Speaking about the on-going situation involving potential job losses in Scotland at Diageo, Kilmarnock's Labour MP Des Browne said:

"Diageo’s decision has got little if anything to do with a recession. It is clear from the company's own press release that this is a long term restructuring plan. It is designed to boost their profits at the expense of their staff.

"It is quite deliberately intended to break the link between their leading brand, Johnnie Walker, and its heritage.

"Whisky is a hugely successful international Scottish export. Scotland and the Scotch whisky industry needs to wake up to the fact that taking whisky away from its history and tradition will devalue it; they are fundamental to the product. Divorcing the product from its heritage is a profound error and I will make that point when I meet the Chief Executive later today.

"Johnnie Walker is reliant on being established in Kilmarnock in 1820. This proposal is the wrong decision for the people of Kilmarnock, for Johnnie Walker whisky and for the whole industry."

Mr Browne continued:

"Ten years ago, working with Brian Wilson in the Scottish Office, the then Leader of the Labour Council and the local workforce and Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire, we fought a similar proposal and we won.

"Then, the relationship between the political leadership of Scotland and one of its most important industries was one of trust and partnership. But now the First Minister has been caught snoozing on his watch.

"The First Minister only found out about this hours before it happened – even though Diageo had been talking to Scottish Enterprise for some time, I understand.

"Do Scottish Enterprise not talk to the First Minister? If he has no relationship of trust with the Scotch whisky industry, where does he stand with the rest?

"When Vesuvius announced the closure of their plant in Newmilns, I wrote to Alex Salmond and to John Swinney demanding some response.

"In reply I got a letter from a junior minister attempting to justify the new structure for Scottish Enterprise which has left Ayrshire and in particular Kilmarnock high and dry. In February he promised to call some sort of summit meeting and for me to attend it. Five months later we are still waiting now we have 900 job losses imminent.

"I wonder if Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise know where Ayrshire is?"

02/07/2009