We do recognise that a decision has been taken, but we believe that the decision taken is a wrong one. Our supporters obviously agree, as our campaign has demonstrated, with more than 100,000 people signing our petition, support flooding in from around the globe, 15,000 people have written personally to Paul Walsh and almost half a million people have written to Diageo shareholders.

Johnnie Walker is synonymous with Kilmarnock and the brand has been associated with the town since 1820. It is recognised in every corner of the world as the leading brand name for Scotch whisky, and generations of local families have shown tremendous commitment and loyalty to the company over the past two hundred years. Now they will witness the very heart and soul being ripped out of their community.

Today we find ourselves in a position where we must move forward and try to secure the best possible outcome for Johnnie Walker employees and the town of Kilmarnock.

The Cabinet Secretary has convened a meeting of the Task Force on Monday and we will present a package of proposals designed to support the growth of new jobs in Kilmarnock. We want to secure Scottish Government support for the town and our attention will now turn to developing an action plan which will seek to create 700 sustainable jobs for Kilmarnock.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council said: “I welcome the continued commitment from Cabinet Secretary John Swinney, and as he himself stated, he will work unstintingly with partners to mitigate the serious impacts and assist the people and communities affected by Diageo’s decision-making.”

Councillor Maureen McKay, Leader of Main Labour Opposition said: “It is hard to describe the true extent of our feelings today. However, we remain resolute as we turn our attention to securing a positive future for the town, by applying the same energy, enthusiasm and strength as witnessed throughout the campaign.”

Councillor Tom Cook, Leader of Conservative Opposition said: “We are truly disappointed at today’s outcome, which will undoubtedly have a devastating effect of the town and the wider local community. We must now look towards the future as we prepare to work with the Scottish Government on plans to help secure 700 sustainable jobs for the town.”

We are proud of what this campaign has achieved. The facts speak for themselves.
Throughout the 71 days of this campaign we gained the support of the entire local community; local businesses, residents, workers, trades union representatives, Kilmarnock Football Club and politicians from all parties have united to keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock. People have given their all in support of this campaign and we could have asked for nothing more.

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Accompanied by Johnnie Walker workers and East Ayrshire Council’s cross-party working group, Johnnie Walker arrived at Holyrood for the Diageo debate.

Also in the gallery to see Kilmarnock MSP Willie Coffey battle to save 700 whisky jobs in Kilmarnock were Des Browne MP and Michael Johnston, Chairman of Kilmarnock FC.

Finance Secretary John Swinney updated MSPs on the progress of the alternative plan backed by the cross-party task force, which he then took to Bryan Donaghey, managing director of Diageo Scotland, and David Gosnell, managing director of Diageo Global Supply, 24 hours after the debate.

Mr Swinney told MSPs that the closure of Diageo’s whisky bottling plant in Kilmarnock would cost the local economy £15.5m a year.

It is hoped the proposals will save most of the 700 jobs at the Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock and 200 jobs at the Port Dundas grain distillery in Glasgow.

Mr Swinney said: “Our work in trying to reverse Diageo’s decisions has nothing to do with trying to tell a successful global company how to run its business. The issue has been, and will continue to be, about safeguarding those economically fragile communities at risk in the west of Scotland.”

East Ayrshire Council cross-party working group said: “Diageo’s plans have caused outrage amongst ministers, trades unions and local politicians, who have formed a government backed task force to fight the job cuts.

“On the basis of the strong alternative proposals which Finance Secretary John Swinney has presented to them – we sincerely hope that Diageo will think again.”

Diageo, the drinks giant whose plans to axe 900 jobs at its Kilmarnock plant and Port Dundas whisky distillery have provoked widespread condemnation, has been branded socially irresponsible by a leading business thinker.

William Hopper, author of The Puritan Gift: Reclaiming the American Dream Amidst Global Financial Chaos, said: “Diageo is a company run brilliantly by bean-counters, and the chief financial engineer is its chief executive, Paul Walsh. Unsurprisingly, there are some distasteful aspects to its activities, not least that it earns most of its profits in the UK but pays most of its taxes overseas; scarcely the behaviour of a good corporate citizen.”

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To coincide with Diageo’s profit announcement day, the Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock Campaign is striding through London to persuade the drinks giant to maintain their historic links with Kilmarnock, symbolically visiting Diageo’s Headquarters this morning.

East Ayrshire’s Cross Party Working Group which comprises politicians from all parties and all levels of government together with Trades Unions said: “We are delighted to see that Diageo remains a highly profitable company and that they have worked through the recent international economic crisis and continue to make substantial profits. We brought to Diageo’s door today, our continuing pledge to support the company’s most famous brand, keeping it at home in Kilmarnock and we will continue to promote that powerful and iconic image of the Stridin Man.

“We believe that Paul Walsh, Diageo’s Chief Executive is a man of his word and that he will respond positively to the negotiations; the company has confirmed that these have been instigated by the Scottish Government and are now underway. We trust that the Diageo Board will accept our alternative business case and that the profits which Diageo continues to enjoy, rooted in the strong and lasting heritage and provenance which Kilmarnock ensures for the Johnnie Walker brands, will as a result go from strength to strength. We know that a huge number of people agree – 450,000 and rising – given that they have emailed shareholders pledging support for our campaign. This adds to the ever-growing number of people who have signed our campaign petition and to the many messages of support on our website all from over 60 countries around the world.

“In London today we have received an enormously generous reception from everyone that we have met, all of whom are supportive and believe that our campaign will succeed. Our international support is overwhelming and energising, visiting as we did the Indian and Australian High Commissions and the Irish Embassy. We remain resolute in our determination and our belief that we can change Diageo’s mind and keep Johnnie Walker and the Stridin Man where they belong in Kilmarnock.”

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http://www.diageo.com/en-row/Investors/FinancialResults/2009/FinancialResults2009

A business plan to save the Diageo plant in Kilmarnock from closure is to be handed to the Scottish Government by East Ayrshire Council.The council’s case will be presented to Finance Secretary John Swinney. It is the latest stage of a multi-agency cross-party campaign to save the town’s bottling plant and the Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow.

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Kilmarnock’s Ainsley and Steven, the new Mr and Mrs Gibson, decided to back the campaign by wearing Johnnie Walker masks on their big day (after the official nuptials had been carried out of course!). The couple were married at St Joseph’s Church in Kilmarnock followed by a reception at the Grand Hall.

If you are getting married in the next few weeks, then log on to www.keepjohnniewalkerinkilmarnock.com, download the Johnnie Walker masks, have your photo taken with them on and send it into: jwcampaign@east-ayrshire.gov.uk. Your photo will then appear on the website.

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East Ayrshire Council’s Campaign team were inundated with support as over 2000 piping enthusiasts from all over the world flocked to sign their partition aimed at saving the jobs of over nine hundred employees from Kilmarnock and Port Dundas.

Since the beginning of July the campaign team has collected nearly 70,000 signatures in support of the cause, with the team visiting events such as Ayr Flower Show, the Open Golf at Turnberry, the Partick Thistle vs Kilmarnock game at Rugby Park. Petition signing events have also been held in Kilmarnock and Buchanan Street, Glasgow. Celebrities and politicians have joined the fight with countless others lending their support online at www.keepjohnniewalkerinkilmarnock.com. Fans of Twitter can also follow the “striding man” as he tweets around the globe.

Further appearances and signing opportunities at high profile events are planned for Johnnie Walker and the Bonnie Walker girls who managed to keep dry and lift the spirits of musicians and audience despite the downpour on Saturday thanks to their sunny smiles and distinctive campaign umbrellas.

The cross party working group for the “Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock” campaign said:
“Wherever we’ve taken the campaign we never fail to be buoyed by the level of support we encounter. Today we’ve talked to so many people from all over the world who are horrified by Diageo’s plans and feel a great loyalty to the Johnnie Walker brand. Internationally Kilmarnock and Johnnie Walker are synonymous and hearing this from those who’ve signed the petition today galvanises our campaign and strengthens our resolve to help those workers whose livelihoods are threatened.”

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