Hansard

Scotland is incredibly fortunate to have a rich cultural heritage—one that is known, respected and enjoyed across the world. To see that recognised through two successful city of culture bids—for Paisley in 2021 and Dundee in 2023—would be a fitting recognition of our rich cultural heritage and the vibrant contemporary scenes in both cities.

The whole world has been contributing to the bids. Just last week, we had the Singing Children of Africa choir in Paisley town hall joining local schoolchildren, a local gospel choir and dance troupes to put on an amazing performance.

In the members’ business debate on Paisley’s bid, a number of us highlighted the radical history of the city's industrial working class, which is centred around weaving and the world-famous Paisley pattern. The history of the workers’ struggles and their effects on wider society is embedded in the culture of Paisley, as it is across Scotland and the world. That radicalism has shaped Paisley’s culture for centuries. Paisley was an epicentre of the radical war in 1820. A memorial march was held there following the Peterloo massacre, and that march also led to heavy-handed suppression by the authorities, including cavalry charges. Those actions led to radical activity across Scotland, particularly around the west coast, in support of more representative Government.

The radical war ended with charges of treason, executions and exile to penal colonies, but its effects were felt later, not least through the Reform Act that was eventually passed in 1832, which began to expand the right to vote beyond just the most powerful sections of society. Paisley’s working class played a driving role in that.

Paisley also has the distinction of being the only Scottish city to be named in Marx’s “Das Kapital”—I am missing Richard Leonard’s presence for this debate, as he was very enthusiastic the last time I mentioned that fact. In that tome, Marx referred to

“the brave Scots of Paisley”

and the labour that they poured into their production of textiles. He highlighted Carlile, Sons & Co as one of the oldest and most respected companies producing cotton and linen in the west of Scotland, having been in operation as far back as 1752. Of course, as we might expect, Marx took a dim view of the Carlile family and a more positive one of the workers in their mills.

Paisley’s radical history extends into the 20th century. Britain’s last communist MP, Willie Gallacher, was born there. Although Gallacher was eventually elected to the West Fife constituency, a lot of his political activism was focused around the west coast during the red Clydeside era. For example, he was heavily involved in the campaign for a 40-hour working week after the end of the first world war. He was also one of the strike leaders who negotiated with the authorities in Glasgow city chambers when the battle of George Square began, leading to the British Government’s deployment of troops across the city. He died, back in Paisley, in 1965—almost 100 years after Marx wrote about

“the brave Scots of Paisley”.

Gallacher most certainly carried that tradition throughout his life.

Unfortunately, Carlile, Sons & Co does not produce textiles in Paisley any more. The industrial nature of the city is long gone—and so are the jobs and relative prosperity that came with it. Textile production essentially ceased in the 1990s. The rich cultural heritage of Paisley’s past is still visible, though—whether that is in the town hall that was paid for by one old mill owner or the museum that was paid for by another, or in the multitude of streets that are named after the industry, such as Dyers Wynd, Cotton Street and Thread Street. However, the decline of the weaving industry—along with the shipbuilding industry and the broader process of deindustrialisation—has left Paisley with huge challenges and high levels of deprivation. Ferguslie Park is one of the most deprived areas of the country, and Paisley jobcentre has the highest number of sanctions in the west of Scotland.

We know that Paisley is a brilliant city of fantastic communities. It is already a city of culture. The bid is about so much more than that: it is about ensuring that Paisley’s rich cultural heritage is strengthened, the city’s profile is raised and the problems that it faces are addressed. Whether or not Paisley wins the city of culture 2021 bid, the very process of the bid is doing so much good. Renfrewshire Council and the Scottish Government have already set out to invest in supporting local arts and cultural initiatives. By winning the award, much more can be done to raise the profile of that historic town, to encourage the tourism and investment that it so very much needs and to give the community itself better access to better cultural experiences.

Although I am a member of the Scottish Parliament for the west of Scotland, it would be impolite of me not to also mention Dundee’s bid for European city of culture. Dundee and Paisley share a remarkably similar history, with textiles and shipbuilding being staples of the historical industrial economy. Dundee’s economy has been a bit more varied. It has been said that it was built on the three Js of jute, jam and journalism. It is certainly deserving of the European capital of culture title, having focused on a culture-led regeneration strategy since the 1990s. Dundee has also embraced cutting-edge technology, becoming a centre for the creation of video games—and, in the process, making Scotland an international hub for that ever-growing industry. The classic Lemmings and the record-breaking, if controversial, Grand Theft Auto were created by Dundee-based DMA Design—now known as Rockstar North and our neighbour in Edinburgh. I can say, with absolute honesty, that I have enjoyed every visit that I have ever made to Dundee, and I wish it well in its bid.

Over the centuries, both cities have contributed so much to the culture that we enjoy today. While they deserve the titles that they are bidding for, I am grateful for the benefits that are being reaped simply by their engagement in the process. I look forward to our returning to Parliament following announcements that both Paisley and Dundee have been recognised as deserving cities of culture in the years to come. Before that, I invite all members who are available to join us in Paisley on Friday morning at 10.30, to send off the bid.