Meeting of the Parliament 05 February 2026 [Draft]
I congratulate Clare Haughey on bringing this debate to the chamber. I really enjoyed her speech about the history of Rutherglen.
It is a privilege to speak in this debate about the 900 years of Rutherglen—my dad would call it Ruglen—which is one of Scotland’s oldest royal burghs and a town with a proud and distinct identity. Rutherglen is not a place to talk about in the abstract; it is a place that people know well and remember, and it is a place that I knew well when I was growing up. Over the years, I have spent a great deal of time in the town, visiting schools, meeting community groups and speaking with local traders, and in my youth I spent time in some of the pubs on and off Main Street. I have seen at first hand how Rutherglen has changed, adapted and endured.
I have many fond personal memories that are rooted in the area. Many of my friends lived in Rutherglen and I often find myself recalling with affection times spent in and around the town in places and on streets that I knew well. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, I would head to the video shop on Main Street with friends and then walk through Overtoun park. There was a great sense of community and character in the town.
When I was married almost 34 years ago, I had my wedding reception at the nearby Kings Park hotel, because we knew that place well and it represented both Glasgow and Rutherglen, where we were from. More recently, I have enjoyed simply taking walks around the area and reflecting on how the town has evolved. Familiar streets have changed, but the character and warmth of the community have remained.
Today, as Ms Haughey said, Rutherglen continues to be shaped by independent businesses and local employers who have chosen to invest there. Long-standing firms remain a familiar presence, while small cafes, family-run shops and service businesses along Main Street and the surrounding area continue to provide not only jobs but connection and community. Those businesses are run by people who care deeply about the town and its future.
I recently had the opportunity to visit Rutherglen high school to see its eco project, which is led by pupils who are passionate about sustainability and improving their local environment. What impressed me most were not only the ambition of the project but the pride of the young people who took part in contributing positively to their community. I believe that we need to take pride in our communities, and we see that abundantly in Rutherglen, Burnside and Cambuslang. It was a powerful reminder that Rutherglen’s future is being shaped by young people who care deeply about where they live.
As we have heard, Rutherglen has also produced an extraordinary amount of talent over the years, across sport, culture, business and public life. That is no accident. The town has strong links to figures such as Stan Laurel, who is one half of the most iconic comic double act in history: Laurel and Hardy. I used to play one and my dad the other. Members can decide which one each of us played.