Johnnie Walker campaign on award shortlist

Published 9 Nov 2009 09:51 0 Comments

In less than two weeks the Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock campaign will discover if it is an award winner at the Herald's annual Scottish Politician of the Year Awards.

The highly prestigious awards, which are held at Prestonfields House, Edinburgh, recognise the hard, and often unseen, work carried out by politicians throughout Scotland. In addition to the main political awards, members of the public who have campaigned at a national level will also be recognised.

Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock has been shortlisted for the Public Campaign/ Campaigner of the Year award.

The Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock Cross Party Working Group said: "It is an incredible honour for the campaign to be considered for such a prestigious award. From the moment Diageo made their announcement communities throughout East Ayrshire united against the decision to close the Hill Street plant, which would effectively end a two hundred year association with the Johnnie Walker brand. The pinnacle of the campaign was 20,000 people from all walks of life marching through Kilmarnock to show their anger and disappointment at the decision.

"We are very proud of all of our partners who showed incredible commitment and resourcefulness to take the campaign message to a global audience. There was real hope that a positive outcome could be achieved for the town however despite a sustainable business case being put forward by the Scottish Government, Diageo continued with their original plan to close the plant.

"The town cannot dwell on what could have been, or indeed what should have been and we are now looking to the future. The enthusiasm and drive shown by everyone involved in the campaign is now being effectively channelled through our Local Task Force to grow jobs, support business and bring new investment to the area. The Local Task Force has been formed to bring together all the organisations and individuals who can enable change and they will be working towards securing a brighter future for Kilmarnock. The Task Force looks forward to working with Diageo to identify ways in which they can support the community."

The campaign has been shortlisted with two other finalists in the same category - C Diff campaigners, who won an inquiry into the deaths of 18 of their loved ones at the Vale of Leven Hospital in Dunbartonshire and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland campaigners, who persuaded MSPs to back legislation to reduce greenhouse emissions by 42% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.

The winners will be announced at the Herald's Scottish Politician of the Year Awards, which will take place on Thursday 19 November 2009 at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh.

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