Glasgow city councillor Fiona Higgins has argued that her right to freedom of speech is under threat after being reported to the Ethical Standards Commissioner for an alleged breach of the councillors’ code of conduct. Here, she writes for The Herald ahead of her hearing

Why the First Minister can choose silence on a national controversy while I face a tribunal for speaking openly about decisions affecting Glasgow’s schools.

In Scotland today, we are operating a two-tier system of free speech in politics.

At the top, power can choose silence and repackage it as responsibility. At the bottom, those who speak too plainly can find themselves punished for it. The contrast is stark, and it raises a basic question about whether we still expect transparency from those who govern us - or whether accountability now falls only on those least equipped to shield themselves.

I say this not as an abstract observation but as someone now living the consequences.

In early 2024, I repeatedly raised concerns internally about the impact of proposed teacher cuts. I asked questions, sought clarity, and did what any responsible elected member should do when decisions threaten pupils, staff and families. Then FOI-released emails revealed just how far the gap had grown between what was being discussed internally and what was being presented publicly.

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