Glass half full?
The Scottish Government has contacted Marks & Spencer to ask why Scottish food and drink had been branded as being from Great Britain rather than Scotland, it has emerged. Rural Affairs Secretary Fergus Ewing was briefed on the interaction between a civil servant and the retailer after the M& S website suggested the country of origin for whisky and Scottish gin was Great Britain. Petty. So petty. If only the SNP could demonstrate such attentive zeal to health, education, police, the economy, etc...
Happier Bus Traveller It’s at times like this, that I feel embarrassed to be Scottish. I am writing to Marks & Spencers as a proud Scot, and I am apologising on behalf of the Scottish Government, and reminding them the Scottish Government does not represent Scotland on this matter, it represents nationalism. Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, so there is absolutely nothing wrong with whisky being labelled as British. So long as the whisky is being stocked, the transaction has happened, thereafter the label is of no concern and we should be thankful the chain stock good Scottish whisky. It is time our government officials had adult supervision.
Med1aone Scottish Government sticks up for Scottish business – shock horror! Must gut you people that after 730 years of attempts to incorporate us, Scotland is still Scotland.
Foraye It’s a branding issue. It is a British product but I can understand a need to protect the brand. It’s a competitive market. We have to assume on face value that was [ Ewing’s] intention. Pretty common in Europe to protect your produce, the French are especially precious about it ( appellation d’origine contrôlée). The Wind That Shakes the Barley I am reminded of the truth of PG Wodehouse’s observation on rays of sunshine and Scotsmen with grievances. What is more alarming though, is that government resources were brought to bear against a private retailer to change one of its publications. Nasty. How long till M& S no longer have a footprint in Scotland?
John Mcnab I wonder if the usual suspects here would take so easily to Marks & Spencer branding Melton Mowbray pies or Stilton cheese as British pies or British cheese instead. Whisky is an iconic Scottish product and, regardless of your political persuasion, deserves to have its identity protected.
Mccavity Cat Customers want to make sure the product they intend to buy is authentic. Marks could have stamped “Made in Scotland” in parentheses to the side of the advertisement to please everyone.
Olivia Monicker