THE Parliament is currently in recess to coincide with the schools mid-term break and it’s a welcome opportunity to spend the whole week in the Highlands holding surgeries and visiting local businesses.
As joint-convener of the cross-party group for Scotch whisky, I hosted the first Scottish Parliament reception for the Scotch Whisky Association who celebrate their 100th anniversary this year. This also marked the launch of their report "The job – the people" which looks beyond the impact whisky has as a global Scottish brand, by highlighting the many varied jobs in the distilling industry from the mash tun operator and the cooper, to the distillery manager and sales executive. There was a large turnout of MSPs and whisky industry employees from across Scotland to learn what the Scotch whisky industry contributes in each constituency or region as well as samples of some of Scotland’s finest drams. I also learned that Old Pulteney malt from Caithness was named the world’s best whisky last year.
Now that minimum pricing for alcohol is likely to pass in the Scottish Parliament it will be interesting to look at the increased cross-border and internet sales to Scotland. Whisky, which raised exports by 23 per cent last year, will now be branded as a health hazard by the SNP just at a time when the industry is working with the Indian Government to reduce import duties from 150 per cent.
Overall consumption of alcohol has been falling for some years now. It will therefore be difficult to attribute any further falls to minimum pricing rather than just a continuation of the current downward trend. While much is currently being said about women in the boardroom and female managers, I was delighted to meet Kirsty Dagnan of Glen Ord, one of several female distillery managers employed in this iconic industry around Scotland.
The main subject for discussion in Holyrood and on the TV is the independence referendum. Hopefully, the next three years will not be spent focused on the arguments for separation but also ensuring that the serious economic and social issues facing Scotland are addressed. Unfortunately, every SNP speech in the Scottish Parliament now includes how different it would all be if Scotland was independent. The
claims for independence are included in all speeches, including health education, broadband, roads, railways, tourism, the environment and agriculture. It is now also the case that anyone criticising the SNP or seeking clarity over currency, defence and other concerns are now branded "anti-Scottish", or "talking Scotland down". This approach has been used by Mr Salmond’s parliamentary aide, a government minister and an SNP councillor. These bullying tactics to close down free speech and debate, along with the SNP refusal to answer questions and the constant use of debating time to promote nationalism and separation are the best reasons for having the referendum as soon as possible following the UK and Scottish consultation.
Since the turn of the year I have been involved in a number of speeches, including the Common Agricultural Policy reforms and it was clear from the debate that there will be tough negotiating ahead before any revisions are made to the CAP. As someone who has previously mainly focused on health debates I began my contribution on the CAP debate reminiscing how school holidays were used to pick tatties and berries in Angus. This may not be the typical image of a Conservative MSP. After the debate one of the new Labour MSPs for the West of Scotland said that her school holidays were also spent working on farms in Angus. Not only was this a coincidence but we did conclude that not many would have predicted that many decades on from the muddy tattie fields or the prickly berry bushes two lassies from Angus would become a Labour and a Conservative MSP in the Scottish Parliament.
I would like to see more people from all backgrounds, all ages, male and female to come forward for the Highland Council elections on May 3 this year.
