Hansard

I thank Sarah Boyack for bringing this debate to the Parliament. I very much welcome the chance to take part in it.

Many people talk about the good old days, when everything was better than it is today and we did not have the problems that we have now. However, I believe that society has come on in leaps and bounds in many areas, particularly when it comes to removing stigma from medical issues and allowing the public to understand the once-not-talked-about conditions that many people suffer from.

As we know, Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes involuntary, sudden and repetitive sounds and movements called tics. Initial symptoms are typically tics, which can include motor movements such as shoulder shrugs, or vocal sounds such as throat clearing, which usually appear in childhood. The condition can be associated with other conditions, such as ADHD and OCD. Tics can be triggered by different things, including stress, excitement or tiredness. Symptoms of Tourette syndrome usually start around the age of six and can get more noticeable around the age of 10. For some people, the condition improves with age. The syndrome, which is more common in boys than in girls, is not curable but can be relieved by following guidance on wellbeing and relaxation.

Tourette Scotland is a fantastic organisation that informs and supports the estimated 300,000 children and adult sufferers throughout the UK. I completely agree with Sarah Boyack’s motion that people with Tourette’s should be supported in schools as part of the wider additional support needs framework, and I agree with others who have spoken about the lack of guidance and support on the issue. I look forward to hearing the minister’s remarks in that regard.

I mentioned earlier, as have others, the importance of removing stigma from the condition. One way to do that is through the creative arts. High-profile figures such as Lewis Capaldi and David Beckham have been quite open about their condition, which is to be greatly welcomed.

The film that we have all been talking about, “I Swear”, has taken the world by storm. My young constituent Scott Ellis Watson, of Bishopbriggs, is a rising star, and his debut performance in the film has been widely acclaimed. I was proud to lodge a parliamentary motion to congratulate him, and I look forward to presenting him with it shortly. The film topped the box office as the number 1 film in Scotland and across the UK in its first week of release. Much credit is due to Scott’s family—his proud parents, Julie and Jimmy, and his siblings, Stella and John—for their encouragement. The fact that the film, which was produced by StudioCanal, has been such a success is fantastic news for sufferers, because it means that people will better understand what they are going through, which can only be a good thing.

Scott plays teenaged John Davidson and, as has been widely referenced, his performance is so impressive. John’s real-life experiences of navigating daily challenges with Tourette syndrome are powerfully captured in the production. By working closely with John, Scott was able to highlight how the condition can impact young people, both educationally and socially, at a time in their lives when life can be difficult enough. Scott portrays John just as he is in real life—dignified, funny and clever—as we have heard. That is why the film is so important. Tourette’s is a human condition that is often hereditary, and we should know that the people who are affected are just like us, with their own personalities and emotions.

I hope that the debate and that important film will lead to greater understanding of Tourette’s among the public and our educational and clinical institutions. That is the very least that people deserve.