Meeting of the Parliament 11 November 2025
Mr Adam is taking advantage of a free bar—that is very impressive.
I join colleagues in thanking committee colleagues and our clerks for all of their efforts, as well as members from across the chamber who are welcoming Euro 2028 to the UK and Ireland.
Euro 2028 will be a tournament with global reach and interest that puts Scotland firmly on the world stage. We can look forward to it not only bringing considerable economic benefits but—as I am sure we all hope—delivering an enduring sporting legacy for years to come. As Brian Whittle touched on, that has not always been the case with other major events.
The joint bid, featuring all of the home nations and the Republic of Ireland, was first announced in 2022. Moving it forward successfully has demonstrated positive co-operation between the football associations and also the Governments of these islands.
Scotland has some experience of large-scale sporting events, with the successful delivery of events for the London 2012 Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealth games in Glasgow, but it is important that Euro 2028 serves to underline Scotland as a world-leading host nation for the future.
To turn to the legislation, we have been here before, as many have noted. Similar legislation was introduced as part of the Euro 2020 hosting bid, and similar sorts of legislative change were required in relation to the Commonwealth games. As a member of the lead committee, I thank all those who gave evidence again at stage 1.
Of course, the committee has raised the question of the necessity for what the Scottish Government has tentatively dubbed a major events bill, to provide a legislative framework for future events, rather than having to address them piecemeal whenever Scotland is playing host. There is some merit to that proposal, and I am pleased that the Scottish Government has left the door open to look at it in more detail in the future.
Some of the issues that have arisen are the same as those that arose in 2020. As my colleague, Stephen Kerr, noted, this is a bill that legislates with a nakedly commercial purpose. It applies different rules for Euro 2028 than it does for other events, and different approaches, some of which have been understandably controversial. He also pointed to the absurd outcomes that would mean that a charity raffling off a ticket could fall foul of the offences in this bill. On the ticket touting issue, he cautioned that cross-border work will be essential. I am pleased that the Scottish Government has given assurances that policing will, in practice, be proportionate. However, that is no substitute for rigour in legislating.
There has been discussion, including by the committee, about the impact on street trading and advertising. Again, that is nothing new. Similar concerns were raised in relation to the UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Act 2020. However, as Stephen Kerr noted, there is ample scope for ensuring that costs do not fall on traders or other innocent parties whose businesses may be disrupted. I doubt that anyone in this chamber wishes to see anything less than firm consultation and collaboration between Government, communities, the police, the city council and local businesses. However, that work must be planned for and become a practical reality over the coming months and years.
I will touch briefly on the contribution from my colleague Brian Whittle. He talked about the passion of fans and how that should not be exploited by touts. Again, I think that we would all agree with that. He also touched on legacy—he was talking not just about the shiny things, but about what is left in the memories of Scots. I am sure that we all remember some of the first tournaments that we watched on television or were lucky enough to attend. I certainly hope that there is an opportunity for many young Scots—boys and girls—to attend these events and experience them first-hand. That opportunity is absolutely vital to ensuring the legacy.
This bill will see widespread support as a result of the enthusiasm for the UK and Ireland Euros, but the work of the committee and the remarks from around the chamber today are aimed at recognising that the bill—and the tournament more generally—will have an impact. We ought to consider not just the cost to the public sector but the potential disruption to people’s lives and businesses and, particularly, the impact on local residents in Glasgow.
As the bill goes through its next stages, I hope that we recognise some of the elements mentioned in the stage 1 report and, where possible, enhance the positives and soften the negatives of an event of this scale coming to Scotland.
15:59