Everyone is keen to say this drink is on thempublished at 11:34 BST
11:34 BST
Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Editor
Three Scottish party leaders have hurriedly altered their
campaign plans to reflect the deal to remove tariffs from whisky imports to the
US.
Both the SNP’s John Swinney and Labour’s Anas Sarwar have
managed to get access to whisky distilleries, while the Conservatives’ Russell
Findlay is in a bar.
They all have different takes on who deserves credit for
persuading the US president to make a special trade arrangement for Scotch.
For Labour, the Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said
this was the result of “relentless engagement and negotiation” by the UK
government, “opening doors for Scottish exporters across the world”.
To be fair, trade deals are made at UK level and the
prime minister himself raised whisky tariffs with President Trump.
The SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney has
previously accused the UK government of not giving whisky enough priority in
trade talks.
He lobbied the president on his two visits to the UK last
year and travelled to Washington to make the case in the Oval Office.
Welcoming the deal, he said that he had made it his
“mission to do everything possible to lift US tariffs on our whisky” and that
the “hard work has paid off”.
To be fair, Swinney did put in a shift and his statement
acknowledges the work of the Scotch Whisky Association and King Charles.
The president himself has said it was the King that
persuaded him to change policy in a way that no-one else could.
For the Conservatives, Russell Findlay – who opposes both
the UK and Scottish governments – is content with that explanation and argues
that John Swinney has a “brass neck” to claim credit.
“The republicans within the SNP would do well to
reflect on who we really have to thank,” he said.
It is of course possible that the Crown, two
governments and industry bodies on both sides of the Atlantic have all played
their part.