Hansard

I am pleased to take part in the stage 1 debate on the UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill. In opening, I join the convener of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee in thanking the witnesses and clerks for their support in drafting the committee’s stage 1 report.

Scottish Labour has consistently supported the UK and Ireland hosting the 2028 Euros. I know that many of us will be looking forward to welcoming this major event to Scotland. It is important to remember that, when Glasgow hosted the 2020 Euros in 2021, many missed out due to Covid restrictions. Thankfully, there will be no such restrictions this time. Many children today, such as my own son, were too young to properly remember the last championship on home soil. This will provide them with an exciting opportunity to witness a major international tournament coming to their shores.

It will also be an opportunity to host people, not just from Europe but from across the world, because of our shared love of football. It will be an opportunity for visitors to take time to explore our culture, heritage and rich history, and we can use it as a fantastic platform to promote brand Scotland on the global stage.

The economic benefits to Scotland, the rest of the UK and Ireland are substantial. The UK Department for Media, Culture and Sport estimates that the tournament will contribute £2.4 billion in socioeconomic value to the host nations. I am pleased that, alongside that, the UK Labour Government has recognised the importance of sport by pledging £900 million in funding as part of the Government’s plan for change. More than £500 million of that will be used to support world-class sporting events and, crucially, £400 million is being provided for grass-roots sporting facilities in order to help more people to get active and improve their wellbeing, and so that the sporting talent of tomorrow can be discovered. I welcome what the minister has said about Scottish Government funding, too.

Scottish Labour fully supports the Euros being held in the UK and Ireland in 2028. We want to see more major international cultural and sporting events being hosted in Scotland to boost our economy, raise our international profile and give people here the opportunity to witness world-class events. For those reasons, we encouraged the Scottish Government and the UK Government to work together to bring the Commonwealth games to Glasgow in 2026. They are also why we fully support the UK Labour Government working with the football associations and devolved Administrations to bring the women’s FIFA world cup to the UK in 2035. These events contribute immense value to our society, wellbeing and economy. There are demonstrable benefits of bringing them to Scotland and of working with the rest of the UK to do so. It is also right for the Government to remain open, as the minister has said it is, to the introduction of a major events framework bill in future.

Scottish Labour supports the principles of the bill, as we recognise that it is necessary legislation for meeting our obligations to UEFA and securing the championships. However, the committee has pointed to several areas and issues of concern that should be addressed. Part of the reason for hosting these events is to ensure that Scottish fans can access them without the cost of going abroad. As members have already said, we must prevent ordinary fans being priced out, and we cannot allow people to make financial gain by reselling tickets at extortionate prices. That is why Scottish Labour will work with the Scottish Government and other parties to clamp down on ticket touting. We support the measures in the bill that aim to do that, and we are keen to ensure that any loopholes that would disadvantage or exploit fans are addressed.

The committee also took evidence on concerns about restrictions on street traders, which Stephen Kerr has just talked about. It is vital that the Scottish Government maintains close dialogue with Glasgow City Council to ensure that street traders are properly informed about any restrictions during the tournament and that any negative impact on them is minimised. We agree with the committee’s recommendation that measures relating to commercial activity must be limited and proportionate. I believe that a proper impact assessment would be helpful, and even necessary, to us in understanding how that can be done.

I welcome what the minister said about the Government’s engagement with Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life. Further clarity on warrantless access by enforcement officers would be welcome. I welcome what the minister said about human rights and the right to protest, but further clarity on what distinction will be drawn between commercial activity and social or political activity would also be welcome. I also welcome what the minister said about working constructively with the UK Government to ensure that there is alignment of enforcement and delivery of the games.

Scottish Labour will support the bill at stage 1 and will work with the minister and other parties to address any outstanding issues that are raised in the committee’s report. As long as those clarifications are addressed in the bill’s later stages, Scottish Labour looks forward to supporting legislation that protects fans, supports local businesses and ensures that Scotland plays its part in hosting a successful and memorable UEFA European championships in 2028.