Tavish Scott: Time for politicians to change their tune

It is not often that you get the opportunity to meet a rock star. Government ministers, sporting stars and international delegations are seen in the Scottish Parliament fairly regularly. But a bone fide rock star is another matter.

Annie Lennox spoke in Holyrood this week. The singer was the Parliament’s guest on Commonwealth Day. One of her great passions is Africa and tackling the spread of HIV/Aids. Annie Lennox the rock star has sold 80 million records worldwide but Annie Lennox the campaigner articulatied her considerable knowledge of the reality of life for people in many Commonwealth African states.

In 2003 she performed in Nelson Mandela’s 46664 HIV campaign concert. Visiting Cape Town’s clinics, orphanages and hospitals had a striking impact on her. She has the advantages of being a natural campaigner with a strong moral sense, and the worldwide reach of an international star. She observed that hearing Mandela describe African HIV/Aids as a genocide with women and children being the front line victims was a call to action.

In 2007 Lennox released an album featuring the song SING. Twenty-three of the world’s most acclaimed female superstars drew attention to the spread of the HIV/Aids pandemic especially in South Africa where women and children were worst affected. SING still raises money and awareness of HIV/Aids, and helps implement literacy programmes at a local level. A parade of international organisations from the United Nations onwards now have Lennox as a campaigning voice in some ambassadorial capacity or other.

The Scottish Parliament then got in on the act as she was invited and accepted the role as Parliament’s Special Envoy. She is sponsored by the Scottish branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association whose work has includes links with the Malawi parliament. Malawian parliamentary officers have visited Edinburgh to learn how parliamentary committees work and explore the basic principles of parliamentary accountability. It is Holyrood’s best way of making a difference.

Holyrood is not responsible for foreign policy. MSPs can and do care passionately about overseas aid in Commonwealth countries. The UK’s International Development Secretary addressed a Holyrood meeting and answered questions on why the UK aid budget is funding India when that economy is growing 7 per cent year on year. There are respectable arguments either way on why that aid is paid. Lennox represents Scotland’s Parliament at international events where she makes the case for greater levels of education spending, addressing child and female literacy needs and tackling the scourge of HIV/Aids. Her ability to make people and politicians listen and act is far greater than that of most politicians. Governments, both in the Commonwealth and outside, should be listening and acting.

• Tavish Scott is Liberal Democrat MSP for Shetland