Commenting before a cross-party meeting of politicians and trade unions today (Friday) in Glasgow on Diageo’s proposals to close down the Port Dundas Distillery in Glasgow and their plants in Kilmarnock and Hurlford in east Ayrshire, Glasgow SNP MSP Bob Doris – who will be attending the meeting – said that cross-party unity was essential for success in the campaign.

Mr Doris said: "Port Dundas Distillery - along with the Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock - deserves a future and with the campaign already showing fantastic unity it is incumbent upon all politicians to ensure the campaign to retain these jobs is united.

"The campaign has been gaining greater momentum and unity since it began and we have seen great responses with 20,000 people marching through Kilmarnock, petitions going into five figures and football fans expressing their support for the workers.

"The employees at all the sites are determined to protect their livelihoods and I am absolutely committed to fight alongside them for every Diageo job in Glasgow.

"It is not only essential that this campaign gets as much support as possible but that all politicians remain united to ensure success. I know the Trade Unions and all stakeholders have been working together on the alternative proposals and I am confident a viable alternative can be produced.

"The message that Diageo seems to have forgotten is that customers across the world DO value the historic traditions of whisky.

"They may have lost sight of the value of this but an increasing number of customers across the world are giving Diageo the message - keep Port Dundas distillery open in Glasgow and keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock.”