Meeting of the Parliament 24 March 2026 [Draft]
I thank my friend and colleague Brian Whittle for bringing the debate to the chamber. The motion highlights something that most of us know instinctively, which is that sport and physical activity are about not only fitness, but also connection, confidence and community cohesion.
We all know about the health benefits of sport: stronger bodies, better mental health and reduced risk of serious illness. The United Kingdom chief medical officers even called physical activity the closest thing that we have to “a miracle cure”, which is spectacular news for the NHS. It is therefore disappointing that this Government, year after year, has failed to spend to save on the NHS; it has failed to save money and to save lives.
Health aside, sport also builds leadership, resilience and teamwork. It widens opportunity and brings people closer together, regardless of background, colour or creed. It can even help politicians to talk to one another like human beings, which is a miracle in itself.
I have represented Scotland at rugby—yes, in an actual Scotland shirt. In fact, I am confident that my brief international career was the inspiration behind fellow Galloway lads and Scottish stars Stafford McDowall and Alex Craig reaching the heights that they have. Sadly, my own promising future was cut short due to a highly technical flaw: my severe and incurable lack of ability. For full disclosure, if members have not already guessed, my Scottish appearances were for the Scottish Parliament team.
The Scottish Parliament rugby team is an example of the positives of sport. Members from every party take to the pitch and, for 80 minutes, forget about divisions—albeit that is probably mainly because we are all too busy trying to remember which direction we are meant to run in. However, a few years ago, at the pre-match reception at the British embassy in Dublin, the British ambassador said that he believed that it was the first time that all the major parties of the island of Ireland had been in the same room at the same time. That was an example of rugby bringing people together—and it was quite something.
Our annual fixture with our Irish parliamentary counterparts has forged genuine friendships over the years. I have donned their tie and I am wearing it as I speak. I have watched novice politician Neil Richmond go from councillor to senator to TD to Minister of State, which clearly proves that playing regular matches against us Scots is the secret to career progression. If that really worked, in Holyrood, we would have a queue around the block to join the squad.
Humour aside, nothing demonstrates the strength of that relationship more than the compassion that the Irish team showed when our friend and colleague David Hill tragically passed away during one of those fixtures. Their kindness in that moment will never be forgotten. It showed the true power of sport not only to unite, but to support and heal.
I will turn to my constituency, where, thankfully, others are considerably more talented than I am. We continue to punch well above our weight. That includes fellow Twynholm lad, motor sport star David Coulthard. Right across the sporting spectrum, they all started somewhere: they started at a local club. David, for example, started at the Cults Kart Club just outside Stranraer.
I have spoken before in the chamber about the enormous impact of community sports organisations such as Queen of the South’s Community Trust. Its work with young people, families and vulnerable groups is nothing short of outstanding. It is joined by Stranraer FC, St Cuthbert Wanderers and Threave Rovers, which are clubs that do more than simply field teams—they provide belonging, opportunity and purpose. In many communities, they are as essential as the village hall or the post office—just with better pies.
Curling, meanwhile, might be the sport that best captures the spirit of rural Scotland. Across Dumfries and Galloway, it brings together people of all ages—teenagers, pensioners, and everyone in between. Thanks to that community culture, we produce world-class curlers such as Grant Hardie, Hammy McMillan Jr, Bobby Lammie and Olympic champion Vicky Wright. There must be something in the water in Dumfries and Galloway—or, more likely, in the ice. We also have the brilliant Wigtownshire Ladies rugby team and the ever-dominant St Cuthbert’s walking football squad.
Finally, it may be indulgent, but I would like to have my proud dad moment. Eleven years ago, after a reluctant visit—or should I say being dragged—to an ice hockey match at the Ice Bowl in Dumfries, my daughter Vicky got the ice hockey bug and, within weeks, donned skates and pads. After travelling thousands of miles and visiting dozens of countries, Vicky captained the Great Britain women’s bandy team in the gold medal match at the world championships in Sweden on Saturday. For anyone who is wondering, bandy is the fastest ball game and a wonderful sport that blends ice hockey, field hockey and sheer chaos. Her team did us proud, losing out on the gold medal only in the last few minutes.
The motion states clearly that sport should be available to everyone, everywhere, regardless of circumstance—whether in the south of Scotland or the rest of the country. When we invest in sport, we invest in healthier people, stronger communities and a more cohesive and confident Scotland.