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Founding editor of The National joins Business for Scotland / Believe in Scotland

Written by Michelle Rodger

The founding editor of Scotland’s only pro-independence newspapers has joined the team behind the pro-independence business network Business for Scotland and the grass roots independence campaign Believe in Scotland.

Richard Walker, who founded the National Newspaper in 2014 and the Sunday National four years later, will head up the organisation’s content strategy, providing regular reporting content and opinion pieces for both organisations’ websites and will play a key role in a range of important campaigning events and initiatives planned as BfS steps up the campaign in anticipation of a new referendum on Scottish independence.

Believe in Scotland was launched in January last year and already has a number of successful initiatives under its belt. It produced the highly praised Scotland the Brief publication selling more than 20,000 copies and staged a landmark virtual conference for 197 local Yes group organisers in September.

Business for Scotland’s opinion polls were among the first to show the growing majority support for the Yes side and its campaigning during the year helped change the narrative on independence, which many now see as inevitable. Believe in Scotland was also named Independence Campaigning Group of the Year by the Scottish Independence foundation and The National newspaper.

Walker said: “I’m delighted to be joining a team with the energy and vision to inject the independence debate with inspirational ideas and make a real difference to the Yes movement’s campaigning.

“I’m really looking forward to utilising my skills to maximise the effect of the many exciting and impactful initiatives we have planned over the vital months ahead.”

Business for Scotland’s chief executive Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp said: “2021 will be a pivotal year for Scottish independence and Richard joining the senior team will add an extra dimension to our campaigning capability during what now looks likely to be an independence referendum year.

“The next few months will see BfS and BiS step up our efforts and take the initiative in persuading people that independence is a great opportunity for Scotland and its people.”

Walker will continue to write a weekly column for The National.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Richard Walker biog
Walker began his career in journalism working for local newspapers in Ayrshire, eventually editing the Ayr Advertiser and launching the Ayrshire Leader for Scotsman Publications.
He joined Scotland on Sunday a year after it launched and became deputy chief sub then assistant editor (production on Spectrum section).

He worked as design executive for the Evening Times, was deputy features editor at the Daily Record, deputy editor of the Scotsman Magazine before joining the launch team of the Sunday Herald, becoming deputy editor in 2000 and editor in 2004.
Walker launched pro-independence newspapers The National in 2014 and the Sunday National in 2018.

Believe in Scotland’s 2020 Independence Campaign Review

Believe in Scotland named the Independence Campaigning Group of the year 2020 by the Scottish Independence Foundation and The National Newspaper

About the author

Michelle Rodger

Michelle is a former national newspaper journalist who co-founded an award-winning IT business before launching Tartan Cat Communications. A social media and crowdfunding expert she manages media and communications for Business for Scotland.

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