Eilean Siar was one of the five who allowed it to go ahead. Campaigning has now entered the strictly controlled period of 28 days before the actual Referendum date, when public bodies have to abide by clear guidance on what can be announced or debated, in case it influences people’s voting. Electoral Commission guidelines give no specific guidance on whether campaign groups can visit schools ahead of polling day, when high school students aged 16 and 17 will be able to vote for the first time in a national poll. A Comhairle spokesman told researchers: “The two campaign groups are allowed to visit secondary schools. The visits are managed by school leaders who are required to ensure that such visits comply with the guidance issued by the Comhairle.” Scottish Fishermen balance risk Meanwhile the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) has published a ‘balance-of-risk analysis’ of the replies it received from the Scottish and UK fisheries ministers on questions about the outcome of the Referendum. Letters written in April posed exactly the same questions to Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead, and UK Fisheries Minister, George Eustice. The Federation is apolitical and cannot take a view on independence - but it has been charged by its members to ask questions so as to provide more clarity that will enable individual fishermen to make their own minds up. Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the SFF, said: “The two ministers provided detailed replies. It gives our members a valuable opportunity to look at the key issues involved and help them reach a decision on how to vote.” The full ‘balance-of-risk’ analysis paper is published on the SFF website sff.co.uk Australian historian on clearances A talk organised by the Islands Book Trust next week will bring the expertise of an Australian professor to a subject very close to home. Highland Estate Factors in the Age of the Clearances - a talk by Professor Eric Richards of Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, will look at the notorious activities of Donald Munro, Chamberlain of the Lews under Sir James Matheson for many years. Eric Richards is visiting Professor at the University of the Highlands and Islands this summer. He is a well-known historian and author. The free talk’s at the County Hotel on Tuesday at 7.30pm.
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 07:00:01 +0000
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