MSPs accused over beer gesture

A CHRISTMAS gesture by two Scottish Labour MSPs that saw them donate crates of beer to army veterans prompted a sniffy response from the SNP yesterday.

Jackie Baillie and Richard Baker handed over the crates of Peroni to residents at Edinburgh's Whitefoord House after they received the drink from brewers SABMiller.

Michael Matheson, the SNP MSP, said: "SABMiller lobbied MSPs extensively to block minimum pricing and this is clearly Labour's reward for a job well done.

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"I'm pleased to see Labour are donating the beer, but a far better gesture would be to commit to supporting minimum pricing instead of playing party political games.

"For Labour's health and justice spokespeople, whose vote against minimum pricing prevented action that would tackle many of the health and justice problems related to alcohol in our society, to receive Christmas gifts of beer typifies Labour's approach to this whole issue."

A Labour Party spokesman said: "Michael Matheson would probably object if Labour offered pensioners another lump of coal for the fire.

"Would he prefer it if we had donated the beer to the SNP Christmas party?

"After their recent poll results they certainly need something to cheer them up."