Scots Scriever pans Tory MSP over 'colonialistic' Scots language comments

A TORY MSP has been been panned by this year's Scots Scriever after his "colonialistic" comments aimed at the Scots language

Susi Briggs, the first Galloway Scots Scriever, reacted after Tory backbencher Stephen Kerr demanded the Scots language be “left to the pages of Oor Wullie and The Broons, and esoteric authors.”

His comments came after officials were asked a series of questions in Scots about the Scottish Languages Bill, currently making its way through Parliament. The response from officials was also written in Scots.

Briggs questioned what the Tory MSP was so "feart" of and accused Kerr of displaying a "colonialistic mindset".  She also pointed out that the country’s most famous poet, Robert Burns (below), who wrote in Scots, was "hardly esoteric".

(Image: GeorgiosArt)Writing on social media, she said: "What's he feart o? That we hae oor ain unique vyce tae blether and create and debate in?

"Colonialistic mindset is what we are seeing here. We have and will continue to claim and reclaim oor culture and language regairdless o the mocking disdain o Tories and other like him.

"If it wisna fer Oor Wullie and the Broons and auld Robert Burns bein brocht oot in January fer schuil recitals I widna ken I had a language because o the colonialistic mindsets o men in power like Stephen Kerr.

"I've taught masel my ain Scots literacy like every Scots writer I ken. I am noo the Scots Scriever and hae dedicated my career tae being a wean's picture book author tae heize up Scots literacy."

Briggs is a poet, author, musician, podcaster and supporter of Scottish independence who was named as Scots Scriever in November 2023 by Creative Scotland.

She also said she would love to "sit and hae a blether" with Kerr to find out "why he is wilfully ignorant aboot Scots culture".

However, Briggs suggested that she already knew the true answer, though the Tory MSP would not admit it.

(Image: PA) Kerr (above) told The Times: “Written Scots really should be left to the pages of Oor Wullie and The Broons, and esoteric authors.”

Kerr added: “I recognise the importance of Gaelic as part of our heritage as Scots and support any sensible measure to support its everyday use in areas where it is traditionally spoken.

“But a Scots language can’t be easily defined; it is different for everyone who speaks it depending on where they are from and how they use it. It is a living, breathing and vibrant spoken language.”

“There are many dialects and versions of Scots. There isn’t a single Scots language, and it is an oral tradition.