Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-19823, in the name of Keith Brown, on Scotland national football team qualifies for th...

Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) SNP

It is, of course, a genuine pleasure to open the debate. As a long-suffering Hibs fan, I want to say right at the start that if anyone had told me that one d...

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) SNP

—we’re gonna bring the world cup back from over thar.

Keith Brown SNP

—we’re gonna bring the world cup back from over thar. Laughter. So, “ola” rhymes with “thar”—there you go. Anyway, as we look ahead, we now know exactly wha...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We move to the open debate. 18:09

George Adam (Paisley) (SNP) SNP

I take this opportunity to thank my friend and colleague, Keith Brown, for being the first off the starting blocks with his motion. I know that quite a few m...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Mr Adam, I have been generous, but you will need to close.

George Adam SNP

—and the bonds that are passed on from generation to generation. That is why football is more than a game to us. It is Scotland itself: it is our heritage—

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Thank you.

George Adam SNP

—our joy, our heartbreak, our hope—

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Thank you, Mr Adam. Thank you very much—

George Adam SNP

—and it makes us Scots.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Thank you. Before I call the next speaker, I remind members that there is evidently a lot of interest in the debate, so back-bench speeches will be up to fo...

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) Con

Are we sitting comfortably, Deputy Presiding Officer? I congratulate Keith Brown on getting out of the traps early in lodging the motion and securing the de...

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I, too, thank Keith Brown for lodging the motion for debate, which I was delighted to support. As was mentioned earlier, a number of motions were lodged the ...

Paul McLennan (East Lothian) (SNP) SNP

On Tuesday 18 November, I arrived at Hampden park for the opening of the gates at 6.15. I walked in with a few other early birds and stood thinking what the ...

Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I thank Keith Brown for lodging the motion. As others have said, what a moment for Scotland, for sport and for football. We are a nation of football fans, an...

Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) SNP

I, too, congratulate Keith Brown on securing this debate. Having confessed previously and publicly that sport, either as a participant or fan, is not in my D...

Brian Whittle Con

I cannot pass up the opportunity to welcome you into the fold of sport, now that you have been converted to recognise the power of sport.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Always speak through the chair.

Christine Grahame SNP

I do not quite know how to react. That went a wee bit too far in praising me, but I will take it. The Arniston club has a home at Gore Glen pavilion and an ...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP

It is a great pleasure to speak in this debate, and I thank Keith Brown for lodging the motion. What a fantastic achievement from Steve Clarke and the team....

The Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy and Sport (Maree Todd) SNP

I thank everyone who has contributed to a lovely debate. It clearly means a lot to members in the chamber and people across the country. It is estimated that...

Neil Bibby Lab

I very clearly asked the minister whether she would provide clarity on whether the Scottish Government would meet its promise to double the sports budget in ...

Maree Todd SNP

That is certainly still our ambition, Mr Bibby, but, as I said, it would be much appreciated if Labour would, this year, engage in the negotiations and, cruc...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

That concludes the debate. Meeting closed at 18:47.