Thompson proposes a fate worse than death for critics of Gaelic

Today Holyrood debated BBC Alba and the case for making it available on Freeview.

This is something the channel has argued for from the outset.

The issue of Gaelic, its role in Scottish culture and whether it should be energetically promoted as a touchstone for identity and left in gentle decline is never less than emotive.

And so it was today.

Highlands and Islands MSP, the SNP’s Dave Thompson, a fervent supporter of the promotion of the Gaelic language, was so infuriated by its ‘misinformed’ critics that he prescribed a punishment that brings a quiver to the loins of the male of the species. He wants to see them ‘nipped in the bud’. Ouch.

Enraged by the nitpickers, and reaching for his scalpel, Mr Thompson said: ‘Gaelic is an important part of Scotland’s culture, heritage and identity.  It is all the more sad therefore that at a time when the confidence of Gaelic speakers is beginning to grow, some people choose to attack and vilify Gaelic under the pretexts of disproportionate spending on a minority and the need for savings.

‘Some councillors, in the Highland region of all places, have jumped on the misinformed populist bandwagon.  That is despite the fact that Highland Council spends only a quarter of 1 per cent of its annual budget on Gaelic- well below what would be proportionate given the number of Gaelic speakers in its area.

‘The latest populist to jump on the bandwagon is Labour Councillor Deirdre Mackay, daughter of populist, anti-Gaelic Councillor Rosie, who has obviously seen her dad hitting the headlines and now wants some of the action.  She has even gone so far as to criticise plans introduced by the previous Labour-Liberal Democrat Scottish Executive who, led by her employer Peter Peacock MSP, implemented the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005.’

Warming to his theme, Mr Thompson called on Mr Peacock and the Highland Council Labour Group to consider Ms Mackay’s position, saying that ‘vilificatiion

The future of BBC Alba was debated today in the Scottish Parliament.  Highlands & Islands SNP MSP Dave Thompson used the debate to call for misinformed Gaelic critics to be nipped in the bud.

During the debate Mr Thompson said:

“Gaelic is an important part of Scotland’s culture, heritage and identity.  It is all the more sad therefore that at a time when the confidence of Gaelic speakers is beginning to grow, some people choose to attack and vilify Gaelic under the pretexts of disproportionate spending on a minority and the need for savings.

“Some councillors, in the Highland region of all places, have jumped on the misinformed populist bandwagon.  That is despite the fact that Highland Council spends only a quarter of 1 per cent of its annual budget on Gaelic- well below what would be proportionate given the number of Gaelic speakers in its area.

“The latest populist to jump on the bandwagon is Labour Councillor Deirdre Mackay, daughter of populist, anti-Gaelic Councillor Rosie, who has obviously seen her dad hitting the headlines and now wants some of the action.  She has even gone so far as to criticise plans introduced by the previous Labour-Liberal Democrat Scottish Executive who, led by her employer Peter Peacock MSP, implemented the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005.’

Then Mr Thompson, in ‘more in sorrow than in anger’ mode,  called on Mr Peacock and Highland Council’s Labour Group to consider Ms Mackay’s position. He feels strongly that reductive attitudes to Gaelic, if unchecked, could ‘expand to the detriment of Gaelic and the confidence of Gaelic speakers’.

Mr Thompson’s fellow Highlands and Islands MSP, Jamie McGrigor, speaking in the same debate, pointed out that his party, the Scottish Conservatives, have taken the position all along that BBC Alba should be on Freeview.

Neatly sliding in a political prognostication, he said: ‘I would also point out that the Scottish Conservatives’ wider record on support for Gaelic has been steadfast and meaningful including of course the establishment of the Gaelic Broadcasting Fund. Conservatives in government delivered tangible benefits for the Gaelic language and Gaelic speakers and I expect the next Conservative Government to do the same’.

McGrigor’s first case for availability on Freeview came down to simple justice. He pointed to the Irish and the Welsh – both of whom can watch programmes in their native language free. He instanced the cost of subscription to satellite delivered television – the platform to which BBC Alba is currently confined.

He then highlighted the inherent contradiction in the challenge set BBC Alba – that it’s success will be measure in terms of viewer numbers – and yet, confined to satellite delivery, it is prevented from building the sort of critical mass in viewer numbers that would impress the BBC Trust in its decision taking.

The MSP then moved to demolish the scaremongering counter argument – that if BBC Alba was moved to Freeview, or would displace BBC network radio stations. He reminded his audience that radio listeners would still access their stations on Freeview when BBC Alba in not on air (it transmits in the evening) and that when it was, the radio stations would still be available continuously on FM, AM, DAB, satellite, cable and online.

In relation to this last point, in our submission to the Scottish Broadcasting Commission, For Argyll argued that BBC Alba should pioneer the field in targeting the developed online delivery that is the near future.

McGrigor’s core case, however, centred on BBC Alba’s role in sustaining and expanding the Gaelic language, saying: ‘If we want- and I think all of us on all sides of the chamber are unanimous in this – to reach out to Gaelic speakers and, crucially, encourage greater awareness of the language and a greater number of people to become involved in learning it, then BBC Alba will be so much more powerful a tool if it is available on Freeview.

‘The medium of TV is critical in reflecting and supporting Gaelic culture, identity and heritage and that medium must be widely and easily available. BBC Alba has been a real success story with some excellent and innovative programming: everyone should have the opportunity to watch this, allowing the channel to fulfil its role in assisting the sustenance and future development of the Gaelic language.’