Shame on them: St Andrews must reinstate sacked rector

We call on the university to immediately reinstate Stella to university court and as a trustee. Stella Maris should not be made a scapegoat for doing and saying the right thing.

The university is acting outside of its legal duty to protect individuals' academic freedom under the Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2026, part 2.

The silencing of pro-Palestinian or anti-genocide voices is the reason why this genocide is still going on after 10 months.

The respected British journal The Lancet reports that the number of Palestinians killed directly or indirectly since October 7 is at least 186,000 people. The world is observing these atrocities unfold to the utter indifference of so-called world leaders.

We find it shocking that a university that prides itself on being a bastion of learning should stifle free speech by "victimising" Stella and bringing shame on St Andrews University.

Since Stella’s statement, the International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements violates international law and should end as soon as possible. The ICJ has further found a plausible case of genocide against Israel.

The idea that some Jewish students might feel threatened by someone effectively saying “Never again” to genocide is implausible especially as many young Jewish students are at the forefront of condemning this genocide. We are faced with the actual televised daily mass slaughter of women, children and babies over the past 10 months. We have all seen the images. There is no excuse.

The idea that Palestinian human rights and the war crimes of Israel in Gaza cannot be discussed in higher education is deeply concerning. Really the question is: which side of history does St Andrews University want to be on?

Stella has repeatedly made clear that she accepts that she is bound by a code of conduct and the requirements placed on her as a charity trustee. She does not accept that these allow the university to interfere unilaterally and unduly in her right to express her views or manifest her protected anti-Zionist beliefs.

For too long, advocates for peace and justice in a free Palestine have been left to stand alone while the rest of us remained silent. That time is over. All human rights converge on Palestine and the world demands change.

We therefore call on St Andrews University to reverse this decision and immediately reinstate Stella Maris to university court. We further call on the trade unions and student body to unite and join with the widespread calls seeking her reinstatement immediately.

Dr Robina Qureshi, Human Rights Advocate, Glasgow; Aamer Anwar, Human Rights Lawyer, (former rector of Glasgow University); Professor David Miller (wrongfully dismissed for his anti-Zionist views by the university of Bristol as determined by an employment tribunal which established that anti-Zionist beliefs are protected under the Equality Act, 2010); Professor Henry Maitles (Emeritus Professor, Education, University of West of Scotland); Professor Phil Taylor (Emeritus Professor, University of Strathclyde); Professor Haim Bresheeth, SOAS, London; Yanis Varoufakis; Peter Mullan, filmmaker (Orphans, Magdalene Sisters); Paul Laverty (screenwriter of I Daniel Blake and The Wind that Shakes the Barley); Dr Carlo Morelli UCU Scotland Honorary Secretary; Mohammad Asif, Afghan Human Rights Foundation and human rights campaigner; Oliver Tickell, journalist/editor; Rebecca O’Brien, film producer; Laura C Carreira, film director; Najimee Parveen; Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi; Maz Saleem, anti-racist human rights campaigner, education for peace and daughter of late haji Mohammed Saleem; Dr. Marcus Free, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick; Professor Geoff Whittam GCU; Natalie Strecker, human rights activist and campaigner; Diana Beamish; Dr Piers Robinson, co-director Organisation for Propaganda Studies; Sean Wallis, UCL UCU branch secretary, NEC member and HEC vice chair, University and Colleges Union; Roddy Slorach, branch secretary Imperial College London UCU; Cecily Blyther, Chair, Petroc, Devon UCU ; Donna Brown, Chair, Royal Holloway, University  of London UCU NEC; Dr Tim Anderson, Director of the Centre for Counter Hegemonic Studies, Sydney, Australia; Dr Bee Hughes, Branch Secretary, Liverpool John Moores University UCU; Prof John Parrington, Treasurer, Oxford University UCU; Ross Gibson, Branch Secretary, Strathclyde UCU; Francesca Paini, Alumna, Class of 2022; Grant Buttars, Vice President, UCU Scotland; Ronnie Barkan, Israeli dissident; Jhangir Mahmood, solicitor/ director, Bishop Lloyd and Jackson Solicitors); Einat Weizman, Israeli actor and director; Dr Mark Hayes academic and activist; Christina Paine activist and chair of London Met UCU and NEC.

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Labour may need a lifeline

JILL Stephenson (Letters, August 1) suggests the recent actions by the Chancellor to withdraw winter fuel allowance from pensioners who are not in receipt of pension credits may throw a lifeline to the SNP.

Rachel Reeves' cutting public spending in England will have knock-on implications for the Barnett Formula and ultimately the Scottish budget. Winter fuel allowance is a benefit soon to be devolved to Scotland and the Scottish Government is keen to retain it. However, that will be very difficult in the economic climate and the continued reduction to the Scottish block grant by Westminster. It currently mitigates against the austerity cuts handed out by Westminster and in year 2023/24 that sum will be well over £5 billion. With the cuts to the block grant and reductions to the Barnett Formula, can it continue with that?

Regarding her suggestion of a lifeline for the SNP, Ms Stephenson writes: "I hope voters do not fall into that trap." Well, voters were persuaded by Labour’s campaign message of "change" and I call on her and others to reflect on the month that has passed since the General Election. Consider the fact that Scottish Labour MPs (36 from 37) voted against lifting the two-child cap on benefits; other Labour MPs who rebelled and voted for the SNP amendment lost the Whip. If "change" continues as started by the new Government, it may be Labour which is looking for a lifeline.

Catriona C Clark, Falkirk.

How many black holes are there?

THERE appears to be some confusion in Labour ranks over just how many fiscal black holes it is faced with. On Good Morning Scotland on Tuesday, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray (who prior to the election dismissed claims of cuts and austerity under a Starmer government as "mince") referred to a £22 billion black hole. In response to a question from SNP MP Seamus Logan in the Commons on Monday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "The £22 billion black hole is this year. The IFS was warning about a black hole over the lifetime of the Parliament of £18 billion. Those are two very different things and both of them can be true."

So just how many black holes are there? I suggest it is time for Sir Keir to contact the Starship Enterprise and enlist the help of the much-celebrated Mr Spock, renowned across the universe as an authority on all things extraterrestrial. Mr Spock always keeps his ears to the ground and we can be confident that if there are any more nasty black holes lying in wait out there for our poor, unsuspecting Chancellor he will track them down before Anas Sarwar can say "no austerity under Labour".

Alan Woodcock, Dundee.

An opportunity for Brodick

A COUPLE of months ago you published my letter suggesting a passenger-only ferry between Ardrossan and Arran that would benefit the use of the Ardrossan rail service to Glasgow.

I have just read that the brand-new Atlantic Wolff catamaran ferry that Harland and Wolff's marine services division was to operate between Cornwall and the Scilly Isles is being returned to its builder in Holland as the service is being withdrawn.

Is this not an opportunity for CMAL and Transport Secretary, Fiona Hyslop to step in and either buy or charter this vessel and to create a service between Ardrossan and Brodick similar to the passenger service that connects Dunoon with the rail terminal at Gourock? Assuming of course that the Scottish Government actually wants to save the rail service at Ardrossan if the vehicle ferry service remains at Troon, even if it eventually returns once the long-awaited upgrades at Ardrossan's Calmac terminal and berthing for the larger ships are started and completed.

The size of this ferry suggests that it could use the pontoon berths at Clyde Marina which are very close to the Ardrossan Harbour rail terminal. Failing that, the abandoned Irish Berth could be a possibility, Peel Ports permitting of course. A suitable passenger landing pontoon or similar would be needed at the Arran end, but surely this would be simply and economically achievable.

The vehicle ferry service from Troon will not be affected as, although this is a longer crossing than from Ardrossan, it won't really affect the car and commercial traffic that use this route currently and into the future.

I think that this could be a case of grabbing an opportunity and not being sorry for a might-have-been solution.

Ian Gray, Croftamie.

Could the Atlantic Wolff be used as a passenger-only ferry for Arran? (Image: Sicily Ferries)

Big gains for small cinemas

I READ with appreciation and interest the thorough article by Scott Wright (“Will Doctor Doom have a cunning plan to save our cinemas?”, The Herald, August 1). The box office at my local independent cinema, the still-new Montrose Playhouse, has definitely benefited from this summer’s blockbuster movies. The twin animations Inside Out 2 and Despicable Me 4 brought thousands of younger visitors to enjoy the wonderful seating and sound and marvel at the intriguing architecture (the cinema was until very recently a swimming pool; there are various artefacts around the centre to spot from this previous incarnation).

These financial powerhouses enable the Playhouse, which is community-owned, to segue into a curated environment-focused film festival, LandxSea, from September 13-15. This is a sequel to last year’s weekend-long combination of back-to-back relatively unseen films bookended by live Q&As with the filmmakers who are invited to attend and present their films in person. Last year I was quite new to Montrose and attended the full weekend. I was blown away that a film festival could not only be hosted in a small town in north-east Scotland in the first place, but then go on to attract international filmmakers as well as political and business leaders (and sizeable audiences). While suitable for all, the weekend is especially attractive to someone like me who is interested in ecology and environmentalism. And in answering the question, how can independent film draw together green ideas and push audiences to think differently and deeply?

While Inside Out 2 played everywhere, the second LandxSea festival is unique and will enable audiences from across Scotland to enjoy Montrose (I’m told swimming in the sea is on the programme but optional) and the wonderful Playhouse. It would seem to represent a fantastic example of the kind of mixed use and promotions for independent cinemas which Mr Wright rightly applauds.

Adam Poole, Montrose.

Clean up our streets

I FIND it incredible that we need more parks (Letters, August 2) when most of the parks we have are in a shocking condition. They have been allowed to rot, we have buildings falling down, park benches either rotting or rusting, once-beautiful gardens now left to go to seed.

The disgraceful waste of public funds in putting cycle lanes all over the place and ripping up Sauchiehall Street is unforgivable.

When will our councils realise a planned maintenance programme is absolutely essential? This includes proper maintenance of kerbsides, and roadsides and basic road sweeping, remember that?

Please clean up before spending more cash on something that will just add to the problem.

John Gilligan, Ayr.

• THIS week you published a photograph of Kilmarnock Road in Glasgow taken 48 years ago showing the easy availability of parking at that time ("Remember when... Shawlands put on a calm face to the world", The Herald, July 31). I thought that the more appropriate information was the lack of litter. Not a piece of rubbish to be seen.

If the likely strike of refuse collections affects the impression of our country given to tourists coming to Scotland for the Edinburgh Festival, I think we should hold our heads in shame.

John Ewing, Ayr.