Jackie Dunbar
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“I do not believe for one second that Reform UK cares about people like me; it cares about division and power, and crypto donations from dodgy billionaires. Reform UK does not represent me—it disgusts me. I am under no illusion that folk are frustrated at so much of what is happening, and not happening, in the world today.”
“Some folk who have never struggled before are now struggling, and some folk who have struggled their whole lives now doubt that things will ever get better for them. They are seeing the consequences of austerity, of a lack of investment in jobs and of a lack of spending in their local communities.”
“Anyway, I appreciate that the low-emission zones policy might inconvenience Baron Offord of Garvel, depending on which of his five cars he is driving at the time, but it will add years to the life expectancies of thousands of Scots.”
“At this point, I will take an intervention from any Reform MSP who wants to tell us whether they think that their party is too racist or not racist enough. George Adam: Oh—nothing! Jackie Dunbar: Perhaps I will use some different quotes: “I told you time and time again, I’m protecting the country”. “Enough is enough. I have had enough”.”
“The same folk who were leading the fight against “benefit scroungers” a decade ago when they were in the Conservative Party are now in Reform UK saying that we should “look after our own”. Maybe I am just not seeing what Reform MSPs are believing.”
“I wonder whether the MSPs who have been joining “street patrols” or the ones calling people “strangers” might see some similarities, too. I am not expecting them to stand up and hold their hands up, but those who are capable of quiet reflection may wish to try it.”
The complete record
Every one of 437 lines we hold for Jackie Dunbar, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 7 of 9.
“Scotland has the highest school spending per pupil across these islands. The SNP has invested in Scotland’s future. We are ensuring that young folk in Scotland receive a top-quality education and that they can get the best possible start in life. Long may that continue. 15:23”
“That is on top of support through pupil equity funding and tuition being kept free in Scotland, with no up-front tuition fees and no backdoor tuition fees. What does that funding, and the funding from years gone by, mean in practice? It means that the number of schoolteachers in post in Scotland has increased by 6 per cent since 2014. The poverty- related gap for young folk leaving school and going on to a positive destination has reduced by 60 per cent since 2009. The number of Scots from the most deprived backgrounds entering university on full-time first degree courses is now up by 37 per cent. Around 400,000 apprenticeship opportunities have been provided to young folk across Scotland since 2008. Scotland’s teachers continue to be the best paid in the UK and Scotland has the lowest pupil-to-teacher ratio in these islands.”
“Councils are getting £186.5 million this year to support the recruitment and retention of teachers. There is £29 million of investment from the Scottish Government for additional support needs, which will include support for the recruitment and retention of the ASN workforce. There is more than £100 million to support modern and foundation apprenticeships. The Scottish Government’s teaching bursary scheme provides bursaries of £20,000 for career changers who wish to undertake a one-year professional graduate diploma in education in hard-to-fill STEM subjects, and the preference waiver scheme lets probationer teachers receive up to £8,000 on top of their probationary salary. That could see teachers receiving a salary of more than £40,000 for their first year in teaching.”
“It is from that same pool of graduates that we need to encourage folk to move into teaching. There is a big risk that that becomes a spiral: if fewer STEM teachers means fewer people studying those subjects at school, fewer folk will study them at university and there will be fewer graduates to recruit teachers from. The biggest risk to education is the immigration policies that are campaigned for by Nigel Farage and delivered by Keir Starmer. However, I am keen to focus my speech on solutions, investment and positivity. In this financial year, our SNP Government is investing more than £4.3 billion in Scotland’s education system. I give Willie Rennie and his Lib Dem colleagues their due: unlike some members, they voted for the budget that delivered that funding.”
“I want every child in Scotland to get the best possible start in life, and education is an affa big part of that best start. We have great schools and we have excellent teachers. We have a very good education system and we are committed to making it even better. However, our education system faces challenges. The first of those is mentioned in the motion. We cannot commend our teachers enough for the work that they do day in, day out, but, as we have heard, we have shortages of teachers in key subjects, especially in the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths. I know from my constituency, in which the energy sector is a major employer, that you can never have too many folk going into those areas and that STEM graduates are highly sought after.”
“Does the cabinet secretary agree that there is also a role for other partners in workforce planning— universities, for example—to ensure that we have the right allocation of teachers across the board? Jenny Gilruth: I agree with the sentiments that the member has expressed. Our universities are directly involved in national workforce planning at the current time. I will briefly touch on the teacher induction scheme—”
“Where condition-specific work is appropriate, that, too, will be informed by evidence, including that from the consultation, which is currently live.”
“Some 38 per cent of Scotland’s population have a long-term health condition. How is the Scottish Government working to ensure that the outcomes of the long-term conditions framework consultation will build a framework that cuts across all conditions but recognises when it is important to be more condition specific? Jenni Minto: As I said earlier, the new long- term conditions framework will focus on ensuring equitable and sustainable access to the services that all people with long-term conditions need, while still allowing for targeted action on condition- specific care and support where appropriate. Responses to the current framework consultation will be carefully analysed, alongside other available evidence, to establish opportunities for actions that benefit all people with long-term conditions.”
“Furthermore, NatureScot has agreed to allow practitioners to fulfil the legislation’s training requirements by completing only the online part of the muirburn training course this season, to provide more time for the practical elements to be completed. NatureScot will remain on hand to assist applicants for muirburn licences. As I mentioned in my answer to the previous question, next week I will meet stakeholders who have expressed concerns.”
“What reassurance can the Government provide to land managers on the implementation of this legislation and on seeing that NatureScot works with land managers timeously to ensure that the legislation is workable and that the vital management tool of burning is accessible? Jim Fairlie: NatureScot has been working closely with land managers since September 2023 to ensure that the legislation is workable in practice. It has produced the methodologies for identifying peatland and non-peatland areas. Those methodologies have been made available to land managers to allow them to prepare for the legislation that is coming into force. A simple application process is being developed, and feedback has been sought from stakeholders. Users have tested a prototype, and feedback is being used to ensure that the process is user- friendly.”
“I will always support and fight for the idea of Scotland’s future being in Scotland’s hands, and I look forward to seeing more locally generated power benefiting communities across Scotland in years to come. 15:47”
“Unfortunately, a lot of that comes down to the UK Government and to GB Energy. That brings me to the Labour amendment. I will never say no to money being made available to communities in Scotland, but with billions of pounds being taken out of Scotland’s energy industry by the windfall tax, I am sure that the UK Government could afford to loosen the purse strings just a wee bit more. Unfortunately, none of the technology that we have discussed today can harness energy from hot air, so I will draw my remarks to a close. We know that the future of energy is renewables, and community ownership puts renewable energy generation into the hands of folk and communities across Scotland.”
“Before I comment on the amendments to the motion, I feel that it is important to recognise that every single amendment is an addendum and that there is a lot of common ground among members when it comes to community energy. I will now focus on some of the ground that we do not have in common. Douglas Lumsden has previously made no secret of his position on pylons, but here is the thing: not that long ago, if you had said that Scotland would be able to export its wind and sell it to England, you would have gotten some very strange looks. We now have that opportunity—we just need to install the infrastructure. I fully accept that that infrastructure should support lower bills. People should see a more tangible link between pylons going up and their electricity bills coming down.”
“It is a scheme that shows how renewable energy is generated and supports education around that, and it produces a fund that supports local community initiatives. Elsewhere in the north-east, in Alexander Burnett’s constituency of Aberdeenshire West, Huntly has taken a similar approach but with a wind turbine instead of a hydro project. It has used its proceeds, along with much funding, in an impressive way. Those are both great examples of Scotland’s natural resources benefiting local communities. I want to see more benefit from our vast renewable resource for communities, consumers, the wider economy and, I hope, at some point soon, my constituents.”
“In the energy capital of Europe, far too many of my constituents are living in fuel poverty, far too many are struggling to pay their energy bills and far too many are scared to put on the heating when it gets cold outside. The move to net zero will give us a chance to do some things differently. It is not just about how we harness the energy, but about how the benefits from our doing so are shared. They must be shared in a way that benefits all and not just the few. I have seen enough of how community energy projects can work in the north-east to know that we need to do more. In Donside—that is the bit in the constituency of Aberdeen Central—the Archimedes screw scheme generates clean renewable energy for homes and businesses.”
“At this point, as the MSP for Aberdeen Donside, I feel it is important to note that the Donside hydro, the Donside community association and Donside village are all in the constituency of Aberdeen Central. It is really not confusing at all. The Donside hydro does not just have a fantastic name; it won the Scottish green energy award in 2016 and it is Aberdeen’s first community energy scheme. Unfortunately, it is also currently our city’s only community generation project. That needs to change. Scotland is an energy-rich country, and Aberdeen has been at the heart of it for half a century. Far too few folk are getting the benefits from that energy, however. Over 50 years, we have seen billions of pounds of oil and gas revenues make their way to Westminster and to private shareholders.”
“I am delighted to take part in today’s debate on growing community-owned energy in Scotland— and to have the chance, once more, to talk up Aberdeen. With “Energy” in the title of today’s debate, let me start, as I do every time that happens, by reminding folk that Aberdeen, part of which I represent, is the energy capital of Europe and the future net zero capital of the world. More relevant to today’s debate, Aberdeen is home to Scotland’s first urban community hydro energy project, the very well named Donside hydro. The Donside hydro is owned by Aberdeen Community Energy, which was set up by the Donside community association with the aim of helping to make Donside village a sustainable community.”
“The inquiry has very much been a listening exercise by the committee. I look forward to hearing all the reflections from members across the chamber on what is—I reiterate this—an important inquiry for those who will come after us. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I advise members that we have a bit of time in hand and that they will be given the time back, should they take any interventions. I call Kenneth Gibson to speak on behalf of the Finance and Public Administration Committee. 15:12”
“To go back to what I said in my response to the previous intervention, this is a cry from this side of a dark tunnel to say that the Parliament in the next session will have better committees if they are not single-sex. In a wonderful example of kicking things into the future, how that is achieved and implemented may rest with others. I am conscious of time and will turn to evaluation, which was a key aspect throughout our inquiry. Do committees have time to look at how well they have worked? Do they have time, outside of their legislative programme, to explore what they want to explore? We also considered the merit of post-legislative scrutiny as well as the suggestion that added value should be given to pre-legislative scrutiny. I hope that this short opening has been helpful to members.”
“I will go back to what you said about having gender- balanced committees. That is surely down to what the gender balance will be in the chamber. If that policy was put in place as things stand just now, you would actually be giving us women more work to do, because there are more men in the chamber than there are women. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair. Martin Whitfield: That intervention speaks to the very heart of the reality that the Parliament must find for itself in the next session. There has been a lot of discussion about where that responsibility rests, and much of it rests with political parties and their decisions about how to select candidates, which is, rightly, outside the scope and control of this chamber.”
“The ships are living museums that preserve the skills and artistry of a bygone era, while simultaneously inspiring the next generation of seafarers and global citizens. They remind us, even in our digital age, of the enduring magic in the power of wind and sail, and the irreplaceable value of hands-on experience and shared endeavour. As the tall ships prepare to grace our waters, I urge everyone to embrace this incredible opportunity and come down to Aberdeen harbour to witness those magnificent vessels up close, feel the spray of the sea and let the spirit of the Cutty Sark, the Thermopylae and the great tea clipper race transport them to a time of grand adventure. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Dunbar. We move to the open debate. I call Liam Kerr to be followed by Audrey Nicoll. 12:55”
“They include TechFest, which will focus on Aberdeen’s engineering heritage with hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities. North East Scotland College and the Scottish maritime academy will be in attendance to promote maritime careers as well as their popular trainee deckhand course and officer of the watch cadetship programme. There will also be daily quayside music concerts, with Scottish musical talent from Deacon Blue and Tide Lines. With those events and the tall ships themselves, the race will prove to be a true spectacle. Beyond the spectacle, the tall ships races embody timeless values: the importance of teamwork, the discipline of seamanship and the thrill of adventure.”
“Sadly, the perils of the sea remain today, and my thoughts are with the families of the two young navy cadets of the Mexican naval training ship the Cuauhtémoc who died when their ship hit the Brooklyn Bridge as she set sail across the Atlantic to join the tall ships races. This year’s races will begin at Le Havre and have four stages, beginning at Dunkirk, Aberdeen, Kristiansand and Esbjerg. The tall ships are due to arrive in Aberdeen on 19 July. They will spend four days there, where there will be a packed schedule of events during the long weekend to celebrate the tall ships and Aberdeen’s own maritime heritage. The Aberdeen sea cadets will be on hand to showcase the heritage of the Aberdeen clippers, but a wide array of other events is also planned.”
“It brings together magnificent vessels from across the globe, crewed by young folk, many of whom are experiencing life at sea for the first time. That includes young folk from Aberdeen who serve as crew aboard the racing ships and learn seamanship, teamwork and resilience, while forging bonds that transcend borders and cultures. This year, one such young person is Kevin Stewart’s constituent Noah Tait, who will be competing aboard the Dutch schooner, the Gulden Leeuw, in the race across the North Sea from Aberdeen and to Kristiansand. Several of the larger sailing ships also serve as naval training vessels, with cadets on board from as far afield as Peru and Oman taking part.”
“However, despite the efforts of the Cutty Sark’s crew, they could not pass the Thermopylae, which arrived back in London first and retained her crown as the fastest ship in the world. The great battle of the Aberdeen tea clippers rightly stands as the greatest tall ship race in history, and it was in the spirit of that race that today’s tall ships races event began. Although today’s event is not a commercial venture for tea, it carries forward the same spirit of competition, adventure and the pursuit of excellence. To those who are unfamiliar with it, I can say that the tall ships races is not just a spectacle but an international event, organised by Sail Training International, that is designed to promote youth development and international friendship through sail training.”
“Her reign as the fastest ship on the seas would not go unchallenged, however, and just a year later her great rival, the north-east-designed Cutty Sark, was launched. That set the stage for the greatest tall ship race in history—the great tea clipper race of 1872. It was a race between Inverbervie design and Aberdonian workmanship. The two ships set off together from Shanghai on 18 June, and the Cutty Sark steadily built up a lead of 400 miles. However, like her namesake nightdress, the Cutty Sark cut a little too close to the wind, and she broke her rudder in a storm while passing between Java and Sumatra. Determined not to be defeated, the crew of the Cutty Sark cobbled together a new rudder from scrap iron and set off in pursuit of the Thermopylae.”
“The first Aberdeen clipper, and the first ship to sport the famous “Aberdeen bow”, was the Scottish Maid, which was designed and built in 1839. Her revolutionary bow was so extraordinary that the ship was built back to front, with the Aberdeen bow hidden under a fake normal bow until the day that she was launched. The new bow proved its worth, and the iconic design of the Aberdeen tea clipper was born. Over the next 30 years, Aberdeen tea clippers reigned supreme as the fastest ships to sail the seas. Speed records fell with every new ship that was launched until the greatest of all the Aberdeen tea clippers, the Thermopylae, was launched in 1868 from Aberdeen’s Walter Hood & Co shipyard.”
“As you can see, Presiding Officer, I am not Kevin Stewart. He has asked me to lead his debate and to pass on his apologies for not being here today, due to his illness. I am sure that the chamber will join me in wishing him a speedy recovery. The following are his words, and I am happy to use them, although I think that some of them will be a bit of a tongue twister. It is with immense pride that I welcome the tall ships race to Aberdeen. For Aberdeen, the arrival of the tall ships is more than just a visit; it is a homecoming. The homecoming of the tall ships coincides with the 200th anniversary of the Aberdeen Line, which was founded by George Thompson in 1825. Aberdeen’s shipyards were the home of the Aberdeen clippers, the fastest sailing ships ever built.”
“Now that we have handed back the scheme— we have not called it in—I am interested to speak to Councillor Meiklejohn and others in the area about how they might continue their public engagement and enhance it ahead of making a decision.”
“As Graham Simpson said, the proposed Grangemouth flood protection scheme is set to be the largest of its kind in Scotland to date. Can the cabinet secretary outline what steps have been taken to engage with the communities that are affected by the project? Gillian Martin: Falkirk Council has regularly engaged with local communities throughout the years of the scheme’s development. The first consultation exhibition, held in 2018, was followed by multiple online and face-to-face events. Public engagement events were held in February and March 2024, before the scheme’s notification in May 2024. Throughout the project, the council has regularly engaged with local communities, which has included dedicating social media to the project and printing newsletters that have been distributed to residential and commercial properties.”
“I call on the UK Government to match our ambition to deliver a fair and just transition to net zero, so that we can do even more. The Presiding Officer: We have already used up a considerable amount of time, but we have reached only the fifth question from members. I would therefore be grateful for concise questions and responses.”
“Since 2022, we have allocated £75 million to projects such as the one that I mentioned, to support innovation and the creation of jobs, and also to communities throughout the region, including £9.7 million for a package of skills interventions, £30 million for innovative projects and approaches, and £4 million for empowering and investing in communities. An independent evaluation of the fund during its first years, which I asked for ahead of rolling out this particular tranche, will be published shortly. It points to the impact of providing momentum to just transition in the region, including providing more than 750 training places, safeguarding and creating at least 230 jobs, and attracting more than £34 million of additional private investment. The fund sends a clear signal of our support to the north-east and Moray.”
“It is recognised that a just transition will play a crucial role in our fight to tackle climate change. What steps is the Scottish Government taking to improve funding for a just transition in Scotland? How will the £500 million just transition fund for the north-east and Moray contribute to that? Will the cabinet secretary join me in again calling on the United Kingdom Government to match that ambition? Gillian Martin: As Jackie Dunbar mentioned, this month the Scottish Government launched a new funding call for the north-east and Moray just transition fund that will be worth up to £8.5 million over the coming year. It will ensure that we continue to create jobs, support innovation and secure the highly skilled workforce that will be needed in the future.”
“I hope that MSPs will support the promotion of the campaign in their local constituencies and online. On Monday, I wrote directly to all MSPs to provide details about the campaign. Together, we can help to ensure that every child has the stable and nurturing home that they deserve.”
“On Monday, the First Minister launched a new national campaign on fostering. Will the minister outline what the message of the campaign is, what it will do and how MSPs across the chamber can help to support it? Natalie Don-Innes: As I noted in my statement, on Monday, to coincide with the start of foster care fortnight, the Government launched a national recruitment campaign. The focus of the campaign is that ordinary can be extraordinary for a child in foster care, which will involve showing that everyday moments can change lives. Fostering is open to people from all walks of life. No specific qualifications are needed, and people do not need to have children of their own. The campaign will run for seven weeks across television, video, on demand, radio and press.”
“Can the First Minister outline how the Scottish Government is working to implement the recommendations in its report on the redesign of urgent care, which was published in January? Specifically, is the Government targeting current staffing levels at NHS 24? The First Minister: A key issue—which relates to Dr Gulhane’s question—is that of capacity. Over time, the Government has been expanding capacity in NHS 24. As a consequence of the redesign of urgent care, we invested an additional £4 million to enable NHS 24 to recruit more staff and reduce call waiting times. That investment also supports public awareness about when to contact 111 and how to access other services.”
“In recent days, Scottish Care, CCPS, Care England, Renaissance Care, Unison and the Home Care Association have all been on record telling the UK Government that. Providers have been clear that international recruitment is critical and that the impacts of not having it will be felt by the most vulnerable. It is simply outrageous that the UK Labour Government does not recognise the immense contribution that care professionals from all over the world have played in caring for our communities over many years. Those vital workers have cared for the most vulnerable in society and, with the Covid pandemic, in the hardest of times. Rather than thanking them, Labour has chosen to devalue and disrespect them.”
“In 2023, more than 58,000 overseas care workers came to the UK on skilled worker visas, representing nearly half of all new entrants to the social care workforce. Following the UK Government’s announcement of its proposed immigration reforms, Unison’s general secretary said: “The NHS and the care sector would have collapsed long ago without the thousands of workers who’ve come to the UK from overseas.” Does the minister share my concern that the UK Government’s decision to restrict recruitment from abroad will leave many providers with staff shortages? Maree Todd: I absolutely share that concern. It is not a question of whether those changes will leave providers with staff shortages; that is inevitable.”
“Our best hope for the future lies in becoming an independent country in a partnership of equals with our friends across the United Kingdom. That will allow us to make a real difference for our people and our future prosperity. Until such time as the people of Scotland can choose a different constitutional arrangement, moving to full fiscal autonomy would create a fairer system that would protect public services and allow investment in our economy.”
“As it stands, the Labour Government has chosen to save British Steel, but not Grangemouth; fund carbon capture in England, but not in Aberdeen; support artificial intelligence in Cambridge, but not in Edinburgh; and impose austerity measures across the UK, which the Scottish National Party Government has spent £1.2 billion on mitigating so that Scotland is the only place in the UK where child poverty levels are going down, not up. Does the cabinet secretary agree that fiscal autonomy will allow the Scottish Government to fundamentally rebalance the economy— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Cabinet secretary. Jackie Dunbar: —to deliver for the people of Scotland? Angus Robertson: To answer briefly, it is clear that Scotland’s interests are not best served as part of the United Kingdom.”
“I wish she could have said a proper goodbye.” 16:30”
“That has overwhelmingly been the view expressed by the hundreds of constituents who have been in touch with me about the bill. Many have told heartbreaking stories of watching loved ones suffer a bad death. I thank them for sharing their stories and for their care and compassion for others. I will end with the words of Stacey, speaking of her mother’s death: “Mum was extremely strong-willed and fiercely independent. Two weeks before her death, she said she was ready to go. None of us could have anticipated the suffering, indignity and inhumanity she would endure. She received amazing palliative care, but this did not take away her suffering. My dad and I have PTSD from what we witnessed. I know for certain she would have chosen an assisted death. I wish she had had dignity, comfort, and choice.”
“We have heard today that palliative care should be increased and that we should have better palliative care. Does the member agree that assisted dying is not instead of palliative care? It is not a case of either/or—it should be “and”. We should have decent and good palliative care, as well as the right to decide on assisted dying. Maggie Chapman: Absolutely, it should be both. We need palliative care and the options for people to choose their own end. We have said and done too little about the critical issues of palliative care and good social care. However, that is not a reason for punishing dying people. The risks of the bill are hypothetical. The suffering that it addresses is present and acute. Palliative care, however skilled and compassionate, cannot always end that suffering. As Jackie Dunbar says, we need both.”
“A more detailed, tailored support package will be designed on the basis of the recommendations in the report, and NHS Grampian’s financial recovery plan will be provided to the Scottish Government on 7 June, with the external diagnostic being delivered later in June. That will allow the diagnostic report to verify or improve on NHS Grampian’s financial forecasts.”
“Will the cabinet secretary advise what support is provided to the board of NHS Grampian at level 4 of the escalation framework? Will he advise when the board will set out a recovery plan to deliver an improved position with that support? Neil Gray: Escalation to stage 4 of the framework brings enhanced scrutiny and support from the Government, and we will work with the board to ensure sustained improvement. Action taken and any support provided at level 4 is tailored to the circumstances and will take account of the context in each case. NHS Grampian will receive a tailored package of support as a result of the escalation to stage 4, starting with the diagnostic report being delivered by the external consultancy. We expect the report to be delivered in June and to set out key areas of focus for the board to improve sustainability.”
“I hope that folk will take that chance to speak to the veterans that we have left, not just about what they did, but about why they did it, why it was so important to win that war and why it is so important that we build peace and commit to not repeating the mistakes of the past. Their legacy is the peace that they secured and built on, and we need to ensure that that legacy is passed on to generations to come. The Presiding Officer: We move to the closing speeches. 16:30”
“Charities such as Poppyscotland, Legion Scotland, Forces Children Scotland and many others go above and beyond to ensure that people do not slip through the support net that we have in place. They support and stand up for everyone who is part of the armed forces family. I put on record my appreciation for the work that they do. I finish on the point that, 80 years on from VE day, there are not many veterans from world war two left. The youngest, who would have been just teenagers at the end of the war, are nearing 100 years of age. The second world war is fading from living memory. The next few years will be the last chance that we have to hear about world war two at first hand, rather than just reading about it in history books.”
“In its aftermath, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was agreed and concerted efforts were made to maintain and build on what was secured with the end of that long and bloody war. There was a recognition that peace for their time was not enough and that building a lasting peace is an on- going process. Scotland has enjoyed 80 years of peace since then, but across the world we are seeing democracy, human rights and basic freedoms increasingly under threat. We cannot afford to just paper over the cracks. We owe it to those who sacrificed so much to make peace happen in the first place to ensure that it continues for decades more to come. We also owe it to them, and to the veterans who since then have helped to maintain that peace, to ensure that we look after those who served and their families.”
“He got home to my granny and their bairns, including my dad, who was by then five years old and had no memory of ever meeting his dad, so to him it was a first meeting. My granddad got to enjoy the peace and freedoms that he fought for and he got to see his children and grandchildren grow up with those. That was not the case for thousands of others who served during that war, including 57,000 Scots. Today, as we remember those who lost their lives during world war two and those who contributed to the war effort across that time, I urge folk also to reflect on what they fought for. VE day was a victory for democracy. It ensured freedoms for folk across Europe.”
“It is an honour to speak in today’s debate commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE day, as we remember the sacrifices that made VE day possible. The First Minister said today that we all naturally think about how the lives of our own families were affected by the war. The stories that have come from across the chamber today have reflected that. My first thoughts are of my granddad, Private James Dunbar. He served with the Gordon Highlanders and was captured with the 51st Highland division at St Valery. When granddad left home to serve his country, my dad was just weeks old. After years as a prisoner of war—of which he rarely spoke later—victory in Europe meant that he got home safe.”