Hansard

It is a privilege to speak in this debate on Scotland’s status as a fair trade nation, which is an achievement that represents our unwavering commitment to fairness, social justice and global solidarity. As we all know, Scotland first became a fair trade nation in 2013, and we reaffirm that commitment today. However, let us be clear that this status is not just a title; it is a reflection of our values and a promise to do the right thing for the people around the world who produce the goods that we rely on.

For me, this is more than just a policy discussion; it is a journey that started all those years ago in the heart of the centre of the universe, if you wish—in Paisley. As members know, all roads lead to the great town of Paisley. Many years ago, the vision, commitment and determination of Provost John McDowall—a proud Paisley buddie, a Labour man and a St Mirren FC supporter; as Meatloaf said, two out of three ain’t bad—set us on the path to making Paisley a fair trade town. He recognised that, if we wanted to call ourselves a community that valued fairness and justice, we had to lead by example. Under his leadership, businesses, schools and local groups came together to back fair trade principles, ensuring that Paisley took its rightful place in the global movement for trade justice.

However, this is not just about campaigns, meetings and certificates—it is also about action on the ground. A shining example of that is Rainbow Turtle, Paisley’s fair trade shop. For more than two decades, Rainbow Turtle has been a cornerstone of our town’s retail landscape, offering fair trade goods and educating the public about ethical trade. The shop is not just a place to buy fairly sourced coffee or crafts; it is a symbol of Paisley’s commitment to doing business the right way. It has endured when many high street names have come and gone, showing that ethical retail can thrive in and support our community.

As a Renfrewshire councillor, I was proud to take the fair trade mission further. We worked to ensure that Renfrewshire became a fair trade county—why stop at just one town when the entire region could follow? We engaged with local businesses, schools and faith groups to embed fair trade into everyday decisions. That was more than about selling Fairtrade tea and coffee; it was about making ethical choices as a core part of how we operate as a community.

When I came to the Parliament, I became the chair of the cross-party group on fair trade, and I had the honour of being at the heart of Scotland’s national effort to secure fair trade nation status for the first time. I saw at first hand the dedication of campaigners, businesses and community groups that worked tirelessly to achieve that goal. Now, more than a decade later, we continue to lead the way. Basically, I am saying that it was me who did it—I was involved in absolutely everything. I am only joking. It is not just about me; it is about everyone who gets involved in the campaign.

We cannot take fair trade for granted. The world has changed, and so have the challenges that we face. Climate change, economic instability and deepening global inequalities all make fair trade more important than it has ever been. That is why Scotland must continue to be a leader not just in words but in actions. The Scottish Government has shown its commitment through initiatives such as the climate justice fund, which ensures that those in the global south who are the least responsible for climate change are not the ones paying the highest price.

However, we must go further. We must strengthen fair trade supply chains and support businesses that choose ethical sourcing and empower consumers to make informed choices.

That brings me to an area in which a massive difference can be made. Sporting goods and sportswear are massive markets, but, for years, the main manufacturers have been criticised for how they go about getting their goods to market, whether that be with regard to the almost slave wages of people in certain parts of the world or how manufacturers ensure that third-party suppliers have an ethical background. I note that it is a massive market that people outside the Parliament probably engage with regularly. It is down to our football and sporting clubs to lead the way. Work has been done on that, but it is an important issue that we need to take further.

Let us not forget the wider context. At a time when the UK Government has chosen to cut international aid, Scotland is taking a different path. We stand with producers in Malawi, Rwanda and beyond and recognise that fairness in trade is not only about economics but about dignity, human rights and a better future. Let us be clear: Scotland’s status as a fair trade nation is not a trophy to be admired from afar but a challenge to keep pushing and improving and to keep making trade work for people and not just for profit.

Much of what has been said in today’s debate has shown the way for us to do that and it has shown that we must work together. I keep coming back to the fact that we should look at key markets and at sporting goods in particular. We should look at how organisations such as local authorities, which may have sport and leisure facilities, could kit out those who work for them with more ethical goods. It is okay for us to talk about this here, but we must lead by example.

Sport is a multibillion-pound market, and I can guarantee that the two biggest German manufacturers no longer produce in Germany and that the major American manufacturers do not currently produce in America. Everything is made very cheaply and sold at massive profit, but manufacturers must give something back to the people who are producing their goods.

As someone who has seen the impact of fair trade, both locally and around Scotland, from Rainbow Turtle in Paisley to here in the Parliament, I know that we can meet the challenge and I know that Scotland can become a beacon of fairness and justice in a world that desperately needs both.