SWA congratulates new PM Keir Starmer

Commenting on the outcome of the UK General Election, Chief Executive of the SWA Mark Kent said:

“We congratulate Sir Keir Starmer on becoming the UK’s new Prime Minister following the General Election.

“On a visit to Inchdairnie distillery in Fife last year, Sir Keir said that a government he leads will “back Scotch producers to the hilt”. We look forward to working in partnership with him, the Secretary of State for Scotland and his whole Cabinet to keep this commitment, and ensure Scotch Whisky can continue to drive growth, create jobs and boost investment in Scotland, and right across the UK.

“There is much the new government can do to back Scotch Whisky producers – from reducing the tax burden on spirits in the UK to protecting our industry from tariffs in key global markets. During the rest of 2024, there will be opportunities to support Scotch in the first budget of the new Parliament, secure a trade deal with India which will reduce tariffs on Scotch Whisky in this key market, and work closely with the industry as we continue on our journey towards net-zero.

“We also want to congratulate all MPs from across the political spectrum who have been elected to the UK Parliament. With the global reach of Scotland’s national drink supported by supply chain companies in over 400 constituencies across the UK, many MPs have a direct stake in supporting the future success of the industry.

“We look forward to working with all MPs over the course of the Parliament. Together we can ensure that Scotch Whisky is at the heart of the central mission of the next five years – growth and economic renewal.”

--Ends

Hearing from staff at @InchDairnieDist, it's clear Scotland’s whisky industry isn't getting the stability it needs from the Tories and the SNP.

Labour will put growth at the heart of our government and back Scotch producers to the hilt. pic.twitter.com/XaFutlO5wa

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 16, 2023

Mark Kent, Scotch Whisky Association Chief Executive