Malcolm Chisholm defies party whip to back alcohol bill

Commenting on former Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm's support for the minimum pricing bill at Stage 3 - in defiance his party whip - SNP MSP Bob Doris said:

"Malcolm Chisholm is a former Health Minister and is a hugely experienced politician, and his longstanding and principled support for minimum pricing stands in stark contrast to the petty politics of his Party colleagues.

"He is doubtless not the only supporter of minimum pricing in the Labour party, but he has shown courage and conviction by defying the Labour whip and voting for the legislation today, as he has done consistently since minimum pricing was first proposed.

"Jackie Baillie and Richard Simpson must reflect on why one of Labour's most capable politicians has distanced himself from them in this way."