THEY may be exiles, but last night in London they pledged their allegiance to a new Glasgow Development Agency initiative. Only good things are said about the city.
Baroness Smith, widow of former Labour leader John Smith, was a guest at a reception at the People's Palace restaurant at in London, selling Glasgow.
''I think this is great,'' she said. ''It is what my husband would always have supported.''
Dubbed the ''away team'', 40 Scots living in England have signed up to stand up and shout out for what is the best about Glasgow.
Sir Jeremy Isaacs, one-time boss of Channel 4 and former general director of the Royal Opera House, declared he had no hesitation when asked for his backing for the scheme.
The ''Glasgow sphere of influence'' project was launched last night at the People's Palace restaurant (surely a name that would find favour with the Labour Party) in the Royal Festival Hall, London, owned naturally enough by a Glaswegian - Mr David Levin.
Last night Sir Jeremy admitted it had taken him only seconds to respond to the request from the Glasgow Development Agency.
''Yes, I will help you help Glasgow,'' Sir Jeremy responded.
The scheme is aimed at increasing commercial, financial, and cultural interest in Glasgow. It was launched last night by Lord Gordon, chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board and Scottish Radio Holdings.
The plan is that prominent and influential Scots will encourage investors to visit Glasgow to see for themselves what the city has to offer, also to be available to offer advice to organisations back home that are concerned about promoting the city's image, and generally to push the case that Glasgow is the best city in the world.
Among founder members of the initiative, some of whom attended last night's launch, were Baroness Smith, and Baroness Helena Kennedy, who has made her name at the English Bar but is now sought after by TV producers on issues concerning women and human rights.
A second conference will be held in Glasgow today attended by members of the ''home team''.
Last night Mr Michael Lunn, chairman of the Glasgow Development Agency said: ''We were aware that in appealing to the bond which ties many people to Glasgow we would have a powerful recruitment tool.''
He had no shame in bringing together Scots to harness their skills for the benefit of Glasgow.
After all, he declared, the GDA was prepared to back their commitment with an exceptional product which consistently attracted multi-national companies to the city.
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