Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Official Report 878KB pdf

---

City of Culture Bids (Paisley and Dundee)

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-07862, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, on recognising and supporting Paisley’s 2021 United Kingdom city of culture and Dundee’s 2023 European capital of culture bids. I call on Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, to speak to and move the motion. Cabinet secretary—you have 12 minutes or thereabouts, please.

15:14  

Thank you, Presiding Officer.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us”.

Those are the famous lines that open “A Tale of Two Cities” and which highlight one of the novel’s most prominent motifs and structural figures: doubles. Throughout the novel, Dickens asserts his belief in the possibility of resurrection and transformation on both personal and societal levels. It is fitting, then, that we are here to debate two places—Paisley and Dundee—that have such ambitious, transformative and inspiring plans. Before a member intervenes to highlight the fact that Paisley is not a city, I suggest that although Scotland’s largest town might not be a city, it has the ambitions of one.

The timing for the debate is opportune: Paisley’s final bid to become the 2021 UK city of culture will be submitted on Friday, and Dundee’s 2023 European capital of culture bid is due in on 27 October. Both bids could be outstanding successes for Scotland, the UK and Europe, and I am sure that the judging panels will appreciate the quality and substance of both.

A key strength of culture is that it invites us to reflect on who we are and gives us an understanding of what we can be and become as individuals, as communities, as towns, as cities and as a country. What excites me about Paisley’s and Dundee’s bids is that they are committed, bold and ambitious. Paisley and Dundee recognise the fundamental importance of culture to place, and the profound impact that it has on our quality of life. They understand, as we do, that culture is pivotal in our wellbeing, and their bids say so much about the type of town, city and country that they are and want us to be. Paisley’s and Dundee’s bids have much in common with each other, with their focus on people, communities and connections.

I will begin with Paisley, whose bid journey has been inspiring. It began two years ago, with hundreds of people gathered in picturesque Paisley abbey for the official launch. The Paisley bid has been developed through extensive community engagement: the people of Paisley have helped to put together a strong bid for Paisley and for Scotland. More than 30,000 Paisley people—or buddies—have been engaged in the process of developing the bid, which has broad-based community support. It is part of a broader heritage and culture-led regeneration strategy to transform Paisley into a vibrant cultural and creative destination.

A year-long programme of events has been outlined, with themes that are authentic to Paisley and which have been co-produced with Paisley’s communities. The themes have been inspired by the rich textile heritage of Paisley—the iconic Paisley pattern—and the character of the people. The programme is also designed to have wide appeal to a range of audiences and will be inclusive and accessible by all.

The bid has reached far and wide: from every Renfrewshire school pupil, to limited edition Paisley-branded bottles of Johnnie Walker, to the Paisley pattern being set to feature in luxury knitwear in Pringle of Scotland’s upcoming autumn and winter collection. Paisley has it all.

However, what made a lasting impression on me as being perhaps the most imaginative part of the programme that I witnessed involves iconic Paisley landmarks and famous faces being reimagined in a stunning Lego animation film by local teenager Morgan Spence, in which the 17-year-old perfectly captures Paisley buddies in action, including actors David Tennant and Gerard Butler, and singer Paolo Nutini, which led me to reflect: why do all the cool folk come from Paisley? The film encapsulates the energy, enthusiasm and fresh approach of Paisley’s bid.

Winning the competition will bring with it significant economic, social and cultural benefits, too. Renfrewshire Council has cited that the estimated economic boost over a 10-year period is in the region of 4,700 jobs and £172 million gross value added. I pay tribute to the vision and support of the previous and current leadership of Renfrewshire Council. I also thank Derek Mackay MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution, for his firm financial backing for the bid. I pay tribute, too, to the 2021 Paisley bid team, some of whom are in the gallery today, but I also acknowledge that it is the involvement of the communities of Paisley and the embracing of culture by the entire town—all the buddies—that are what make Paisley’s bid so special. I also acknowledge the enthusiastic championing of the Paisley bid by local MSPs of all parties.

We are not here to focus solely on Paisley: this is a tale of two places. I recall standing here almost four years ago offering my full support for Dundee’s 2017 United Kingdom city of culture bid. Although Dundee narrowly missed out to Hull, it has been on an incredibly inspiring journey since then. In that time, tens of thousands of voices from across the city of discovery—from artists to festival directors, from musicians to librarians and from bakers to builders—have helped to take the city to the next level. Dundee led a successful bid to become the UK’s first United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization city of design. The city of discovery is on a pioneering journey with an illustrious network of cities of design, from Berlin to Saint-Étienne to Bilbao, all of which are outstanding contributors to areas of creativity and design.

Dundee is not standing still, however; it is building on its UNESCO status and learning from other European cities and approaches. With its rich cultural heritage and exciting future, Dundee can be a beacon of creativity to the world. It is a city that continuously seeks to create further opportunities to share and to celebrate. The V&A museum of design in Dundee, which will open next year and which has the Scottish Government as its major financial backer, is the flagship development of the city’s waterfront regeneration. Securing the V&A has increased the national and international profile of the waterfront development and of the city. V&A Dundee will attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Scotland and the globe, and will redefine Dundee’s offer as a place to visit, to live, to study and to work.

It is little wonder, then, that Dundonians are striving to ensure that their city becomes the next European capital of culture, following on from Glasgow’s success as UK city of culture in 1990. To get Dundee to that place, local voices have been heard in schools, community centres, art galleries, museums, universities and libraries, and on buses and on the streets. The strapline is, “Be brilliant!” and I am sure that that brilliance will shine through as the bid develops. People are excited, engaged and enthused. A recent edition of the Dundee Courier carried the faces and voices of more than 600 local people with their thoughts about Dundee and Europe. It was an extraordinary endorsement of Dundee’s support for being a European city—not just a city in Europe.

I cannot give much away before the bid is submitted, but Dundee’s European capital of culture year will be like no other. It will be packed with cultural celebrations that will ignite the heart and show the richness of the region to the rest of Europe. Local, national and international artists will be involved in a huge range of exciting events and festivals, with practitioners from Stirling to Stornoway to Seville. Gaming, digital and design are at the heart of the bid and will be key factors in helping to secure the win.

Dundee is theming the bid around the concept of connections and the exciting opportunity to strengthen Scotland’s cultural ties with Europe and to celebrate our diverse cultural heritage. The bid is for the city, but it is also for the region, so Angus, Perth and Fife are all contributing creatively to it. It is a bid for Scotland. Local members of the Scottish Parliament Shona Robison and Joe FitzPatrick, who will close the debate for the Government, are passionate advocates for Dundee and the bid.

The designation has tangible benefits. Dundee cites that it would bring 1,600 jobs and 500,000 extra visitors, and that the Tay cities area’s gross domestic product would grow by 4.5 per cent. The programme of events for the year would leave a lasting legacy. Dundee’s bid will create new partnerships and ventures and will explore new ways to reach out and inspire new audiences at home and around the world, by promoting our cultural and creative talent and showcasing our inspiring buildings, design and places to our European partners.

Although Scotland is steeped in meaning and history, it is continually on the move as a country—celebrating its past while seeking new and innovative ways to engage with the world. We are proud of our diverse heritage and traditions, but we continually seek to create opportunities to share and to celebrate. To reflect on that perspective more nationally, working in partnership with Glasgow, our national agencies and other partners in the Glasgow commonwealth games delivered a hugely successful and vibrant year for Scotland. We demonstrated the richness of our cultural life and the depth of our talent, and we celebrated the very best of Scots creativity and cultural heritage. The world was watching. The Commonwealth Games Federation highlighted that it was the best games ever, and the accompanying cultural programme was a significant factor in that success.

We are looking forward to next year’s European championships, which will highlight Scotland as a welcoming and culturally rich destination for visitors from around the world.

Such events and the cultural events that are connected to them can make a big difference to attracting people to visit Scotland. The bids from Paisley and Dundee would, if successful, result in a huge addition to what we can do in telling our cultural story and in using culture to bring people to the country. They can have a huge impact on Scotland’s visitor economy, in terms of the income that is generated, but more important is that they can enable more people to access, enjoy and participate in the wide range of benefits that they deliver to individuals, communities and the country. There are other benefits, including the confidence to be creative and imaginative, and to shape and direct the future on these shores and beyond. I am delighted about the potential that the bids offer for Paisley, Dundee, Scotland, the rest of the UK and Europe.

Culture has a vital role in promoting outward-looking, welcoming and progressive values, which are perhaps more important now than they have been in recent years. International engagement makes a crucial contribution to sustainable economic growth by bringing different perspectives, ideas and partnerships. I want a Scotland in which people are free to express their creativity—a nation that is confident in participating on the world stage, and in which we build cultural bridges with our European and international partners. Those connections, the relationships that we build on them and the value of our Scottish brand and heritage help to open doors across the world.

Paisley’s and Dundee’s bids are exciting prospects. They fit well with the Government’s ambitions. We recognise the significant contribution that the cities make to Scotland’s rich cultural life, and the local and national boosts that the bids’ successes will bring.

In “A Tale of Two Cities”, Dickens created and developed a theme of regeneration. Dundee and Paisley are two places that have innovative, inspiring and engaging plans to re-energise, reinvent and reimagine, so I am pleased to confirm the Government’s support for Paisley’s bid to be the 2021 UK city of culture and Dundee’s bid to be the 2023 European capital of culture.

I move,

That the Parliament recognises the significant contributions that the communities of Paisley and Dundee make to Scotland’s rich tapestry of cultural life and the local, national and international boosts that Paisley’s 2021 UK City of Culture and Dundee’s 2023 European Capital of Culture bids will bring; fully supports both bids, which will promote Scotland’s cultural and creative talent and showcase its inspiring building design and places to UK and European partners; notes that the Paisley bid will deliver a spectacular year-long cultural and events programme inspired by the rich textile heritage of the city and will be inclusive, accessible and appeal to a range of local, national and international audiences; recognises that the bid is part of broader heritage and culture-led regeneration plans seeking to transform Paisley into a vibrant cultural destination, growing the cultural, creative and visitor economy, and re-positioning Paisley as a place recognised for cultural excellence; further recognises that Dundee is on a pioneering journey with culture and creativity driving the continuing regeneration of the city and its waterfront, which includes a world-class design museum in the V&A; supports Dundee’s plans to build on its UNESCO City of Design status, learning from other European cities’ approaches, and supports the valuable role that the bid will have in promoting Dundee’s rich cultural heritage and exciting future.

Before I call the next speaker, I remind members that if they want to speak in the debate, there is a wee thing that they have to do: press their request-to-speak buttons.

I call Liam Kerr to open for the Conservatives.

15:27  

I am delighted to be speaking in the debate, and I am grateful to Fiona Hyslop for giving Parliament the opportunity to signal our support for the Paisley 2021 UK city of culture bid and the Dundee 2023 European capital of culture bid. The Scottish Conservatives recognise the significant contributions that the communities of Paisley and Dundee have made and continue to make to Scotland’s culture, and the enormous national and international benefits that the hopefully successful bids will bring. That is why we will be pleased to vote in favour of the motion today.

The inaugural UK city of culture was Derry-Londonderry in 2013. In 2017, Kingston upon Hull took the title. If successful, Paisley will become the third UK city of culture and the first Scottish holder of the title.

Those of a legal persuasion will know all about Paisley. It is the hallowed ground where in 1928 a Mrs Donoghue allegedly—that is a legal joke—found a dead snail in a bottle of ginger beer. She became ill, sued Mr Stevenson, the manufacturer, and created the modern concept of negligence and the general principle of duty of care. As a result, there was a pilgrimage to Paisley in 1990, and there are a memorial plaque and a bench at the cafe site.

Fiona Hyslop mentioned doubling of cities. Here is an irony: when St Mirren won the Scottish cup in 1987, it was against one of the Dundee teams. Other than for away trips to Love Street in the 1980s and 90s, visits to the annual boat jumble sale at St Mirren Park and trips as a result of a penchant in my adolescence for Paisley pattern shirts, Paisley is not somewhere I have spent much time.

The town has a rich cultural history. It came to prominence with the establishment of its 12th-century abbey, which has long been considered an important religious hub. It also boasts a number of Victorian buildings, including the town hall, an arts centre and a museum, as well as the famous Russell Institute. By the 19th century, Paisley had established itself at the centre of the weaving industry, giving its name to the Paisley shawl and the Paisley pattern.

I am delighted to see Paisley in the running because there are game-changing results off the back of the award, and the impact on the town—which, as the cabinet secretary said, is legitimately bidding as a city—could be considerable. Paisley’s bid focuses on improving the town by attracting more visitors, increasing media interest and bringing members of the community together. The town has predicted that a successful bid will create the equivalent of 4,700 jobs over the next decade and boost the economy by £172 million. It would also result in a programme of major events and world-class culture, which, by Paisley’s own analysis, would bring 1.7 million attendances. Businesses, institutions and celebrities have supported Paisley’s bid, and the town even sent a patch of Paisley pattern into space in July 2016.

That is surely the biggest cause of celebration. Paisley already has a unique culture and an abundance of heritage at its disposal, and the Scottish Government is right to focus on tourism as an economic driver. Just today, which is world tourism day, of course, VisitScotland reported that tourism is the third-largest export industry in the world.

Such awards also promote internal tourism, which would help to make the town a key destination of choice, generate income, create jobs and stimulate social change.

Few cities have done more in the past to achieve that than Dundee. The motion rightly calls for recognition of

“Dundee’s rich cultural heritage and exciting future”.

As early as the 12th century, Dundee established itself as an important east coast trading port. Then came its profound success in the textile industry and the subsequent phasing out of the linen export trade, which led to a surge and dominance in jute production throughout the latter half of the 19th century. The rise of the textile industry brought an expansion of supporting industries—notably the whaling, maritime and shipbuilding industries—and the likes of James Keiller & Son, which was a pioneer in the production of commercial marmalade, and the founding of the D C Thomson publishing firm.

However, the city of jute, jam and journalism has been through some tough times. It has seen significant unemployment and has lost around a quarter of its population over the past 30 years. I well remember travelling through from St Andrews in the early 1990s and seeing the city then. How different it is now. The city not only has an exciting future; it has created the atmosphere of a city with a future.

Since I was elected, I have spent a great deal of time in Dundee and noted the culture everywhere. Other members will no doubt talk about the Victoria and Albert museum, HMS Discovery and the waterfront development, all of which are part of a £1 billion regeneration programme, but much more is going on. Culture manifests itself in the widest sense in Dundee. For example, there is Dundee botanic garden, which stretches over 9 hectares near the banks of the River Tay and is within walking distance of the V&A. It attracts 80,000 visitors a year. With its impressive gardens and new cafe facilities, it is not hard to see why.

I have spent time at Dundee museum of transport, which opened in 2014 to showcase the cultural transport heritage of Tayside and beyond and has since acquired the historic Maryfield tram depot, which it seeks to restore.

Last year, I was transfixed and psychologically challenged when I attended a production by Dundee Rep’s youth theatre called “Experiment 01: Abandoned”, which was written and performed by the young people. It took place at the Mills observatory. If that is not Europe-leading culture and creativity, I do not know what is.

The motion mentions the “local, national and international” boost that would follow. It would. The opportunity proposes a £40 million roster of up to 80 events, including six major arts festivals and international events. That has been described as a

“once in a generation ... showcase”

for

“Scotland’s creative and cultural talent”.

Dundee has predicted that the title could create 1,600 full-time job opportunities and bring an additional £128 million to the local economy. That is vital when we consider that Dundee’s unemployment rate is far in excess of the national average. As the cabinet secretary said, Dundee has also predicted a 4.5 per cent increase in regional GDP and a 50 per cent short-term increase in tourism along with a 17 per cent long-term increase in tourism.

Dundee does not contend for the accolade: it is merely claiming what it rightfully ought to have. To my mind, Dundee already is a European capital of culture.

If the bids by Paisley and Dundee are successful, they will promote the best that Scotland has to offer by showcasing our cultural and creative talent and further promoting Paisley and Dundee as vibrant destinations of choice. They will entice visitors from all over the UK and the world to see for themselves some of the best that Scotland has to offer. The Scottish Conservatives whole-heartedly support that and wish both Paisley and Dundee the very best with their respective bids. We look forward to supporting the motion.

15:34  

It is a pleasure to open the debate on behalf of the Labour Party and speak in support of Paisley’s bid for UK city of culture 2021 and Dundee’s bid for European capital of culture in 2023. Both are important titles and the process of bidding will, as the motion sets out, promote Scotland’s cultural and creative talent and showcase its inspiring building design and places to UK and European partners.

I was born in Paisley, live in Paisley and I represent the town, so it will not surprise members to hear that my contribution today will focus mainly on Paisley’s 2021 bid.

Paisley is a proud town with a proud past. A small market town, it was transformed by the industrial revolution and it became a world-leading producer of textiles. The weavers and thread mills, and the world-renowned Paisley pattern shaped our history, economy, culture and heritage. It is part of the town’s social tapestry.

Anyone who visits Paisley will see that its built heritage represents one of the most impressive townscapes in Scotland. The town centre has more than 100 listed buildings, which is second only to Edinburgh. The 850-year-old abbey that stands in the centre of the town links modern Paisley with pre-industrial Paisley. It is not just a historic building; it is a living and active building, with tours, concerts and services all year round. It is the jewel in the crown in our townscape.

We in Paisley are proud of our buildings and our people. Paisley has given the world great actors, poets, artists, musicians and sportspeople: David Tennant, Gerard Butler, Robert Tannahill, John Byrne, Archie Gemmell and Gerry Rafferty to name but a few. Paolo Nutini himself will be backing the bid at a special one-off concert at Paisley abbey in October as part of the Spree festival. I encourage members to come along and enjoy the Spree festival.

We should also recognise the organisations in Paisley that have supported and nurtured young Paisley talent for many years. There are organisations such as Loud ’n’ Proud and the PACE theatre company, which is the UK’s largest independent theatre company. If anyone has not seen the stop-motion video by another young talent, Morgan Spence, I recommend it highly. Many faces that have already been mentioned, and others such as the broadcaster Andrew Neil, feature in a Lego celebration of Paisley 2021.

The bid is not just about celebrating Paisley; it is about making a difference. Winning the city of culture title would provide a major economic boost to Paisley and Renfrewshire. It is estimated that 1.7 million people will visit in 2021 and that more than 4,500 jobs could be created over a 10-year period. As city of culture, we could host more highlights from Britain’s cultural calendar such as art and music festivals, performances, concerts, awards and shows.

A successful bid would help every child in Renfrewshire to access new activities as we break down barriers to inclusion and make arts and culture more accessible. The bid could transform Paisley. We are already seeing it as an opportunity to build a new sense of civic pride in Paisley and a real appreciation of where the town has come from and where it is going.

I congratulate all those who have made Paisley’s 2021 city of culture bid a reality. I pay tribute to the local partnership that has been driving the bid, the bid team, the council and the wider community, all of whom are working together. It is also important to recognise that we would not be debating the bid at all if it were not for the leadership of Mark Macmillan, the former leader of Renfrewshire Council, as well as a number of other elected members who have been supportive, the bid director, Jean Cameron, and every team member who is working on the bid.

I pay tribute to all the people and organisations in the community that are right behind the bid. Many of them joined us at a reception that I co-hosted in the Parliament last year and I can tell members that their enthusiasm was—and still is—infectious. There is a real sense that the momentum is with Paisley and is growing.

Just to be shortlisted for the UK city of culture is a huge achievement, but Paisley is in it to win it. That means that we have to impress a judging panel that is considering the merits of not just Paisley’s case, but the cases of four other candidate cities across the UK. Paisley’s bid is Scotland’s bid, of course, but to win, it has to be much more than that. It has to be recognised UK-wide as the best bid in Britain and win out over Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland and Swansea. I think that it is the best bid across the UK.

All supporters of the bid, including the Scottish Government, need to get behind Paisley 2021 to make Paisley’s case across the UK over the coming months. With that in mind, I was extremely encouraged to see the members of the All For One Choir from the current host city, Hull, come to Paisley to perform, build links with the town and show their support. One of the most interesting of the contributions that have been inspired by the bid was that of Warrington man, Dan Warren. After his hometown failed to make the shortlist, he designed a London tube-style map of Renfrewshire to try to get Paisley noticed.

Cross-party support for the bid has been remarkable. I am delighted that there is a consensus in the Parliament today and I welcome the Government funding commitment that was announced by the cabinet secretary the other day. I also want to thank Kezia Dugdale for the support that she has shown for Paisley. Even when another candidate city from Scotland was still in the competition, she recognised that Paisley 2021 was important to the renewal of the town and gave us her backing, becoming the first political leader to do so. I also welcome the cross-party support of Scotland’s MPs, who have now met the bid team in London. Locally, there is cross-party support, too. As the cabinet secretary said, the bid was conceived under the previous Labour administration, and it is now up to the SNP administration to take the bid forward, and it has the full support of Labour in doing so. It is important that Renfrewshire Council continues to provide leadership, practical support and resources to keep the momentum going and take the case for Paisley far and wide.

The reasons for backing Paisley’s bid are similar to the reasons why I believe that we should back Dundee’s bid for European capital of culture, as they involve using culture and heritage to transform a place and provide more opportunities for those who live there. In some ways, that transformation has already begun in Dundee. The city is not just known for jute, jam and journalism any more; it is now the UK’s first UNESCO city of design and is recognised globally for its contribution to medical research, comics and video games. The V&A will open next year—

I understand why Paisley got the biggest hit in your speech, but I am afraid that you have run out of time for Dundee. I will not hold it against you.

I wish Dundee and Paisley every success in their bids over the coming months.

I am sure that you do.

We now move to the open debate, and we will have speeches of six minutes.

15:42  

Scotland is incredibly fortunate to have a rich cultural heritage—one that is known, respected and enjoyed across the world. To see that recognised through two successful city of culture bids—for Paisley in 2021 and Dundee in 2023—would be a fitting recognition of our rich cultural heritage and the vibrant contemporary scenes in both cities.

The whole world has been contributing to the bids. Just last week, we had the Singing Children of Africa choir in Paisley town hall joining local schoolchildren, a local gospel choir and dance troupes to put on an amazing performance.

In the members’ business debate on Paisley’s bid, a number of us highlighted the radical history of the city's industrial working class, which is centred around weaving and the world-famous Paisley pattern. The history of the workers’ struggles and their effects on wider society is embedded in the culture of Paisley, as it is across Scotland and the world. That radicalism has shaped Paisley’s culture for centuries. Paisley was an epicentre of the radical war in 1820. A memorial march was held there following the Peterloo massacre, and that march also led to heavy-handed suppression by the authorities, including cavalry charges. Those actions led to radical activity across Scotland, particularly around the west coast, in support of more representative Government.

The radical war ended with charges of treason, executions and exile to penal colonies, but its effects were felt later, not least through the Reform Act that was eventually passed in 1832, which began to expand the right to vote beyond just the most powerful sections of society. Paisley’s working class played a driving role in that.

Paisley also has the distinction of being the only Scottish city to be named in Marx’s “Das Kapital”—I am missing Richard Leonard’s presence for this debate, as he was very enthusiastic the last time I mentioned that fact. In that tome, Marx referred to

“the brave Scots of Paisley”

and the labour that they poured into their production of textiles. He highlighted Carlile, Sons & Co as one of the oldest and most respected companies producing cotton and linen in the west of Scotland, having been in operation as far back as 1752. Of course, as we might expect, Marx took a dim view of the Carlile family and a more positive one of the workers in their mills.

Paisley’s radical history extends into the 20th century. Britain’s last communist MP, Willie Gallacher, was born there. Although Gallacher was eventually elected to the West Fife constituency, a lot of his political activism was focused around the west coast during the red Clydeside era. For example, he was heavily involved in the campaign for a 40-hour working week after the end of the first world war. He was also one of the strike leaders who negotiated with the authorities in Glasgow city chambers when the battle of George Square began, leading to the British Government’s deployment of troops across the city. He died, back in Paisley, in 1965—almost 100 years after Marx wrote about

“the brave Scots of Paisley”.

Gallacher most certainly carried that tradition throughout his life.

Unfortunately, Carlile, Sons & Co does not produce textiles in Paisley any more. The industrial nature of the city is long gone—and so are the jobs and relative prosperity that came with it. Textile production essentially ceased in the 1990s. The rich cultural heritage of Paisley’s past is still visible, though—whether that is in the town hall that was paid for by one old mill owner or the museum that was paid for by another, or in the multitude of streets that are named after the industry, such as Dyers Wynd, Cotton Street and Thread Street. However, the decline of the weaving industry—along with the shipbuilding industry and the broader process of deindustrialisation—has left Paisley with huge challenges and high levels of deprivation. Ferguslie Park is one of the most deprived areas of the country, and Paisley jobcentre has the highest number of sanctions in the west of Scotland.

We know that Paisley is a brilliant city of fantastic communities. It is already a city of culture. The bid is about so much more than that: it is about ensuring that Paisley’s rich cultural heritage is strengthened, the city’s profile is raised and the problems that it faces are addressed. Whether or not Paisley wins the city of culture 2021 bid, the very process of the bid is doing so much good. Renfrewshire Council and the Scottish Government have already set out to invest in supporting local arts and cultural initiatives. By winning the award, much more can be done to raise the profile of that historic town, to encourage the tourism and investment that it so very much needs and to give the community itself better access to better cultural experiences.

Although I am a member of the Scottish Parliament for the west of Scotland, it would be impolite of me not to also mention Dundee’s bid for European city of culture. Dundee and Paisley share a remarkably similar history, with textiles and shipbuilding being staples of the historical industrial economy. Dundee’s economy has been a bit more varied. It has been said that it was built on the three Js of jute, jam and journalism. It is certainly deserving of the European capital of culture title, having focused on a culture-led regeneration strategy since the 1990s. Dundee has also embraced cutting-edge technology, becoming a centre for the creation of video games—and, in the process, making Scotland an international hub for that ever-growing industry. The classic Lemmings and the record-breaking, if controversial, Grand Theft Auto were created by Dundee-based DMA Design—now known as Rockstar North and our neighbour in Edinburgh. I can say, with absolute honesty, that I have enjoyed every visit that I have ever made to Dundee, and I wish it well in its bid.

Over the centuries, both cities have contributed so much to the culture that we enjoy today. While they deserve the titles that they are bidding for, I am grateful for the benefits that are being reaped simply by their engagement in the process. I look forward to our returning to Parliament following announcements that both Paisley and Dundee have been recognised as deserving cities of culture in the years to come. Before that, I invite all members who are available to join us in Paisley on Friday morning at 10.30, to send off the bid.

15:48  

I grew up in a small farming village outside St Andrews in the 1980s and 1990s, so Dundee was a metropolis to me. Lying 14 miles to the north, it always held a certain kind of magnetism. It was where we went for Christmas shopping, to see pantomimes at the Rep or to go ice skating. My comics were authored in its bustling streets, and its swimming pool had the finest flumes on the eastern seaboard. It basked in seemingly endless sunshine, on the side of a river that we crossed more times than I can remember. Each time that we passed a tree hung with Jif lemon bottles to the side of the bridge, my sister and I would lisp out lines of McGonagall about the Tay below us and the whale that once got stuck there. We would talk about the ancient rail tragedy that endured in the city’s consciousness and local song. We would relive our memories of the day in 1986 when the RSS Discovery, one of the most significant vessels of scientific exploration ever built, returned home—to the captivated rapture of this eight-year-old boy.

In later years, I would return with equal regularity—but for very different reasons. I learned to drive there. The sticky carpets of the Mardi Gras represented the nearest nightclub to the bars of St Andrews where I learned to drink. It was at that time that I also learned to appreciate the very Dundonian sound of Michael Marra—uncle to Jenny Marra of this parish.

I would also work there, at Fairbridge, in Kemback Street, delivering independent living skills and exploring cultural identity through youth work with the hardest-to-reach young people in Dundee’s inner city. I reflect, in particular, on the Fairbridge totem pole, which was carved by young people affected by substance use and installed in Dudhope park as a lasting monument to the triumph of culture and art over the very worst of Dundee’s social challenges. I do not get there as much as I would like these days, and I regret that.

Dundee embodies Scotland’s transition from heavy industry to world-leading software development and from crushing deprivation to cultural enlightenment, as is evident in the work of the community arts centre and in the excitement about the opening of the V&A. It has always been a city of culture to me. It has shaped my future, as it has done Scotland’s future. As such, it deserves recognition as a city of culture on the international stage.

I turn my attention now to culture in the west. Good culture is always found in the west—I declare an interest: I have tickets to see Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at the Hydro tonight—and I lend my voice the unanimous support offered in the chamber to Paisley in its bid to become UK city of culture.

To my shame, I know far less about Paisley than I do about Dundee. However, since I was first inducted into the Parliament, I have enjoyed the passion of George Adam’s soliloquies about the many assets and strengths of the community that he represents. He has done a grand job of persuading me of the town’s history, many attributes and ability to overcome and renew. The town has reared some of my closest friends and hosts a university that educated my party’s leader. It is a resilient and proud community that has left its mark on global fashion. It has certainly come a long way since 1697 and the last mass execution of witches in western Europe.

In the history of Paisley, culture and industry have walked hand in hand through the burgeoning textile and weaving trade of the 19th century and in patterns of Kashmiri origin, patronised by Queen Victoria, which subsequently catapulted the town’s name and produce into global demand and repute. That recognition and sense of identity stood in defiance of the Luftwaffe’s bombers in the blitz and economic malaise down the decades. However, it is important to recognise that those still took their toll. As we have heard from Ross Greer, Ferguslie Park was named as one of the most deprived areas of Scotland last year.

Those ingredients unquestionably qualify Paisley as UK city of culture, not just for the raw and natural creativity that it has exhibited through the ages, but for the resilience that it displays and the benefits that such a status could afford. We know the value that such recognition can bring to a community, with the promise of more than 4,000 jobs and a £172 million boost the local economy.

As a constituency member, it feels alien for me to wax lyrical about the virtues of communities outside Edinburgh Western, but today it has been an effortless task. I am struck by the warmth that exists in the chamber across all the parties for Paisley and Dundee. Such debates are welcome in the conduct of the Parliament’s affairs. They challenge us to think about the virtues of, and challenges that face, communities beyond our own and to embrace a national pride that often becomes a pawn in a wider discourse about the constitutional future of our nation. Therefore, I am very proud to support the Government motion and offer the full-throated support of the Liberal Democrat members to both cities in their bids.

Thank you very much.

George Adam (Paisley) (SNP) rose—

I have not called you yet, Mr Adam. I know that you are dead keen.

I call George Adam.

15:53  

Thank you, Presiding Officer. My calves were not coping too well, but I was poised to stand up. I am, of course, extremely pleased to take part in the debate. A whole afternoon of positive Paisleyness will do me nicely. I welcome Jean Cameron and some of the members of her team Paisley, who are in the public gallery.

The cabinet secretary is, of course, correct when she says that this is a tale of two cities—and my friend and colleague Joe FitzPatrick says that I must mention Dundee and its quest for the European city of culture title in 2023. The Scotland’s Towns partnership has a facility on its website that allows users to get all the statistical data for Scotland’s towns. On checking that website yesterday, I found that Paisley is very much like Dundee. The demography of both is similar. Historically, both towns had to deal with post-industrial decline but, instead of complaining about it, we have decided to do something completely different.

I know that Dundee has been on that journey of discovery longer than we have, but both towns are trying to show the world who they really are. When I was elected in 2011, I said that I would take a team Paisley approach to absolutely everything that I did as Paisley’s MSP. Now, team Paisley is becoming team Scotland—the whole of our historic town is taking that approach.

What is important is what we can achieve. That is the exciting part. The bid can be a catalyst that will make a difference in people’s lives and, I hope, show the world what 21st century Paisley has to offer. Paisley buddies are now looking to what we can do—looking at the many challenges and seeing how we can find solutions. There is an air in the town that the impossible can happen. There are no problems, only solutions.

Paisley has challenges, like many other towns in Scotland, but it also has a big heart. It is a heart that beats louder by the day. Buddies are very emotional about our town, but who would not be? It is such a great place. Archie Gemmill from Glenburn, scorer of that goal in the 1978 world cup, was my dad’s apprentice at Balfour Kilpatrick. Paisley has great venues. The Thomas Coats Memorial church recently announced a multimillion pound re-imagination of the building for the 21st century. There are plans from Paisley Community Trust for a £40 million cinema-theatre space in the very heart of the town. Paisley abbey is the last resting place of Marjory Bruce, the mother of the Stuart dynasty in Scotland and daughter of one of our country’s greatest heroes, Robert the Bruce.

Jim Mitchell, a former Scottish National Party councillor, who sadly is no longer with us, would never have forgiven me if I too did not mention Paisley’s connection with the 1820 insurrection. Paisley is a place where the cottage weavers of the 19th century became radical in their political ideals. Of course, the Paisley weavers were to the forefront of the insurrection of 1820, although to say that is inaccurate, as the people of Paisley decided that the insurrection was happening in 1819. A mass rally was organised in Paisley on Saturday 11 September, and radicals came from all over the west of Scotland. A crowd of 18,000 gathered at a meeting place outside the town, as a band from Neilston played “Scots Wha Hae”.

There were many speakers that day, and as the crowd dispersed some decided that they were going to march down the High Street. By 10 pm, the riot act had been read and the cavalry were charging down the streets of Paisley, pursuing peaceful protesters, but this was Paisley: the crowds were not deterred and pitched battles occurred for several days. It was not until a week later, on 18 September, that an uneasy quiet returned to the town. One year later, they would all be part of the Scottish insurrection of 1820 and would march under the banner “Scotland free or a desert”.

Paisley is not just a town of political radicals. We have given the world so much culturally as well. Ferguslie Park is where my own family comes from. If someone types “Ferguslie” into an internet search engine, they will find statistics on deprivation, but deprivation has never defined Ferguslie. It is a part of the town that has given us singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty and playwright-artist John Byrne. Mr Byrne recently told The Herald:

“Paisley is a remarkable place. I hope to be involved and I support the bid. I support it wholeheartedly. I thank Ferguslie Park every day of my life for providing me all the information I ever needed about life, it was the best place I have ever been.”

Those are words that we should all take to heart in this debate.

Paisley is also a town that helped to reclaim the stone of destiny on Christmas day 1950, in the guise of Ian Hamilton, another Paisley buddie. At a time when the SNP vote barely registered, Mr Hamilton and his friends decided to take matters into their own hands and reclaim their national identity. It appears that anything of any value that has happened in Scotland has a Paisley connection.

Robert Tannahill was a poet and one of the founding members of Paisley’s Burns club, which is the oldest constituted Burns club in the world. He was a weaver-poet whose life was less than happy. The love of his life married his best friend, his father died at a young age and he had to support the family. A small collection of his poems and songs sold out in 1807, but by 1810, after the rejection of his work for publication, he burned all his manuscripts and drowned himself in Paisley canal. Unfortunately for Robert Tannahill, he was not aware that his work would be celebrated in his home town in the 21st century.

Our bid is about telling the world the fantastic story of our town, its history and its achievements; most important, it is about the story of its people, the Paisley buddies. For me, it is my town, my home and my place in the world. It is the place where my family have been since 1759. It is the home of my beloved football team, St Mirren Football Club. Some people have said to me that, if the bid is successful, being the city of culture will put Paisley back on the map. I say that that is wrong. How can it be put back on the map when my home is already the centre of the universe?

In 1990, during Glasgow’s year as European city of culture, one of the highlights was a concert by Francis Albert Sinatra at Ibrox. The 74-year-old began the show with “You Make Me Feel So Young”. As the rain poured, he continued with “Come Rain or Come Shine”—and they say that Americans do not get irony. I want those kinds of memories for both our cities. To paraphrase Mr Sinatra, Paisley is and always will be “My Kind of Town”.

15:59  

Gosh, Maurice Corry—follow that. In the footsteps of George Adam, I say well done.

I was extremely pleased that Dundee was to go ahead with the events that were planned for its city of culture bid, despite narrowly missing out on that bid a few years ago. That decision emulates the great spirit of the city of Dundee, and those events will bring fantastic economic and social benefits to the city.

My connection with Dundee goes back quite a long way and is twofold. I served with the Black Watch, which is the city’s highland regiment, based at Oliver barracks, and I currently serve with the Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association in Perth Road. I was therefore elated to see that the city will run for the European capital of culture in 2023. We should all be proud of the aims of Dundee’s bid, which are to connect people, to inspire young people to reach their possibilities, to encourage everyone to live better and to celebrate the city’s green space. A successful bid would bring huge benefits to the city and those who live there, as well as to the wider country. I wish the city of Dundee every success.

I offer my congratulations to Paisley, which is dear to my heart, on its nomination for the title of UK city of culture 2021. I am truly delighted that Paisley has been recognised in such a way. It is a testament to the beauty of our cities, the activities and events that go on in them and our nation’s rich cultural heritage that so many cities have been shortlisted for UK city of culture in recent years. That goes to show the truly wonderful country in which we live.

Paisley is in my West Scotland region, so I would love its bid to be successful. I am glad that the Scottish Government gave the bid financial backing, and for that I thank the cabinet secretary. Such backing recognises the contribution that Paisley makes to Scotland’s culture and, as a whole, demonstrates that the Government supports and seeks to deliver Paisley’s bid. Sadly, there has never been a Scottish winner of the UK city of culture. It would make me immensely proud, as a representative of the region, were Paisley to be the first.

It is important to note that Paisley winning that title would bring immeasurable benefits to the town. It would create 5,000 jobs over a decade and bolster the local economy by £172 million, which we know would provide a lasting legacy for the Renfrewshire area.

That is not to mention all the events that are planned for the area should the bid be successful. It is predicted that the events would be attended by up to 1.7 million people. That hugely increased footfall should enable plans to go into motion for a brand new town centre, which would show off Paisley’s culture and heritage and put tourism at its heart. In turn, all of that would only increase people’s knowledge of Paisley’s international story and wonderful heritage, which would give new life to its image in Scotland and further afield.

I was fortunate to be employed as a general apprentice for J & P Coats Ltd—that fine textile company—when I left school, and I am fully aware of Paisley’s international legacy. I worked in the Ferguslie mills, the Ferguslie dye works and the Anchor mills. I experienced the buzz of spinning threads in Paisley. We know, with new technology now in our grasp, that that buzz could easily return, as it has reached Lancashire already. Coats was the first UK company to have an employee pension scheme and its own employee hospital. The hospital, which was situated on the Gleniffer braes, specialised in curing tuberculosis patients; the idea was that the fresh air up there would cure TB, despite the weather. The legacy of J & P Coats is all around Paisley, in such buildings—as George Adam mentioned—as the Coats memorial church, which is undergoing a fantastic renovation.

If Paisley won the title, it would be a great moment for the history of the town and its people. What is more, the award would benefit those who are most vulnerable in our society, as well as those whose voices often go unheard—older people who are now more isolated, those on lower incomes and young people are all set to benefit from it. The wide-ranging events would bring people from the community together to enjoy music, arts, performance, dance and, of course, friendship. There would be inclusion for all.

I especially thank George Adam, Neil Bibby and the Renfrewshire Council team for their great efforts on the bid. Above all, George Adam’s abundant enthusiasm for Paisley is completely legend.

Paisley is a fantastic place to live and work in. Its warm people and rich and interesting cultural heritage deserve to be honoured in this way. I truly hope that Paisley becomes the UK city of culture in 2021. I wish it all the best for the future, and I look forward to attending many of the planned events when the time comes. Indeed, I am very proud to be an honorary Paisley buddie.

16:04  

I will at least attempt to make as strong a case for the city of discovery as George Adam made for Paisley.

First, I offer a degree of context for my support for Dundee’s bid to become the European capital of culture in 2023. I first visited Dundee in December 1979. That sticks in my memory because I had to overcome a national bus strike so that I could see my favourite band, the Jam, perform at the Caird hall. As a 17-year-old, my impression was of a grey and rather grim place.

Let us fast forward to 1985, when I moved to Dundee to live and work in the city. The six years that followed were a mixed experience. I had come from affluent and bustling Aberdeen to a place that lacked the vibrancy and positivity of the granite city.

I would never have imagined then that, in 2017, Dundee would be bidding to become a European capital of culture. However, well it might do so, because the transformation of Dundee since my first visit and my time living in the city has in many regards been utterly astonishing. My constituency, Angus South, borders what is now a vibrant and confident city that is on the up and is looking to the future.

As the debate demands, let us consider Dundee’s cultural offering, starting with Dundee Repertory theatre. I should begin with a proud-dad declaration: my actress daughter was a graduate trainee at Dundee Rep. The Rep is unique in Scotland in having a permanent acting ensemble; it is also home to the Scottish dance theatre. The ensemble remains a crucible of talent in which the artists of tomorrow are created, through its graduate scheme, which offers drama school graduates the opportunity to join the Rep for up to a year.

The Rep believes that the highest-quality theatre should be available to all, which is important. It has taken some of its productions out beyond its own four walls and into the community, across the city and elsewhere—it has reached places such as Eassie and Carnoustie in my constituency. Earlier this year, the Rep won three prizes—best production, best ensemble and best male performance—at the critics’ awards for theatre in Scotland for its production of “Death of a Salesman”.

As members know, a huge amount of regeneration is taking place in Dundee, with activity centred on the waterfront and the V&A as the centrepiece. That is an example of an area realising the need to think long term. The Dundee central waterfront masterplan was published back in 2001 and looked forward right through to 2031.

The V&A will provide Scotland with an international design museum. It is due to open next year, and it is taking shape in a variety of ways. The galleries will host international touring exhibitions from the V&A, which will make Dundee the only location in the UK outside London with such globally significant offerings. Visitor forecasts suggest that up to 350,000 people could be attracted to the V&A every year. That is brilliant news for not just Dundee but Angus and the wider region.

It is great that, long before it is due to open, the V&A has been engaging with schools. The first project was a schools design challenge, which was open to all secondary 1 pupils in Dundee and Angus. Arbroath academy and Webster’s high school, in my constituency, were two of the 10 schools that were chosen to attend the design jam.

A few yards away from the V&A we have Slessor Gardens. Thousands of people have already congregated there to watch acts such as Little Mix and Olly Murs—they are hardly a patch on bands such as the Jam, I suggest, which graced the nearby Caird hall, but they are nonetheless extremely popular. The cabinet secretary should not worry; I am not looking for her to concur with my opinion—I do not know whether she is a fellow Jam fan. Dundee’s reputation for popular music was enhanced in August when Mark Ronson was among the headline acts at the new Carnival 56 festival.

Alongside all that, Dundee has excellent educational institutions, which each boast great cultural links. I think that I heard on the radio the other day that 60 nationalities are represented on the staff of the University of Dundee, which encompasses the excellent Duncan of Jordanstone college of art and design. That college has been ranked in the top 1 per cent in the world for art and design. Turner prize winner Susan Philipsz and nominees David Mach, Louise Wilson and Luke Fowler all studied at Duncan of Jordanstone.

Culture takes many forms, and not just the traditional ones. We need to remember Dundee’s thriving computer games sector, at the heart of which is Abertay University, which this year celebrates 20 years since it became the first university in the world to offer degrees in computer games. In March, the prestigious Princeton Review ranked Abertay best in Europe for its undergraduate courses and in the top 20 in the world for its postgraduate courses. The university has become a melting pot for international games talent. Students access links to the likes of Sony, Disney and Ubisoft while learning from a host of seasoned academic staff. The Dare ProtoPlay games festival and THIS festival act as excellent focal points for celebrating the industry in Dundee.

I should also mention Dundee and Angus College, which is ably led by its principal, Grant Ritchie, who has identified the welcoming of students and staff from across the EU as well as the regular exchanges that take place between the college and other European institutions as helping to develop a modern and inclusive view of the world in that establishment.

Why is an Angus MSP prepared to wax lyrical about the nearby city? All of us are benefiting and will continue to benefit from the transformation of Dundee. I hope and believe that, with the proper marketing, the securing of the city of culture title and the general increase in tourism that is expected in Dundee because of the V&A and the waterfront project, my constituency will reap further spin-offs.

Whether people come for cultural events such as Bonfest or those that are put on by Hospitalfield house in Arbroath, for excellent historical attractions such as Glamis castle and Arbroath abbey or for the glorious beaches, glens and golf courses, Angus South has much to offer visitors and we must capitalise on the opportunity. The cross-local authority work that is being done as part of the Tay cities deal exemplifies what is achievable throughout the region by working together.

I will conclude with the words of the leader of Dundee City Council, Councillor John Alexander, who said:

“Dundee is putting itself on the map with its ambitious and bold cultural strategy. However, our work is not just about putting the city on the map, but in making sure that all maps lead to Dundee. This city is and has been going through a cultural renaissance over the last few years and our journey towards 2023 is a hugely exciting opportunity. ... Be bold, be ambitious, be Dundee.”

16:11  

I congratulate Paisley on making the shortlist for the UK city of culture. The fact that it has progressed this far is testament to the strength of the bid, and I know that Paisley has got what it takes to win the title. I commend the bid team for all their hard work to date and wish them every success in the months to come.

I also commend Dundee’s bid to be the European capital of culture. In particular, I recognise its appeal for the public to come forward with ideas and to be part of developing the city’s proposal. However, I hope that the chamber will understand that, as a West Scotland MSP and a Renfrewshire resident, my remarks this afternoon will focus on Paisley.

Paisley has some genuinely interesting stories to tell—stories that add to the bid. They are stories of its people, its women, its quirks and its unique history. There is a cairn at the junction of Renfrew Road and Dundonald Road, not far from where I live, that marks the spot where, in 1316, Marjory Bruce fell from her horse in a tragic accident. As members across the chamber will know, Marjory was the eldest daughter of Robert the Bruce, and she was, as the story goes, heavily pregnant when she fell. People from round about tried to save her but could not. Marjory Bruce died aged just 19 and was buried at Paisley abbey. Her son, however, was saved and would go on to become Robert II, the first king of the Stewart dynasty. Behind that cairn that people pass every day, on one of the busiest roads in Paisley, is a story that is tragic but, nonetheless, important in the textured history of Paisley and the rich history of Scotland. It is a story that surely adds something to Paisley’s claim to the city of culture title.

Recent events have brought a very different story from Paisley’s past back into the news. I refer to the gruesome story of the Bargarran witches, who were hanged and burned at the Gallow green in the west end of Paisley in 1697, only five years after the start of the infamous Salem witch trials in Massachusetts. It could even be said that Paisley was Scotland’s Salem. One of the so-called Bargarran witches was Agnes Naismith. Before she died, she cursed everyone present at the trial and all their descendents. In the years that followed, it seemed that every tragedy and misfortune to befall the people of Paisley was attributed to Agnes Naismith and the witch’s curse.

The ashes of those who died on that day were interred at the nearby Maxwellton cross, where there is a memorial to this day. Part of the memorial is a famous horseshoe, which is said to keep the town safe from misfortune and the witch’s curse. I am sorry to inform the chamber that the horseshoe has been dislodged and absolutely nothing is protecting Paisley from the curse. As the Paisley Daily Express said earlier this month, “We’re all doomed.” Two community stalwarts and Paisley legends, Piero Pieraccini and Tony Lawler, and the Paisley Development Trust are racing to restore the memorial and reinstall the famous horseshoe. I know that the chamber will wish them well in their endeavour to keep the town safe while safeguarding Paisley’s heritage.

If the city of culture competition is about using heritage to shape the renewal of a community, the story of Paisley’s weavers and its textiles must be heard. Paisley was a market town before the rise of the textile industry and was transformed by the industrial revolution. As the bid team has said:

“Paisley made textiles and textiles made Paisley.”

As we know, the Paisley pattern is world renowned. The textile industry provided employment not just for men but for women who came from the Highlands and rural communities seeking job opportunities in Paisley. During that period, we saw the rise of what we might recognise today as trade unionism, as men and women got organised and demanded better rights for those working in the mills.

The Dooslan stane, once used as a soapbox for the Weavers Union, now stands in Brodie park and is used as a meeting point for the annual sma shot parade. It is another local monument, with another story behind it, which is every bit as much part of the town as the mills are part of it. It is not just a monument, but a cultural asset.

The Paisley bid is all about using cultural and heritage assets to drive forward regeneration and transform the town. As I have tried to demonstrate, Paisley has no shortage of such assets, which is why its bid is so strong. I hope—I expect—that the bid will be supported across the chamber; I hope that the bid is successful; and I hope that the stories of Paisley, its layers of history and the people who made the place are told for a long time to come.

16:17  

Today, we are debating the fine cultural achievements of Paisley and Dundee—and quite right, too. First, I want to reference another great city, Glasgow, the European city of culture in 1990, which, in many ways, led the way in showing Scotland how culture can transform a city and change its identity not only through national and international branding, but through self-perception and self-confidence.

It is worth reflecting that when Glasgow began its transformative journey in the 1980s, the proposal that culture could help to replace jobs lost through deindustrialisation was controversial. Indeed, in some quarters, it was considered to be eccentric and even dangerous. In 1990, when Glasgow was the European city of culture, there were fearsome debates about whether the year-long festival was a waste of time and money.

Glasgow pressed ahead because it had firm economic underpinnings for its bid. It enlisted the help of John Myerscough, an academic who led the way in measuring the economic impact of cultural spend. His 1988 report “The Economic Importance of the Arts in Glasgow” influenced generations of cultural economists and policymakers around the world. Myerscough, 30 years, one concert hall and thousands of festivals later, has been vindicated. In 2011, a follow-up report found that the market for culture in Glasgow had increased by 45 per cent between 1989 and 2008-09 and was 20 per cent higher than it had been at its peak in 1990. Those figures did not include clubbing, cinema and libraries.

Glasgow 1990 led directly to the two bids that we are debating today. Cities do not become a city of culture through a big-bang approach, although most festival goers enjoy the fireworks at some point. It is the investment in creativity over time that counts, and both Paisley and Dundee have excellent track records in that respect.

Paisley’s rich heritage in textiles, radical literature and music makes it more than a worthy contender for the title of the UK city of culture. Others have mentioned the deindustrialisation of Paisley, but the link between Paisley’s long-gone industry and culture is very tangible. Without the mill workers who were praised by Karl Marx, we would not have had the poet weavers such as Tannahill or the slab boys who worked in the carpet factories, who were the subject of the play by John Byrne that we all know and love; and—dare I say it—would we have had the great Prince without the Paisley pattern? Paisley has given so much to the world that it absolutely deserves to be a front-runner in the bidding process for UK city of culture.

Dundee has the new V&A museum of design, which complements long-established centres of creative excellence such as Dundee Contemporary Arts and the Dundee Rep Theatre. Mention has also been made of the art school, and Calum Colvin’s excellent Jacobite exhibition down in the foyer of the Parliament is a great example, close to home, of the work that it does. I encourage all members to have a look at it.

Independent analysis has suggested that if Dundee wins the title of European capital of culture, it will generate £128 million for the Dundee economy and create 1,600 new jobs. It is estimated that Paisley winning the title of UK city of culture would boost the economy by £172 million and create 4,700 new jobs, directly or indirectly. I am not quite sure why the figures for Paisley are so much more optimistic than those for the larger city of Dundee—perhaps George Adam got his hands on them first.

I think that one set of figures looks at the legacy from a 10-year perspective, while the other takes a shorter-term view. Both sets of figures show the importance of successful bids for the economy and the generation of jobs, but they use different timeframes.

I thank the minister for that clarification and for confirming that there is no massaging of the figures going on. Whatever the figures are, it is well established that creativity creates jobs.

In 2012, Creative Scotland and Scottish Enterprise commissioned a report on the economic contribution of the arts and the creative industries to Scotland as a whole. It found that the direct and indirect impacts of the arts and the creative industries amounted to 130,000 jobs, £6.3 billion in gross value added and £12.4 billion in turnover.

The argument that Myerscough made all those years ago that culture creates jobs is now uncontroversial and taken as read, but we also know that creativity can do so much more than simply boost GVA. Increasingly, we are understanding that participation in cultural activity can improve health and wellbeing. It is very important for older people in tackling social isolation and it can improve confidence in young people. It can also improve educational attainment, not just in subjects that are linked to the arts but right across the curriculum. For example, it is well known that there is a close link between attainment in music and attainment in mathematics.

Cultural practitioners are no longer confined to marginalised roles. In places such as Dundee and Edinburgh, and even in the tiny village of Moniaive in Dumfriesshire, which I represent, we see artists working alongside planners and economists to repopulate empty streets and regenerate town and village centres.

I realise that I am short of time, so I will conclude by wishing Paisley and Dundee all the very best. Along with all their other merits, the bids remind us of culture’s importance in building bridges to the rest of the world and making us more outward looking, more generous and more tolerant. For that reason, I am happy to support the motion.

16:23  

I thank Fiona Hyslop for bringing the debate to the chamber. It gives us an opportunity to show our support for two remarkable areas of Scotland and our appreciation for all that they contribute to our cultural fabric. Like my fellow Scottish Conservatives, I give my full backing to the Paisley 2021 bid, and I wish the team behind it and the people of Paisley every success.

Today, though, I would like to focus on Dundee’s bid to become European capital of culture 2023. I know Dundee and I have the great good fortune to be able to represent that wonderful city as a regional MSP for North East Scotland. That is a good starting point, because it is important that we recognise the challenges that the North East Scotland region has faced over the past few years, and Dundee is no exception to that. The city has recently had to contend with both the wider regional downturn and several high-profile job losses.

All that is against the backdrop of the decline of traditional industries across much of the country over past decades. Changing times have seen industries and jobs of the past disappear and, like many other places, Dundee has found itself in need of a new direction. That is why the Dundee bid is so important. Dundee is not just aiming for the title of European capital of culture; it is aiming for a new future, and it is a city that has the ambition and drive to achieve that.

For evidence of that—and to see recognition of that future given by a global audience—we need only look to the fact that UNESCO named Dundee the first city of design in the UK. Within the city itself, the new V&A museum of design not only heralds the regeneration of the waterfront but is a symbol of the regeneration and transformation of the city as a whole.

We see Dundee’s ambition in the plans as laid out. Should its bid be successful, we will see a renaissance of culture, with a £40 million programme of up to 80 events, including six major arts festivals, being staged across the city. That ambition is backed up by the talent to deliver it, including Sir Jonathan Mills, a former director of the Edinburgh International Festival. No one should be in any doubt about Dundee’s determination to deliver.

The potential economic benefits of success are many. As has been mentioned, up to 1,600 full-time jobs could be created and as much as £128 million could be injected into the local economy. It is estimated that tourism will shoot up by as much as 50 per cent in the short term and by almost a fifth over the long term. The wider north-east could also benefit. Regional GDP is in line to receive a very welcome and much needed boost of up to 4.5 per cent.

All of that is important, welcome and achievable, but it is not the full story. Beyond the numbers, Dundee stands to gain something else—a new role in Scotland’s story.

The motion that we are debating today notes the importance of Dundee’s existing contribution to Scottish culture, and I whole-heartedly agree with that. Dundee has given us so much: from D C Thomson’s beloved comics and newspapers—not to confuse the titles within those descriptions; to the world’s first radio broadcast in 1832 by a James Bowman Lindsay—not someone I know to be a relative; to an important centre for the video games industry, as we have heard; to its world-class education and life sciences capability. Dundee has many famous sons and daughters, such as women’s rights advocate and missionary Mary Slessor; it can even count William Wallace among their ranks—he was educated in Dundee in the 1290s and apparently killed his first man there.

Dundee has a rich history, but being named European capital of culture would open the door to an equally rich future. Only two other British cities have ever been named European capital of culture—Glasgow and Liverpool. That underscores just how significant a win for Dundee would be. In fact, as has been mentioned, we need only look to Glasgow to see the impact that winning the title can have. Glasgow has gone from being a city founded on heavy industry to a renowned centre of culture, learning and the arts, and tourists, conferences and events flood into the city. Glasgow has made that transformational leap and continues to reap the rewards. Now it is Dundee’s turn.

In closing, I have a request for each of you: come to Dundee; come and see its galleries and museums; come and eat in its cafes and restaurants; and come and visit its concerts and gigs. Most of all, come and see why Dundee deserves to win. I am very happy to support the motion.

For a moment I thought you were offering to pay. I call Tom Arthur, the last speaker in the open debate.

16:29  

As someone who was born in Paisley, was brought up in nearby Barrhead and is one of Renfrewshire’s three constituency MSPs, I am delighted to have the opportunity today to join colleagues from across the chamber in supporting the Government’s motion wishing the best for Paisley in 2021 and Dundee in 2023.

My colleague George Adam is fond of saying, as he did earlier, that Paisley is “My Kind of Town”, and I do not think that anyone would disagree with him. However, I, too, can say that it is my kind of town. Alex Cole-Hamilton spoke earlier very eloquently of his relationship with Dundee when he was growing up, and I can relate to that, because when I was growing up in Barrhead, Paisley was the town of dazzling lights, compared to Barrhead; and Paisley was where we went Christmas shopping, while Glasgow was a dark and distant place where we would go only on very rare occasions.

Just like the communities in my constituency of Renfrewshire South, Paisley is a great place to live, work and invest in. It is a town that is rich in heritage, from the legacy of its mills, when Paisley literally had the world on a string, to its magnificent architecture, which can be enjoyed all year round, night and day, come rain or come shine.

Paisley has a proud past, but it also has a dynamic and exciting future. Like its MSP, although Paisley might look old on the outside, in reality it is young at heart. With an expanding array of great bars and restaurants, and a developing music scene, it is clear that for Paisley the best is yet to come.

Paisley also has a fantastic community spirit that is not only demonstrated in the way that the town has come together to back the bid, but is brilliantly exemplified by the football-fan ownership story of the St Mirren Independent Supporters Association. Although George Adam is not chairman of the board, I know that he has been heavily involved in the association. Dundee had the honour of being the first Scottish city to be shortlisted for UK city of culture, but I have high hopes that Paisley will be successful for Scotland the second time round. I also believe that Dundee, after the disappointment of losing out previously for UK city of culture, can now become a European capital of culture.

I am not a Dundee native, but it is a great city with which I have a long-standing relationship. Ten years ago, when I had friends at the University of Dundee, I had many great nights out—what I can remember of them—in Dundee.

I also know how internationally renowned Dundee is becoming as a centre of creative and digital excellence. When I was in Japan four years ago, I was struck, when at the world-renowned Shibuya crossing in Tokyo, to see a huge billboard advertising something that came all the way from Dundee to the heart of Tokyo: “Grand Theft Auto V” from Rockstar North Games. It is an incredible story. Just as 1990 was a very good year for Glasgow as European capital of culture, so 2021 and 2023 can be great years for Paisley and Dundee.

I last spoke in Parliament on Paisley 2021 in December last year, when I said that becoming UK city of culture would be a boon not just for Paisley, but for the whole of Renfrewshire and, indeed, the west of Scotland. I reiterate that point today, because there is the potential to create the equivalent of 4,700 jobs, which would bring new employment opportunities to many people, including my constituents in Renfrewshire South. The predicted boost to the local economy of £172 million could be shared by organisations in Renfrewshire South such as the community-run Bank cafe in Neilston, the superb Papamacs Gourmet kitchen in Johnstone or the award-winning Uplawmoor hotel, not to mention the range of restaurants and bars at the Phoenix retail park in Linwood. Those who wish to explore beyond Paisley could enjoy the great attractions, with as many as 1.7 million attendees, of the Dams to Darnley country park that borders Barrhead, the Weaver’s cottage in Kilbarchan or the gateway to Scotland’s largest regional park—Clyde Muirshiel—in Lochwinnoch.

Paisley’s success in being shortlisted is indicative of the growing confidence of not only that great town but of many of Scotland’s post-industrial communities. No longer in the west of Scotland do we say “It’s no for us” and put our dreams away. Although we now walk a little taller, we take nothing for granted. We are all aware of the hard work that has been put in to get Paisley to this stage. It has certainly not been nice and easy.

Now, though, we are on the final lap and I am delighted that the Scottish Government is going to be backing Paisley day in, day out and all the way. Although high-stakes prestigious awards like city of culture can feel like a zero-sum game—all or nothing at all—it is clear that Paisley and Renfrewshire have already benefited from the civic reinvigoration that has been brought about by the bid process. As marvellous as that process has been to watch, for Paisley to win would be too marvellous for words. As we approach the announcement in December of UK city of culture 2021, let us start spreading the news across Scotland and beyond that it is Paisley that should win, and let us work together to make it happen.

Who was counting the Sinatra quotes? Lewis Macdonald will wind up for Labour and has seven minutes, and Maurice Golden will have eight minutes for his speech.

16:34  

Often in this place, we have to agree to differ—after all, that is the essence of parliamentary debate. Taking issue is an essential part of a modern democracy, and we Scots have excelled at it over many generations. Sometimes, however, we have to agree to agree, because there is no issue between us—as is clearly the case when it comes to supporting the bids that we have been discussing today. Bids for recognition as centres of cultural life are, by definition, competitive, and the race between Paisley and Perth to challenge for the title of UK city of culture in 2021 was no different. We have heard today all the qualities that make Paisley’s bid so strong, as it goes forward to the final stage with unanimous support from the Parliament and enthusiastic backing from across Scotland.

Likewise, the city of Dundee has attracted broad support for its bid to be European capital of culture in 2023, and it goes forward with a fair and, indeed, strong wind behind it. The award goes back over 30 years, to when Melina Mercouri in Greece and Jack Lang in France came up with the idea of recognising individual cities as cultural capitals—not of individual countries, but of Europe as a whole. Over that time, the title of capital of culture, like that of UK city of culture, has stimulated artistic creativity and economic growth in a series of cities, great and small. As Bill Bowman mentioned, Glasgow and Liverpool are the only previous British holders of the European title, and their years as European capital of culture were memorable and significant in the regeneration and reinvention of both those great cities, as Joan McAlpine and others have reminded us.

Dundee now has the chance to join that august company, and is clearly well placed to do so. The celebration of contemporary arts and repertory theatre, the V&A museum of design and the redevelopment of the waterfront all contribute already to the cultural life of the city and the country, and there is clearly more to come.

At the same time—as my colleague Jenny Marra reminded us in supporting the city’s bid to be UK city of culture four years ago—Dundee also has too many communities in which cultural life and access to health, jobs and hope for the future are still in too-short supply. The city is well placed to be creative, but it is also well placed to turn cultural opportunity into economic and social benefit and so to make the most of the title, if it is awarded to it, in 2023. That would build on the transformation over the past 30 years, which Graeme Dey highlighted.

The capital of culture is a European Union competition, but the competition for 2023 is to represent Britain in Europe, which is an interesting and momentous challenge. The successful candidate will be chosen by a panel of 12 judges, 10 of whom are from other European countries, but the cities or regions that are competing with Dundee for the title are all from elsewhere in the United Kingdom. That is because EU member states take it in turn to put forward candidates to be recognised as the capital of culture and, for the 2023 competition, that honour will fall on the United Kingdom and on Hungary. Therefore, as with the UK city of culture competition, Dundee has to win its bid in competition with other cities and centres from around these islands. The difference is that the judges come from across the EU.

The judging panel will shortlist bids in the next few weeks and make a final decision next year. Getting through the first stage will depend on the quality of the cities’ submissions, and eventual success will depend on which one is best able to work up its submission into a really convincing proposal. We have heard about the sheer range and variety of cultural strengths of Dundee—I think that we will hear more on that from the minister in a moment—which will help in the task, as will the crucial involvement of so many Dundonians in developing the bid, as Mary Fee mentioned.

As a member for North East Scotland, I often reflect, as Graeme Dey did, on the relationship between the two cities that I am fortunate enough to represent. Although they are in a single parliamentary region, Aberdeen and Dundee are regional centres in their own rights. Part of what makes a city region is the strength of cultural identity and how much there is in common, and is seen to be in common, between town and country and between a city and its region. People in Insch and Inverurie take pride in the name and reputation of Aberdeen, while Dundee attracts the same loyalty from people in Kirriemuir and beyond. As the cabinet secretary said, that regional solidarity is a critical strength of Dundee’s bid for 2023.

Of course, Aberdeen and Dundee compete mightily in all manner of fields, from academic research to sporting prowess, and both cities aspired to the title of UK city of culture in 2017. Just as Dundee has used that experience as a springboard to bid to be European capital of culture in 2023, so Aberdeen has taken the first steps towards a bid to be UK city of culture in 2025.

My friend and former colleague Frank Doran, who came from Dundee to represent Aberdeen at Westminster 30 years ago, has always described competition between our two great north-east cities as a source of creative tension. The on-going bids for cultural recognition prove that he is right about that. After all, creative tension is what the process is all about.

We are demonstrating to people across Scotland, Britain and Europe that Paisley and Dundee have so many strengths and attributes that the cities can carry forward to the international stage. Those attributes add to the excellence that they have to offer and make the bids—which represent us all—so strong. Paisley and Dundee are standard bearers for all of Scotland in the competitions, and they have the full support of members around the chamber, as we have heard today, and of all concerned.

We look forward to many more opportunities for Scotland’s great cities and towns to fly the flag as UK cities of culture and European capitals of culture in the years ahead.

16:41  

I thank Fiona Hyslop for her motion. My Scottish Conservative colleagues and I are grateful for the opportunity to show our party’s support for Paisley and Dundee. It is important that MSPs show that support, because the bids are about more than just securing titles: they are a sign to the world that Scotland is ambitious and is determined to succeed in the 21st century.

Some members are fortunate to have a connection to either Paisley or Dundee; I am fortunate to have a strong connection to both. I was educated in Dundee, as was William Wallace, which my colleague Bill Bowman noted. In fact, I went to the same school as Wallace, albeit a mere 700 years after him. Our similarity ends there, although “Braveheart” is one of my favourite films.

Today, we have heard support from across the chamber for Paisley and Dundee. In her opening remarks, Fiona Hyslop outlined a tale of two cities, describing the bids as “committed, bold and ambitious”. My colleagues and other members have made eloquent cases for Dundee to be named European capital of culture. In a thoughtful and interesting speech, Alex Cole-Hamilton described Dundee as a “metropolis” where he went to shop and experience nightlife in the form of the sticky carpets of the Mardi Gras nightclub. I may have bumped into him there—but the less said about that, the better.

Graeme Dey’s first visit to Dundee took place in the year before I was born. He certainly showed his age, there. He spoke about the positive transformation of the city and urged us all to

“Be bold, be ambitious, be Dundee.”

Suffice it to say that the world would be poorer without Dundee’s cultural contributions, and there is a lot more to come. Dundee deserves to win, and I am more than happy to offer it any support that I can.

As an MSP for the West Scotland region, it is a great honour to be able to represent Paisley. When previously I spoke in the chamber about the Paisley 2021 bid, I said:

“Paisley deserves it ... Paisley needs it; and ... Scotland stands to benefit from it.”—[Official Report, 7 December 2016; c 78.]

I am more convinced of that now than ever. Take a stroll through Paisley’s streets and one will find architecture that would be at home in any European capital. Paisley is the home of the world-renowned Paisley pattern textile design—which I am sporting today on my tie, as members can see—and is the location of the formulation of the duty of care, which my colleague Liam Kerr mentioned. The legal joke did not go down so well in the chamber, but the point that Paisley has much to be proud of resonated. Neil Bibby spoke about his pride about having been born in and living in Paisley, as well as the economic benefits of the bid.

Ross Greer spoke about the radical movement and communism as well as rich cultural heritage. I was not sure whether the two were linked.

George Adam, who could hardly contain himself in his seat, looked forward to an “afternoon of positive Paisleyness”. He has had that. He acknowledged the challenges, but also the cultural heritage of the town, and he claimed that Paisley is

“the centre of the universe”.

Maurice Corry highlighted his links to Dundee and Paisley from serving in the Army in Dundee and his experience in the textile industry in Paisley.

Tom Arthur spoke about the benefits to the wider Renfrewshire area and urged us all to “start spreading the news”.

Paisley’s own Paolo Nutini has spoken of seeing

“the romance of the town”

and the real beauty of it. I could not agree with him more.

Dundee can be proud of its musical heritage, too. It was the launch pad for groups including the Average White Band and Snow Patrol, and is the home town of Ricky Ross and folk singers including the bard of Dundee, Michael Marra. I am sure that Jenny Marra would have mentioned her uncle, had she been able to be in the chamber today.

Given Maurice Golden’s earlier comments about Mr Dey, does he actually remember the Average White Band?

When I was doing my standard grade music short course, that was the answer to one of the questions. I was taught about the Average White Band, but did not live the experience. I would be happy to listen to the Average White Band with Clare Adamson, if that was an invitation. That would be nice.

“A City Beautiful”, which is Simon Kempston’s ode to Dundee, is also well worth a listen. It gives a bit of history of the city and previous issues with it.

While Paisley has Gerard Butler, Dundee has Brian Taylor. Brian Taylor and I share at least three things in common: we both attended Dundee high school, we are Dundee United fans, and we spent much of our formative years on the 12th floor of the Gowriehill multi in the Menzieshill area of Dundee. I can expand on that at a later date.

Paisley has a lot going for it but, like Dundee, it faces challenges. Sadly, it suffers from appalling rates of poverty; for example, a third of the town’s children live in severe deprivation. Winning the title might not seem to be a solution to those problems, but it can help to drive economic benefits. Joan McAlpine made the point that culture creates jobs. I agree with that.

Dundee has much to offer, as does Paisley, and success with the bids should benefit everyone, especially the most vulnerable people. I am delighted to see that the organisers of both committees recognise that and are committed to ensuring that no one is left out.

I believe that the long-term community-minded approach is serving to raise support for both bids. That is a welcome reminder that there is more that unites us than divides us. On that note, I welcome the £10 million funding that the Scottish Government has committed to the Paisley bid. I know that any information on further funding would be appreciated locally.

The next decade has the potential to begin with two of Scotland’s most vibrant centres leading the UK and Europe in culture and the arts. I am pleased to offer my support to the motion.

16:49  

I thank business managers across the chamber for agreeing not only that we should schedule this business but that we should have a motion to which we could all agree supporting these two very important bids. That is important, and both bid teams will be grateful for the contributions from across the chamber.

The debate has been very good. I think that Alex Cole-Hamilton said earlier that it shows the Parliament at its best when we come together in the way we have today. It is clear that there is a shared appreciation and passion for the bids of Paisley and Dundee, and the ambitions that they represent. It is great to hear the consensus around the chamber for the range of cultural, economic and social benefits that the bids will bring not just to Paisley, Dundee and their surrounding areas, but to individuals, communities and organisations across Scotland, the UK and Europe. I thank members for the quality and depth of today’s debate. For anyone who did not manage to sit through all today’s debate, the passion and enthusiasm were such that it is worth going back and having a look. I am not just talking about George Adam’s passion for Dundee.

I did not actually have to pay George Adam to agree to mention Dundee in his speech. We had a discussion and I promised that I would mention Paisley in my speech. The important thing is that the bids are not competing; they are complementary and the two bid teams are looking to learn from each other. Dundee has some experience from its bid to be UK city of culture in 2017. It was narrowly pipped at the post, unfortunately, but it learned a lot of lessons from the bid that it has been sharing that with Paisley.

Liam Kerr talked a bit about the connection between culture and history and about their importance to tourism. However, I say to him that—and I will be as gentle as I can—when we are talking about football, perhaps some history is best forgotten.

Neil Bibby talked about his pride in the work that has been done in bringing the Paisley bid together. The tributes that he paid to the bid team were well made, and the Dundee bid team has also put in a huge amount of work. Paisley is further down the line and the effort that has been put in there is immense. I know that the bid teams in Paisley and Dundee will be grateful to hear that recognised in the Scottish Parliament.

Ross Greer somehow managed to weave in Karl Marx and radical politics to highlight the rich tapestry of Paisley’s culture and he also mentioned the important of winning the bid and the process of making the bid. In Dundee, we did not just learn a lot about the process of applying to be the UK city of culture 2017, we gained a lot as we went on that journey. I am sure that that will also be the case for Paisley, although, as Neil Bibby said, Paisley is in it to win it.

Alex Cole-Hamilton talked about crossing the Tay in his youth. He might have noticed in his recent journeys that the lemons are back. They were certainly an important part of any journey that I made from Dundee to Fife. The lemons represent, to some extent, the circle of how history and culture move forward and remind us just how far Dundee has come in its cultural revival. It is remarkable what has happened there. It was remarkable to hear from their speeches that Alex Cole-Hamilton and Maurice Golden were hitting the same clubs in Dundee. They were not the clubs that I attended—I did not attend any sticky-carpet clubs with them.

As expected, George Adam waxed lyrical about Paisley but he also talked about how similar Paisley and Dundee are. It has been said by a few members that Paisley is not an official city but it is about the size of most cities. Although Dundee has always been recognised to be a city, Paisley and Dundee are two of Scotland’s biggest villages, in that everybody kens everybody. That is one of the biggest benefits of these two places. The connections that that allows are important for taking forward the bids. Paisley’s bid is strengthened by the fact that people can work across the community and across party-political lines. Neil Bibby made the point that the bid was originally started by a Labour council administration with the support of an SNP opposition and is now being carried forward by an SNP council administration with the support of a Labour opposition.

We have seen something similar in Dundee as well: every time we have talked about Dundee’s culture, we have had support from right across the political spectrum. That goes right back to the development of the waterfront plan, which Graeme Dey mentioned. In 2001, when I was a councillor in opposition in Dundee, everyone in the council came together to draw up that fantastic waterfront plan with the aim of taking Dundee forward. It is because we were able to set aside the party politics that, through all the changes in the administration—starting with a Labour administration, moving to a Labour-Conservative alliance and then moving to an SNP administration—we have all been able to ensure that we are doing the best for Dundee.

Will the member take an intervention?

Of course.

I thank the minister for taking this intervention, which allows me to have a word in the debate. Does the minister agree that the city of Dundee, the town of Paisley and all the neighbouring communities will benefit from the bids and, we hope, the victory of those bids, and that, for that matter, Scotland as a whole will benefit if either or both bids are ultimately successful?

The cabinet secretary makes a strong point, which is one that was also made by Graeme Dey and Tom Arthur, who, like the cabinet secretary, represent constituencies that neighbour either Paisley or Dundee. The reach of culture involves much more than the direct input of cash and resources in the cities where that cultural activity is happening. I fully expect that the bids of Paisley and Dundee—both of which I hope will be successful—will have a benefit that will be felt beyond those places, out into the city regions and across the whole of Scotland, and will help to maintain connections across the UK and Europe.

In addition to the points that I have already mentioned, Maurice Corry mentioned his history with the Black Watch. Clearly, the Black Watch is very much a part of Dundee’s cultural past and its cultural future.

One of the points that Graeme Dey made when he gave away his age—I was not going to mention that but Maurice Golden already has—involved the transformation that has happened to Dundee over the years since the waterfront plan was first envisaged in 2001. Anyone who has not been to Dundee in the past two or three years really should go and see the difference that has been made. One of the biggest differences that people might not be able to see is the confidence that is felt in our city. The Dundee 2017 bid was very much part of the rejuvenation of our city and the development of that feeling of confidence. No longer did we just have to accept our lot. Through that bid, Dundee gained confidence in itself and felt that it had the right to—in the words of what is, effectively, our unofficial slogan—be bold, be ambitious and be Dundee.

Mary Fee reminded us of the importance of stories, from Robert Stewart to witches, weavers and this new chapter in Paisley’s story. They are very important.

At the start of her speech, Joan McAlpine talked about something that I thought was very important. Anyone who asks why we should spend money on culture and says that we should instead be spending money on this, that or the next thing just needs to look back at what winning the title of European city of culture did for Glasgow in 1990. It was transformative for that city, and gave it a boost to his confidence. Joan McAlpine was right to say that it is difficult to envisage all the things that happened thereafter happening if whoever it was in the council at that time had not had the courage to say that launching that bid had to be the priority for the city.

Bill Bowman outlined the Dundee bid programme but, crucially, he also talked about the economic potential of the whole programme—the bid process and, as we hope will happen, the winning of the bid. I will echo his closing words—come to Dundee.

Presiding Officer, my time is coming to an end, so I will go right to the end of my speech. I finish by thanking all members who contributed. I am sure that the motion will be passed unanimously at decision time, which will be an endorsement of the bids by both Dundee and Paisley for which I am sure the bid teams will be very grateful.