A NEW UPRISING ... OVER WHISKY

LorD robertson, who rose to become Nato Secretary General after serving as defence secretary under Tony blair, has a new fight on his hands. This time with Nicola Sturgeon’s killjoy

SNP government.

robertson has a house on the Inner Hebridean island of Islay, a mecca for whisky drinkers the world over. With a population of just over 3,000, it has no fewer than nine malt whisky distilleries, and two more under construction — all with smart visitor centres offering samples and merchandise. ‘but here’s a point,’ wrote robertson in The House magazine. ‘under Scottish Government proposals presently out for “consultation”, all that merchandise will be outlawed. No branded glasses, or T-shirts or golf umbrellas. all of them outlawed by the SNP/Green anti-alcohol commissars. unless the lovers of the industry, which employs thousands of Scots, rise up …’