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Hello,

all right and true Mr Fraser. But in modern times responsibility is hard to find and even harder to make fast somewhere or with someone.

Looking at share prices and the value they represent Diageo has no home and no special responsibility towards Scotland or to Scotch whisky. Therefore there is - in the eyes of the decision makers - no special responsibilty towards Kilmarnock. And tradidtion does not count at all.

The responsibility of Diageo is laying at keeping the value of the shares that were issued high and to take that value even higher.
That responsibility is distributed over the whole world. And because of that responsibility lies not towards real people but towards mostly anonnymous shareholders.

There is only one sector of whisky making where romanticism has still a place - in marketing.
To give up Kilmarnock and to close Port Dundas is a strategic decision made at the headquarters of an international company.

That a Scottish area loses many of its jobs is a collateral damage.

People who have worked there for generations should be proud of their achievement but should not stand in the way of development.
It was good as long as it lasted but now it has to be over unfortunately.

That is the point of view modern decision makers take.

Politics and politicians will not change that. The factual constraints you know.

One could argue if it is right that decions that affect so many people are made at the headquarters of companies by powerful men and - to a lesser extend - women who are paid ridiculous sums to do just that and who are not controlled or watched over in a satisfying way. Nor are such decisions legitimised in a democratic way.
We have learned in a very hard way that all hell broke lose when money really tried to take over the world.
We all feel the consequences. But can the people of Scotland vote against this decision? They can not. They can vote for or against politicians but they can not vote against Diageo and her board of directors.

That is the scandal in my view.

I take it this companys new site in the Kingdom of Fife is classed as green field development. Therefore does it secure some form of developmental grant assistance with funds from local, regional or national programmes? Very much akin to the building (same industry) Im sitting having lunch in at the moment, but as the crow flies they relocated circa 20 miles coincidentally into another region just as green. Call me ye olde cynic, I suspect there has been a lot of number twitching from the captains of industry hailing from the accounting field! Much of the same vain that brought us the blockbuster Mother of all Credit Crunches featuring those that did very well thank you aka pension pots & money stashed in offshore accounts! This example of global business (exploitation) clearly shows how impotent government really is e.g. The Phoenix Four, not forgetting the wannabee Scots variety silicon glen no more, and aspirin alley just round the corner!
So just what is wrong with indigenous protectionism for anything grown, designed or manufactured in this country combined with untouchable global patents, anyone nation infringing having punitive action taken against them! In days gone by a visit from a passing gunboat sufficed, heck wait a minute weve got a few Nuke subs hanging about doing nowt! Throw in an added threat of putting in irons the captains of industry behind all these so called productivity improvements or alleged competition threats. In relation to this specific industry I can however smell an element of hypocrisy. Hmmm whats that other word that begins with a c? Cartel! Appropriately filling their respective coffers in times of greed and not need!

Diageo`s history did not start in Kilmarnock or Scotland. It started in Bologna, Italy where Justerini, the J of J&B fame, fell in love with an opera singer and followed her to London taking with him his distilling uncle`s recipes.

The breadth of Diageo gives rise to the problem, to quote the company`s own values

"We strive to create mutually fulfilling relationships and partnerships".

Obviously they are not finding themselves fulfilled and want to end the romance dating back to 1820 with Kilmarnock

Other industries have come and gone in the area. The whisky workers stayed in work when other jobs disappeared. It is their turn now to diversify and retrain or move. It is the nature of the world we have created.

I still don`t drink Guinness after a previous betrayal, it makes no difference to Diageo because I do drink Walkers.

The Scottish Government needs to react quickly and yes East Ayrshire is too small, a unified Ayrshire would be better placed. Expect no help from Westminster or Brussells.

As for the rest of us, buy local and beware of conglomerates, be they banks, brewers, or supermarkets, they are bad news.

Interestingly enough while it may be the rationale of companies to ensure the best possible return for shareholders it is the role of our legislators to legislate! And what better cause than the protection of our national drink ?

That the major players in the industry have quietly been getting away with product dilution over the years is beyond doubt. Unfortunately some of these questionable practices have filtered through to smaller outfits.

Central malting, bulk use of foreign grain, reductions in local cooperage, etc., all against a background of the myths associated with the Misty Glen and rolling Strath.

The question is, when does Scotch whisky stop being Scotch ?

Well heres a starter for 5:

1) Our legislators should step in to ensure not one drop of Scotch blended, malt or otherwise leaves this land without being bottled here. No bulk sales to anyone if they want to make whisky using our stuff for the base, then bring their version here for blending.
2) Introduce the appellation methodology to the product insist on a local % of grain, water, peating, workmanship etc before the product is allowed for sale/marketing.
3) Use labelling legislation to ensure providence and ownership is clear (Johnnie Walker blended in Kilmarnock move from Kilmarnock and you lose the label due to loss of providence).
4) Where distilleries are closed / mothballed they are given government protection to ensure that they are not butchered and components sold of abroad or elsewhere. If they remain out of operation for more than (say) five years the Govt to buy and sell them on to other interested parties
5) Change business legislation so that the ethos becomes best possible return for shareholders only when conducive with the best interests of the local community.

Will I hold my breath for the Westminster Weary Willies to act? No, the fearties will let us down again and another great Scottish industry will head down the tubes.

3. nine2ninetysix

Your sentiments of buy local is well placed.

The key to directing free markets down the directions we desire as a nation lies in the art of consumer purchasing power.

An educated consumer, who with every purchase effectively is placing a vote with the product purchased is central. If we have consumer who refrain from purchasing anything not local this shall compell firms to alter their practices in how they manufacture/provide goods/services.

Thus lets empower the consumer further through educating them of the contents of goods they buy, of where those goods were made/farmed/bottled etc. Lets change things in a way free markets always understand- through sales numbers.