On Thursday evening, I will be taking a seat at the high table of the national political debate. I have been invited to join the National Conversations Tech and AI Hustings, providing a critical opportunity to ensure the games sector is visible at a policy level.
The event, which brings together representatives from Scotland’s major political parties alongside leaders from the technology and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors, comes at a pivotal moment. With the Scottish elections less than three weeks away, the hustings offer a platform to challenge the next government on its commitment to the world-class creative technology ecosystem we are building across the country.
Speakers:
- Daniel Johnson MSP (Scottish Labour)
- Miles Briggs MSP (Scottish Conservatives)
- Ben Macpherson MSP (SNP)
- Andy Williamson (LibDems)
- Ethan Claridge Chair
- Brian Baglow Level Up: Scotland’s National Games Strategy
- Professor Fiona McNeill Edinburgh University
- Professor Marion Thain Edinburgh Futures Institute
Beyond the Consumer Box
For too long, the political understanding of games has been missing in action, or focused entirely on the major consumer games franchises. This hustings provides the space to dismantle that narrative. As the lead author of the Level Up: Scotland Games Action Plan, I will highlight why games technology is the golden thread that runs through the entire digital future of the country.
Alongside the colossal $200 billion global consumer market, games have an enormous amount to offer. From the complex simulations required for net-zero transitions to the generative AI models currently reshaping global software development, the skills and tools pioneered in our sector are the same ones that will drive Scotland’s future productivity. My participation in this event is about ensuring that every candidate for Holyrood understands that support for tech must include support for and underdtanding of the huge potential of ‘games’.
A Proven Political Mandate
My presence at this hustings is backed by a growing and significant political momentum. The Games Action Plan has already achieved what few industry strategies manage: genuine cross-party recognition. We have seen a dedicated debate in the Scottish Parliament that attracted support from across the chamber, as well as a clear endorsement from the outgoing Business and Employment Minister, Richard Lochhead.
Crucially, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have already stepped up by including the plan in their manifesto, calling for the next Scottish Government to work directly with the Scottish Games Network to implement its recommendations. This is no longer a fringe request; it is a central pillar of the national economic conversation.
No Room for Redundancy
The Games Action Plan is a de-risked, actionable blueprint. It is not a speculative document. It is rooted in existing infrastructure and built upon over two years of community-driven data, which was in turn built upon in-depth research from InGAME and the Universities of Glasgow and Stirling.
I will be making it clear during the hustings that we do not need yet another ‘task-and-finish’ review to tell us how to support our ecosystem. We already have the data, we have the research, and we have the political support. The focus now must be on delivery, not repeating a process that has already been successfully concluded.
The Strategic Ask
My core mission during this election cycle is to secure a unified footing for the sector. During the hustings, I will be pushing for clear manifesto commitments to the recommendations outlined in the Games Action Plan, including the creation of a Chief Games Officer to provide accountability across ministerial portfolios.
In my recent interview with The National, I outlined how the sector could be transformed into a £1 billion economic powerhouse by 2030. This hustings is where I will hold the politicians to account on how they plan to pull the levers necessary to make that vision a reality. We are not asking for a subsidy – we are asking for the strategic recognition that our sector needs to support Scotland’s entire digital future.
Shaping the Digital Future
The Tech and AI Hustings is hosted by National Conversations and will feature a live audience and a digital stream. It is a rare chance for Scotland’s games community to see its leadership directly influencing the policy environment that will govern our work for the next five years.
As the only representative specifically advocating for the interactive and games ecosystem, my goal is to ensure that the next Scottish Government views games not just as a sub-sector of culture, but as a force multiplier for our national wellbeing and economic growth.
The National Conversations Tech and AI Hustings takes place on Thursday 23 April at 18:30. I encourage developers, students, and studio heads to attend or watch the stream to support the Scottish games ecosystem.
Details on how to register or view the event can be found on the National Conversations website.
Photo by Ameet Dhanda on Unsplash