A vote to leave the EU could create a groundswell movement for a second referendum on Scottish independence, according to one of Scotland’s most successful authors.
McDermid, who is from Kirkcaldy in Fife, said she is keen to remain in the EU for both practical and cultural reasons.
She said “For practical reasons, as a writer the EU makes it easier to protect your rights and revenues and intellectual properties in the complexities of the digital world and those copyright issues.
As for the leave campaign, like Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, I wouldn’t follow them out of a burning building
Val McDermid
Val McDermid, who is well known for her suspense novels featuring Dr. Tony Hill that were turned into TV series Wire In The Blood, also said she would not follow Leave campaigners Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson and Michael Gove “out of a burning building”.
Scotland’s Fife council to close almost a third of its libraries, with further cuts being made across the UK
Alison Flood
The Guardian, 11 December 2015
Fife’s decision to close 16 of its libraries has been attacked by high-profile Scottish authors including Ian Rankin and Val McDermid, as well as by a group of Scottish National Party MPs.
I would not be a writer if it were not for the public library system
– Val McDermid
As a new report on the current state of the UK’s libraries reveals that more than 100 branches closed last year, a reduction of 14% in the total number of libraries since 2010, bestselling crime novelist McDermid called the situation in Fife “disgraceful”. The decision, announced earlier this week, will see the region’s libraries reduced from 51 branches to 35.
Crofton Park library in London, which is now run as a social enterprise. Photograph: Frank Baron for the Guardian
“What does this do to our culture?” said McDermid, who grew up in Fife. “We complain all the time about young people not reading books, but if we make it harder for them to get books, reading is not going to increase. Libraries are there for people who can’t afford books, or whose families don’t see any value in reading books.”
McDermid said that she grew up in a family with no money to spend on books. “Frankly, I would not be a writer if it were not for the public library system,” she said. “In Fife we have a library built with Andrew Carnegie’s money – those industrialists understood the value of educating people. These are the things we are losing. These are the things we are throwing away.”
By David Leask, Chief Reporter / Wednesday 18 November 2015
the Herald Scotland
Scotland’s most celebrated writers have warned of a threat to their freedom of speech.
James Kelman, Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Chris Brookmyre and Neal Ascherson are among more than 100 authors demanding reform of the country’s antiquated defamation laws.
In a joint letter organised by freedom of speech organisation Scottish Pen, the writers warn that they – along with campaigners, scientists and journalists – are facing the “chilling” effect of libel action threats.
