SNP MP Martin Docherty-Hughes has added his backing to a campaign in support of workers in the Scotch whisky industry.
The ‘Save Our Scotch’ campaign, led by the Unite Union, has been launched in response to concerns that whisky jobs in Scotland are at risk from outsourcing oversees.
Martin Docherty-Hughes, MP for West Dunbartonshire, has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) highlighting the campaign and calling for cross-party support to ensure that whisky industry jobs remain in Scotland.
Under current legislation, single malt whisky must be bottled in Scotland because it has special geographical status. However, blended and single grain Scotch whiskies are not afforded the same protection – and concerns have been raised about an increasing trend for the bottling, labelling and blending of Scottish-produced whisky to be done outside of Scotland.
Martin Docherty-Hughes MP said:
“The Scotch whisky industry plays a vital role in the Scottish economy, and supports tens of thousands of jobs across the country – many of those based here in West Dunbartonshire.
“If these jobs are being lost to bottling and production plants abroad then the government must take action to ensure that whisky industry workers in Scotland are protected.
“Scotland’s Scotch whisky industry is an iconic national brand and world-renowned for its quality. The ‘Save Our Scotch’ campaign aims to safeguard that reputation for quality by extending the same protection status afforded to single malt whisky to blended and single grain whiskies – something which would go a long way to providing bottling plant workers with greater job security.
“It’s important that these jobs remain in Scotland, so I would urge people to sign the petition and contact their MP to ask that they support the campaign.”
Support the ‘Save Our Scotch’ campaign by signing the petition here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/52NHG5F
