Stornoway Black Pudding - latest.

The banking world might be going to hell in a handbag and Barack Obama might be about to make history this afternoon but at least some politicians have maintained a proper sense of priorities.

Rhoda Grant MSP is on her way to Brussels today to safeguard the good name of the Stornoway Black Pudding, the spicy marag sausage that is much admired and unfortunately much copied in an inferior way by mainland butchers

Rhoda, a Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, and Stornoway butcher Iain MacLeod are meeting today with the EU Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development to discuss geographical protection for the product. This would give it label protection on a par with Parma Ham and champagne.

Ms Grant is confident of success. "This campaign has already attracted enormous interest with over 1,500 signatures being collected," she says. "The benefits of geographical protection are that the pudding can't be copied and the brand's profile will be ensured and protected. It will also give the butchers concerned the opportunity to raise their profile and hopefully expand into new markets."

There are four butchers in Stornoway who produce the black pudding, which is acknowledged as a quality product and available in reputable retailers throughout the land. Do not be fooled by the mainland copy referred to a 'Stornoway style' black pudding.