Lothians luminaries talk of future Scotland hopes

a HOST of well-known names from the Lothians have contributed to a book which details their hopes for the future of Scotland.

Crime writer Ian Rankin, singing sensation Susan Boyle and East Lothian MSP Iain Gray made comments, as did Olympic rowing champion and former Edinburgh University student Katherine Grainger.

Callum Smith, a former charity worker from West Dunbartonshire, is behind the project, titled Hopes of a Nation, which also features an entry from First Minister Alex Salmond.

In his entry, Mr Gray, former Scottish Labour leader, wrote: “I was privileged to be one of 129 MSPs in our new parliament in 1999. I hope we can use it to make Scotland fairer, more equal, happier – just better! Then I hope we look out to the world to make it better too – never inward looking, never parochial, always reaching out.”

Mr Smith, 44, will donate all profits from sales and downloads of the book to the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland.

He said: “The idea that any child is born into any community in Scotland with no hope is abhorrent to me and this is why I am purusing the project.”