Nation of kiltjoys: Labour Party slams pipes ban

New Zealand’s Labour Party has joined the battle to have the ban on playing the bagpipes in stadiums at the Rugby World Cup overturned, saying it made Kiwis look like a nation of “kiltjoys”.

With Scotland playing Argentina in Wellington on Sunday, the international campaign to get the ban lifted is gaining momentum.

Tournament organisers included the bagpipes on the list of banned musical instruments being played in the wake of the near deafening blast of vuvuzelas at the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa.

Scottish sports minister Shona Robison has written to Rugby World Cup chief executive Martin Snedden asking for the decision to be reversed.

While no reply has yet been received, there were reports yesterday on one New Zealand media outlet that an official performance of the bagpipes could be allowed before and after matches and perhaps when Scotland scores.

Mr Snedden has confirmed the decision was being reviewed, saying “maybe there’s room for softening on this”.

Now New Zealand politicians Iain Lees-Galloway, Jacinda Ardern and Maryan Street have called on John Key, prime minister of the centre-right ruling National Party, to intervene.

Mr Lees-Galloway, who called himself Labour’s unofficial spokesperson, said bagpipes had been included in the tournament’s opening ceremony and he did not see why they are not be allowed at games, even before or after the match. “If we can have the haka, then surely the Scots should be allowed a bit of skirt and skirl,” he said.

“I can’t deny my ancestry. I support Scotland against any other team but the All Blacks. Surely a compromise can be reached before Scotland’s next game in Wellington.”

Ms Ardern said: “Although I am a third-generation Scottish migrant, from the McVicar and McCrae line, I do know my long-passed Scottish grandmother would be outraged by the ban.

“And men in kilts? What’s not to like? Richie McCaw fronted up in a kilt, with a set of pipes and played Amazing Grace at a recent charity auction and he’s an All Black.”

Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s former director of communications, and himself an accomplished piper, told The Scotsman: “If New Zealand can have their haka, England their sweet bloody chariot, South Africa their vuvuzelas, then banning bagpipes is beyond belief.

“If New Zealand was not so far away I would get out there with my pipes and try to organise a musical civil disobedience campaign. I hope any pipers in New Zealand will find ways of smuggling their pipes into the stadium and striking up as soon as the players enter the field.

“Even the nincompoops who had this idea will think twice if the world sees pictures of pipers being ejected for the crime of supporting their team and injecting a bit of life and atmosphere into proceedings”.

Ms Robison, said: “While it is disappointing the ban on the bagpipes still stands, we warmly welcome reports of a decision to allow an official performance before and after each match – and perhaps also when Scotland scores. We now look forward to hearing the skirl of the pipes many more times for Scotland as the tournament continues.”

Tournament spokesman Mike Jaspers said there is no specific ban on bagpipes, but a range of musical items, such as drums and vuvuzelas, are not allowed in because they might spoil fans’ enjoyment of games.