Kirk praises Chisholm for drink stance

EDINBURGH North & Leith Labour MSP Malcolm Chisholm has been praised by the Kirk for defying his party's line and voting in favour of minimum pricing for alcohol.

The Rev Ian Galloway, convener of the Church of Scotland's church and society council, singled out the former health minister for comment in a blog on last week's debate on the Alcohol Bill in the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Chisholm was the only Labour MSP to side with the SNP in opposing a Tory amendment that called for the minimum pricing proposals to be abandoned. He told MSPs: "I do not believe that culture can be effectively changed without dealing with the dirt-cheap prices that are a roadblock to culture change."

Mr Galloway said: "This is the kind of clear talking and ability to look beyond partisan politicking that we need to see more of."