SNP Table Harry Potter Bill In Commons

Scottish National Party MP for North Tayside and SNP Westminster Spokesperson for the Highlands & Islands Mr Pete Wishart MP has today [Friday] tabled a Motion in the House of Commons, condemning the British Tourist Authority for producing a tourist brochure on the Harry Potter theme which completely misses out Scotland.

The BTA's worldwide campaign to cash in on the Harry Potter phenomenon features Gloucester Cathedral, and Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. But it misses out Scotland, even though the Harry Potter books were written in Edinburgh; and some of the Harry Potter filming took place on the Fort William to Mallaig stretch of the West Highland railway line, including the Glenfinnan viaduct, with children from Lochaber High School taking part.

Mr Wishart will also be writing to Harry Potter author JK Rowling – who has recently moved to his North Tayside constituency – calling on her to back moves for Scottish sites to be included in the next version of this campaign in the spring.

Mr Wishart said:

"It's outrageous that Scots should be stumping up to finance the British Tourist Authority, which is supposed to represent Scottish tourism worldwide, for it to deliberately cut Scotland out in this way.

"As far as the Harry Potter campaign is concerned, Scots are effectively paying to promote English tourism – with Scotland potentially losing out on millions of pounds of tourism business.

"Perhaps the kindest thing that can be said about the London-centric BTA officials who are responsible for this costly snub is that they are a bunch of Muggles!

"As well as tabling a House of Commons Motion calling on the BTA to mend their ways, I will also be approaching my distinguished constituent, JK Rowling, asking if she will lend her voice to the campaign for Scottish sites to be included in the next version of the Harry Potter tourist trail in the spring."