Newspaper in row over free speech admits criticism was deserved
A NEWSPAPER’s managing director said that the title deserved much of “a tidal wave of criticism” following the departure of three of its columnists in a row over free speech.
Former Labour energy minister Brian Wilson was sacked by the newspaper he co-founded, the West Highland Free Press, after defending fellow columnist Professor Donald Macleod, who wrote a piece about the spread of Islam in the UK.
After the paper said the pair would no longer write for the Free Press, Maggie Cunningham withdrew her column.
Now managing director Paul Wood has apologised to readers following last week’s row. In a statement he said the Free Press had to “endure a tidal wave of criticism, much of it valid and deserved”.
Mr Wood said: “We have made mistakes and if every business and newspaper could be run with the benefit of hindsight, we would have nothing to learn from. We can only apologise to our readers, our community and our friends. If the result of making mistakes seriously damages all the good the Free Press does, this would be a terrible pity.”
The newspaper’s editor is to make a further statement in this week’s print edition.
Mr Wilson, the founding editor of the Free Press, and whose association stretches more than 40 years, was a long-established columnist for the Skye-based publication.
Mr Macleod, a Free Church professor of theology, wrote in his last column, on May 22: “All minorities prefer to keep a low profile and avoid trouble. Generations of British Muslims have done exactly that, many have made an invaluable contribution to British society, and many are perfectly prepared to listen quietly while Christians ‘witness’ to them.
“But when minorities become majorities, things change ... in the event of Islamic dominance in Britain, our friendly Muslim shopkeepers will have little option but to march behind the radicals.”
Mr Wilson wrote in his column last week that Prof Macleod’s piece was “leading on to wider questions about Islamic influence within Europe, including implications for democracy and freedom”.
In a statement last week, the Free Press said: “We thank Brian Wilson and Professor Macleod for their immense contribution to the paper over many years. They have rightly earned their reputation as erudite, passionate and respected writers and their regular offerings in the West Highland Free Press will be missed by some readers.”
Mr Wilson declined to comment on the statement but said he had not been offered his column back.