THE National is Scotland's only pro-independence newspaper – we want to do everything we can to help the Yes movement win indyref2, and that's why we're asking you to support us with a subscription.
The National has a range of subscription plans on offer – including a £2 for two months' subscription if you're keen to test the waters.
It’s only with the support of our subscribers that we can invest in the hard-hitting journalism and projects that make the case for Yes ever stronger.
READ MORE: Seven reasons why undecided voters should read The National
Maybe you’re already a subscriber, signing up because you love the writing of David Pratt, Lesley Riddoch and many more top voices featuring on our pages.
But if you’re not, we want to make clear what you’d be supporting by giving us your support through a subscription.
It was the support of subscribers that let us erect billboards across Scotland making clear the truth of the Unionist mindset.
READ MORE: Infamous Boris Spectator poem features on new National billboard campaign
We released a special edition with the McCrone Report inside, highlighting the UK’s squandering of Scotland’s oil wealth, thanks to subscriber backing.
We're also supporting Believe in Scotland's Autumn of Indy Action, publishing a bumper edition with a 24-page supplement setting out the case for a Yes vote on the Day of Action that launched the campaign.
One of our most-read stories this year was a report in February about a 21st consecutive poll finding majority support for Yes – we make sure such stories are covered and visible on newsstands across Scotland, while others try to conceal that momentum.
We’ve introduced our new National Extra offering too – commissioning figures from across the independence movement to analyse and offer a fresh perspective on the major stories of the day as they happen.
Our paper has taken on the UK Home Office several times and helped keep victims of the hostile environment in the country.
And, when called for, we're not afraid of taking risks with our front page:
But we want to do more. Covid-19 has meant an end to our popular National roadshows, so we've been running livestreams bringing Q&A and debate sessions with key contributors to your home via Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, including with Michael Russell, the head of the SNP's independence unit.
We want to do more investigations so that we can keep holding the BBC and Unionist politicians to account.
We’ve got big plans to produce more exclusive video content and contests providing the Yes movement with additional resources – such as with our Sunday National Yessay competition.
And The National listens to its subscribers. When you told us the comments section was filled with Unionist trolls, we acted, restricting it to subscribers.
Plus, nobody knows the indy movement better than our subscribers do, so we know your voice is crucial.
All you need to do to support The National, our writers and our campaigning is sign up for a subscription.
When you head over to our subscriptions page at https://www.thenational.scot/subscribe/ you’ll see three options:
- Our Premium subscription, for £1.53 per week
- Our Premium Plus subscription, for less than £2.50 per week
- Our Print Only subscription, from £6.66 per week
Our £2 for two months' offer can be found under the “Premium Plus” plan – again, that’s £2 for two months, then £9.99 monthly afterwards if you choose to stick with us.
With that subscription, you’ll see 80% fewer adverts on our website and have unlimited access to all our stories, including premium articles.
You’ll have access to our daily Pagesuite edition, a digital replica of the newspaper, including the Sunday.
Plus: apps, gift incentives and free access to the Scottish Gardener, Scottish Mountaineer and Scottish Walks and Cycling magazines.
All that said, we want The National to be about more than perks – we want you to support us because you see it as an investment in the independence cause and in helping to move our nation away from toxic Tory Britain.
Plus, which other newspaper has got closer to the Euro 2020 trophy than your National?
Thank you for your support.
Click here for our subscriptions page.
Stewart Ward, subscriptions and engagement editor, The National
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here