Tory MSP Calls for Scots to Stay in Oor Wullie Dialect

In Scotland, a Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), Stephen Kerr, has expressed his views regarding the use of the Scots language in official government communications. This statement came after the Scottish government released a freedom of information response that was translated into Scots, addressing inquiries related to the Scottish Languages Bill currently under consideration in the Scottish Parliament. Kerr, who has previously chaired the education, children and young people committee, suggested that written Scots should be limited to comic strips like 'Oor Wullie' and 'The Broons' and should not be used in formal contexts. His comments reflect a broader debate about the status and recognition of Scots as a legitimate language within Scotland. The Scottish Languages Bill aims to promote and protect the Scots language, which has a rich cultural heritage but faces challenges in terms of official recognition and usage. Kerr's remarks may indicate a resistance to the formalization of Scots in government settings, highlighting the ongoing tensions between traditional language advocates and those who view Scots as less suitable for official discourse.