Oor Vyce calls on candidates for the Scottish Parliament election on 7th May 2026 to endorse four key principles in support of the Scots leid, if they are elected as an MSP.
Oor Vyce caws on candidates for the Scottish Pairlament election on the 7t o May 2026 tae gie backin tae fower key principles uphaudin the Scots language/leid, gif/gin thay are electit as an MSP.
The 2026 #ScotsPledge
If elected, I pledge to:
Gin electit, Ah pledge tae:
- Champion our status: I will uphold and promote the official status of Scots, working to normalise its use in public life, the media, and our democratic institutions so that speakers are treated with equal respect.
- Champion oor status: I/Ah will uphaud an forder the official status o Scots, warkin for tae mak its uise in public life, the media, an oor democratic institutions mair normal sae that speakers/spikkers are treatit wi equal respect.
- Invest in our future: I will advocate for an ambitious, robustly funded Scots Language Strategy that delivers consistent investment to community projects, the arts, and grassroots initiatives across all variants of Scots.
- Invest in oor future: I/Ah will gie backin for an ambitious, weel funded Scots Language Strategy that gies steidy investment tae community projects, the airts, an girseruits initiatives for aw variants o Scots.
- Empower our children: I will support the full integration of Scots into our mainstream education system, ensuring teachers are supported and the next generation has the right to learn, read, and write their language with pride.
- Empouer oor weans/bairns: I/Ah will uphaud the hale integration o Scots intae oor mainstream education system, makkin shuir/siccar teachers are gien backin an the neist generation hae the richt tae lairn, read, an scrieve thair language wi pride.
- Listen to our speakers: I will ensure the implementation of the Act remains radically inclusive, engaging with Scots speakers from all backgrounds and protecting the rich diversity of our regional variants.
- Listen tae oor speakers/spikkers: I/Ah will mak shuir/siccar the pittin in o the Act bides inclusive o awbody, engagin wi Scots spikkers/speakers fae aw backgrunds an protectin the rich diversity o oor regional variants.
Why the next parliament must move from Act to Action.
Whit/fit the neist pairlament needs muivin fae Act tae Action for.
In 2025, we made history. The Scottish Languages Act officially recognised the Scots language in law. But an Act is only as strong as the action behind it. Official status must now translate into a real future for the language in our homes, schools, and communities.
The approach towards the Scots language must be apolitical. Building on the Act is not just about culture; it has a profound, positive knock-on effect across our entire society:
In 2025, we made history. The Scottish languages Act officially teen tent o the Scots language in law/laa. But an Act is anely as strang as the action ahint it. Official status maun noo mean that we hae a real future for the language in oor hames, schuils, an communities.
The approach tae the Scots language maun be apolitical. Biggin on the Act isnae/isna juist aboot culture; it haes a profoon, positive effect that spreids ower the hale o oor society:
- Education & Attainment: Fully integrating Scots into mainstream education tackles the attainment gap by allowing students to learn and speak in their own voice.
- Education & Attainment: Fully/filly integratin Scots intae mainstream education fechts the attainment gap by allouin students tae lairn an speak/spik in thair ain vyce.
- The Economy & Digital Culture: Scots is worth millions to the Scottish economy. Moving beyond old stereotypes to foster a modern, independent Scots digital creator community will increase Scotland’s online cultural prominence and benefit the digital economy.
- The Economy & Digital Culture: Scots is worth millions tae the Scottish economy. Muivin ayont auld stereotypes tae foster a modren, independent Scots digital creator community will heize up Scotland’s on-line cultural prominence an benefit the digital economy.
- Social Justice: Social stigmatisation of Scots speakers widens class divides and contributes to class prejudice. Affirming the linguistic rights of speakers combats this inequality, ensuring they are afforded equal opportunity and respect.
- Social Justice: Social stigmatisation o Scots speakers/spikkers braidens class divides an contributes tae class prejudice. Affirmin the linguistic richts o speakers/spikkers fechts this inequality, makkin shuir/siccar thay are gien equal opportunity an respect.
- Community & Diversity: Consistent, grassroots investment empowers local communities and protects the continued intergenerational transmission of all our rich regional variants.
- Community & Diversity: Steidy, girseruits investment empouers local communities an protects the hauden gaun passin doon o aw oor rich regional variants fae generation tae generation.
- Action & Accountability: This progress can only be guaranteed if the next Parliament commits to a dedicated Statutory Body and a permanent Minister for Scotland’s Languages to protect our rights for future generations.
- Action & Accoontability: This progress can anely be guaranteed if the neist Pairlament commits tae a dedicated Statutory Body an a permanent Minister for Scotland’s Languages/Leids tae protect oor richts for future generations.
How to Sign the #ScotsPledge
Hoo/foo tae Sign the #ScotsPledge
Are you a candidate ready to stand up for the Scots language? To officially sign the pledge, request our Candidate Briefing Pack, or ask for more details on our campaign, please get in touch with our Chair directly at chair@oorvyce.scot
Ye a candidate ready tae staund up for the Scots language/leid? For tae officially sign the pledge, request oor Candidate Briefin Pack, or speir for mair details on oor campaign, please get in contact wi oor Chair directly at chair@oorvyce.scot