Hansard

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I congratulate you on your new role, as well as the minister on her reappointment and all those speaking in the chamber for the first time today.

It is a true honour to be elected to represent South Scotland in the seventh session of the Scottish Parliament. I know that every member is likely to claim that their area is the best part of our fine country but, from its dramatic North Sea coast to the rolling hills of the Borders and the dairy pastures of Galloway, I would make a strong case that there is nowhere quite like the south of Scotland.

While the wonderful parliamentary staff were providing our induction talks for the new cohort of MSPs, I was struck by just how few people have ever had the privilege of serving in this chamber. Since 1999, only 415 individuals have sat on these seats and debated in this chamber. It truly is a rare privilege that we all have to be here. That rare privilege places an enormous responsibility on each and every one of us. A common theme that many members, new and old alike, have mentioned in their remarks so far in this session of Parliament is the deep sense of frustration and unhappiness that they encounter at the doorstep right across Scotland. That sense of frustration that is felt by hard-working Scots was apparent across the weeks and months of campaigning in the Borders and across South Scotland. People feel that their lives have materially deteriorated in recent years despite their individual hard work; that their communities feel increasingly strained despite the care that they show for them; and that they are governed by a political class that increasingly cannot or will not address those challenges.

I truly hope that, despite our many political differences across the chamber, we can work together to improve the lives of millions of hard-working Scots who have placed their faith in us to just that and that, in the years to come, we can look back on a Parliament that made a meaningful difference—a Parliament of prosperity.

Sport is one of the great defining features of Scottish society. If we were to ask any man or woman in the street who the greatest Scot is, they would almost certainly respond with a sportsperson: Sir Kenny Dalglish; Katie Archibald; the late, great, Doddie Weir. Those people show us the very best of what it means to be Scottish: hard work, dedication, a brilliant mercurial streak and bravery in the face of adversity.

What a great year it has been so far for Scottish sport, with a thrilling Scottish premiership title race, famous six nations victories and now our return to the biggest stage in world football. After 28 long years, Scotland is going back to the men’s world cup, thanks to the hard work of Steve Clarke and his squad. That is a truly once-in-a-generation achievement; indeed, it is perhaps a useful reminder to some members in the chamber of what once in a generation really looks like.

Of all the sports that are enjoyed across all four corners of Scotland, football is truly our national pastime, with hundreds of thousands of Scots from all backgrounds and walks of life, including many in the chamber, regularly playing and watching football. Of all the 55 UEFA members, Scotland consistently ranks as the best-supported nation per capita in Europe. From Annan Athletic in the south to Ross County in the north, and everywhere in between, Scots across the country passionately follow their clubs through thick and thin, in a unique bond of love for their community.

However, that passionate support has not always been reciprocated by Parliament and the Scottish Government. From 2012 to 2018, football fans were subject to the onerous Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012—a clear and targeted assault on the civil liberties of match-going fans. Although the repeal of the 2012 act was very much welcome, it was superseded, at a society-wide level, by legislation in the previous session of Parliament that significantly curtailed freedom of expression across Scotland.

In that draconian environment, law-abiding match-going fans are also currently unable to enjoy alcoholic beverages in Scottish football stadia—unless, of course, they have the privilege of being in a hospitality area. Those two-tier restrictions are not applied to other sports or events, they do little to target genuine troublemakers and they punish regular fans and deprive smaller clubs of a vital source of revenue. I hope that we can work together in the current session of Parliament to reform that area and provide a better match-day experience for those hundreds of thousands of Scots who cheer on their club on a Saturday afternoon after a long week of work.

It is incredibly important to remember that it is not just team or ball sports that make up an important part of Scottish society. Traditional and country sports are inextricably linked to the cultural identity of rural Scotland, and that is nowhere more apparent than in South Scotland. Whether it be angling in the River Tweed, race meets at Ayr or driven shooting in the Nith valley, country and traditional sports have been enjoyed across South Scotland by generations of families and throughout entire communities.

Towards the end of the previous session of Parliament, a ban on greyhound racing was brought into effect, despite the last greyhound racing track in Scotland having already closed. That suggests an ideological aversion to traditional and country sports rather than an evidence-based and pragmatic approach, focused on continued sustainability, that ensures the highest levels of conservation and welfare. Instead, it is those who interact with Scotland’s animals and natural environment daily, and who care for it most, who feel that they may be targeted with similar draconian legislation. I know that many of my constituents in South Scotland and those in rural communities across the country feel that this session of Parliament may see the targeting of their beloved sports, which form the bedrock of their community identity and often play an invaluable role in local economies as an important source of local employment and prosperity that would be very hard to replace.

On the back of what has been such a successful year of sport for Scotland to date, I ask the Parliament to carry on a positive attitude towards the fantastic institutions and traditions of Scottish sport and those who support it. Whether it be match-going football fans or those who enjoy country sports in our rural areas, the many people who make up the fabric of Scottish society should be allowed to get on with their pursuits with fewer interventions from this chamber, and should instead be celebrated for their rich contribution to our identity.