“Get the great chieftain o’ the puddin-race exported to the United States” – Carmichael makes call ahead of Burns Night

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today called for fresh action by trade ministers to open up exports of traditional Scottish haggis to the United States, ahead of Burns Night this evening. Haggis is a central dish at Burns Suppers held across Scotland and around the world in celebration of the life of Scottish poet Robert Burns, but the traditional haggis remains banned in the US despite years of campaigning.

Speaking in the House, Mr Carmichael said:

“Mr Speaker, I wish you and the rest of the House a happy Burns Night for this evening. Is it not a scandal that the only way to get the great chieftain o’ the puddin-race exported to the United States is by sending the vegetarian version? Could not the Secretary of State put that into her 18-point action plan and get on and do something, or does she want to risk forever being known as a cowran, tim’rous beastie?”

Responding, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch MP said:

“I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his esoteric question. We are continually removing barriers to US-UK trade, and we are trading with the US more than ever before. If he has a specific example that I can help with so that he can enjoy his Burns Night, I would appreciate it if he wrote to me, and we will look at the matter in detail.”

Reacting after the exchange Mr Carmichael said:

“The Secretary of State did not betray an enormous knowledge of the state of the haggis trade in her reply, all the more disappointing on the date of Robert Burns’ birth.

“This week we have been reminded that even making a decent cup of tea is a struggle in the United States, so exporting good haggis there may be a step too far for our American cousins. Even so, I am sure that should ministers finally get round to securing a lift on the ban, there will be many in the US making a “grateful prayer” in reply.

“People across Scotland and beyond know the unalloyed joys that come from a freshly caught and well-cooked haggis, and far be it for us to keep that joy to ourselves when we could sell it across the world.”