New newspaper the National will be first Scottish daily to support independence
The debate over Scotland's future in the United Kingdom is about to become even more intense with the launch of the first Scottish daily newspaper to back independence.
The paper will be called the National and is set to be launched on Monday by Newsquest, priced at 50p.
The paper's banner will read: "The newspaper that supports an independent Scotland." The National will be 32 pages, and its first print run will number around 50,000.
In a letter to retailers seen by the Guardian, the paper's head of circulation at Herald and Times group, said:
The pilot launch of the National is a response to reader requests for a daily title which supports independence
Editor of the Sunday Herald Richard Walker will also take on the editor's position at the new publication. The Sunday Herald was Scotland's only pro-independence paper during the referendum campaign, which was won by the No side by a 10 point margin.
The news of a new pro-independence paper will be music to the ears of the SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, who now commands the UK's third largest party, with over 80,000 members.
Earlier this month polling conducted by YouGov showed that Scots may vote Yes to independence if there was another referendum.
When “don’t know” answers are excluded, 52 per cent of those polled would vote Yes and 48 per cent No. With don’t knows included, the percentages change to 49 for Yes and 45 for No.