Whisky on agenda for MP

ARGYLL and Bute MP Brendan O’Hara has criticised the Chancellor’s budget ‘tax hike’ on whisky as ‘deeply unhelpful’.

The SNP MP, who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group for Scotch Whisky, made the comments during a constituency visit to Islay, where he also collected one of only 522 bottles of a bicentenary special- edition single- cask Lagavulin malt whisky, launched on its 200th year on the island to raise funds for Islay community projects.

The special- edition bottles were sold by ballot and despite fierce competition, the MP finally secured his bottle by digital ballot on March 1. In total, the community legacy has raised £ 580,000. All proceeds from the legacy bottling will be distributed to local projects, including a donation of £ 310,000 to Islay Heritage to help the charity build a comprehensive story of Islay’s past, based on the island’s archaeological sites and monuments.

A total of £60,000 will also go to support the Finlaggan Trust, responsible for maintaining the home of the Lords of the Isles.

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