The paper's priorities are summarised in the
Gaelic slogan on its masthead: "''
– The Land, the Language, the People". both by giving it political support and by publishing written Gaelic material. The Press'' has also reported and campaigned on environmental-impact stories such as the construction of a private-enterprise
tollbridge to Skye. It has also supported
renewable energy though this has recently proved to be a controversial stance, particularly on the
Isle of Lewis. Though generally supportive of the
Labour Party, it has also criticised Labour governments on issues such as crofting reform and has played a major part in shaping political debate in the West Highlands and Islands. The
West Highland Free Press has seen a number of notable columnists, including Professor
Donald MacLeod, former principal and leading theologian of the
Free Church of Scotland College in Edinburgh,
Angus Peter Campbell, the award-winning Gaelic writer and award-winning novelist
Roger Hutchinson. The paper's founding editor,
Brian Wilson, was also a regular contributor since retiring from politics as a
Labour MP and
British government minister. compared to today's figure of about 3,000.
Sacking of Donald Macleod Regular contributor Donald Macleod wrote a 22 May 2015 column on a future "Islamic dominance in Britain". He argued that, while minority groups fit in with the majority, that this would alter once Muslims formed majorities in the UK, saying:
West Highland Free Press Editor Ian McCormack required Macleod to "moderate his language", MacLeod refused and resigned. Brian Wilson was then sacked for writing a column criticising his former colleagues. Broadcaster and columnist Maggie Cunningham also left the title in protest. Editor McCormack later suggested he had made "a serious error of judgement" and was following his worker-owner colleagues' intentions. He made "no apology" for Wilson's sacking. While he "share[ed] many of the views he expressed" he felt the column was a breach of trust, due to its criticism of the paper's owners. Free speech groups attacked the sacking, while human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar condemned the column as "Islamophobic" lacking in "Jesus's encouragement to 'turn the other cheek. ==Awards==