Clydebank Asbestos Group head to the Scottish Parliament

Clydebank Asbestos Group at Scottish Parliement exhibition

Clydebank Asbestos Group (CAG) have been given a rare opportunity to speak directly to politicians from across the political scene in Scotland and get across our message. On the first week of March, we hosted an exhibition in the Scottish Parliament, which delved into the history of Scotland’s asbestos legacy and highlighted to MSPs the asbestos and silicosis issues that we are campaigning on. We were able to speak to a number of MSPs and even First Minister John Swinney said hello!

Marie McNair MSP with Adele Kane & Rachel Gallagher from CAG

The CAG team and their exhibition were stationed in the Members’ Lobby of the parliament, just outside the entrance to the chamber. MSPs were passing through on their way in and out of the debating chamber, giving them the chance to engage with our exhibition and chat to the team.

The exhibition consisted of six large, specially designed posters, which went into the history of asbestos in Scotland, the origins story and ongoing work of CAG and a worrying trend in silicosis cases.  It then highlighted our current campaign issues and called upon MSPs to support these. We also had specially designed exhibition booklets to give out, which expanded upon the information on our posters.

Bill Kidd MSP with Rachel Gallagher from CAG

The exhibition was a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of asbestos issues in the corridors of power, with those who have the power to enact change. We were pleased with the number of MSPs we were able to speak to and engage with about asbestos, and we hope that in the next session of the Scottish Parliament, we will see our elected politicians make positive changes for asbestos victims. Thank you to Marie McNair MSP for sponsoring us to do the exhibition.

Rachel Gallagher from CAG with Richard Leonard MSP