Alex Salmond praises INSP's "huge success"

Photo: Jamie Simpson/The Herald

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has commented on INSP's 20th anniversary noting the "huge success" of the street paper model. He went on to say "It’s been an incredible story, and not just, obviously, The Big Issue in Scotland and the UK but the spread of the street paper idea across the world".

Salmond made his comments during an interview with INSP's Callum McSorley after the first of two INSP events in Glasgow.

At the public event last Thursday, the First Minister was interviewed by BBC presenter James Naughtie, who currently has a key role in the BBC's referendum coverage, presenting both Radio 4's Today Programme and Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland.

In front of a packed Mitchell Theatre in Glasgow, Salmond spoke out about identity, currency, referendum polls, the economy, his pride in Scotland's "mongrel nation" and even the Danish political TV show 'Borgen'.

During the lively audience Q&A session, one of the most important questions of the evening came from Big Issue vendor John Hill who brought the conversation on to homelessness and long term unemployment, asking the First Minister what he proposed change under independence.

The Principal of Strathclyde University; & INSP's
Maree Aldam welcomed guests & sponsors to the event.

The event was organised in partnership with The Herald newspaper as part of their involvement with the Fraser of Allander Lecture Series with Strathclyde University. A full-length video recording will soon be available via the INSP website.

INSP’s General Manager Maree Aldam said: "We are delighted and very proud to be able to add to the referendum debate at the start this very important year for Scotland.

"It's an honour and a privilege to have the First Minister involved in our public events for the second time. And we're so pleased the have James Naughtie as our interviewer for both events this year.

Photo: Jamie Simpson/The Herald

“We’d like to thank our media partner The Herald; law firm Tods Murray for arranging for filming the events; and the staff of Glasgow Life and the Mitchell Library for their help and support."

The event attracted widespread media coverage including The Herald, The Telegraph, The Scotsman, The Evening Times and The Big Issue.

The second event in the series will see James Naughtie interviewing MP and ‘Better Together’ leader Alistair Darling on Thursday 13th March. Tickets can be purchased here.

All ticket sales proceeds from both events go towards INSP’s work fighting poverty and homelessness in Scotland and around the world.