Paying the price…

Published on 30/11/2012 00:00

The fact that the EU Commission has declared its view that the SNP’s proposals for minimum pricing of alcohol are unlawful now means that former health secretary Nicola Sturgeon’s position is untenable.

In February, after meeting the EU Commissioner for health and consumer policy in Brussels, Sturgeon’s spokesman declared (with her approval): “The very clear message coming from the Commission was confirmation that minimum pricing for alcohol is entirely compatible in principle with EU law.”

That was demonstrated by the Commissioner to be untrue then, and by the Commission to be wholly bogus now.

Sturgeon has always declared that her legal advice was to the effect that her proposals were legal – this demonstrates her advice said no such thing, if indeed such legal advice ever existed

Ian Stuart

Park Street

Dingwall