Debaters from Douglas Academy win prestigious national competition hosted in Scottish Parliament

Arun and Matthew (middle).

VICTORS from Douglas Academy have been congratulated by MSP Gil Paterson after winning a prestigious debating competition.

The Milngavie line-up won the Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Competition 2017 on June 15, which was hosted in the Scottish Parliament debating chamber.

Arun Smith and Matthew McIlree beat off stiff rivalry from High School of Dundee, Kelvinside Academy in Glasgow, Madras College in St Andrews.

Mr Paterson has celebrated the winners from Douglas Academy, whose school is in his constituency covering Clydebank, Milngavie and Bearsden North.

He said: “I am very proud of the Douglas Academy team for winning this competition – they have shown themselves to be some of the best versed young debaters in the whole of Scotland.

“The subject they took on is a hard political topic – smoking and healthcare - and to articulate arguments like so takes talent, intellect and extreme confidence.”

ENDS

Notes to reporters:

• Press release from Doulgas Academy.
• Motion below:

Douglas Academy wins top debating competition

That the Parliament congratulates students from Douglas Academy in Milngavie for winning The Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Competition 2017 on June 15 in the Scottish Parliament chamber; notes Arun Smith and Matthew McIlree debated a motion about whether smokers and non-smokers should have access to the same level of healthcare; recognises the talent of the Douglas Academy students as well as finalists from the High School of Dundee, Kelvinside Academy in Glasgow, Madras College in St Andrews all took part.