A BITTER row over the imposition of Gaelic on the Isle of Skye is set to escalate after a new distillery said it will only employ people who speak the language.

Sir Iain Noble, chairman of Praban na Linne, owners of the Gaelic Whisky Collection, has said that all 20 jobs at the £3m distillery on the Sleat peninsula will be reserved for people who speak the language.

Noble, co-founder of the Noble Grossart merchant bank and the owner of an estate on the island, admitted in 2003 that he was a “racialist” after condemning foreign incomers as a threat to the country’s genetic purity.

The move threatens to further divide a community torn apart by plans to make Sleat primary school, on the island, exclusively Gaelic. Gaelic-language campaigners have been accused of “fascism” over the policy, which would mean that some pupils would have to travel 25 miles to another school to be taught in English.

“We will be looking for Gaelic speakers to fill the vacant posts. I don’t think that’s a problem,” said Noble.

“Some people have said we’re going to be up against the race relations board, but I don’t think we will because it doesn’t matter what country they come from as long as they can speak the language.

“It’s just the same as London bus drivers having to speak English.

“Anybody who is a Gaelic speaker would know that this was a Gaelic-speaking still, so they would hopefully talk to the staff in Gaelic. It’s growing increasingly popular to speak Gaelic nowadays.

“We are very keen on maintaining and strengthening the position of Gaelic and this would be the first and only Gaelic-speaking distillery in Scotland.”

Three years ago the spark of controversy was provided by Noble when he caused uproar at a meeting of the Countryside Alliance by arguing passionately against English immigration into Skye.

“Does that mean I must be a racialist? I think I have to confess that I am,” he said at the time. “It doesn’t mean I don’t like foreigners. I love them, all colours. But I don’t want them to settle and produce ghettoes in my patch of the country.”

Noble said that he found the controversy surrounding events at Sleat primary school “surprising”.

“There aren’t many people within the UK who have an opportunity to have their children brought up bilingually and this is a wonderful way to do it,” he said.

Times Recommends

• An officer and a gentle woman
• Dame Helen Mirren is worthy of the Epidaurus
• Foods that can help to prevent swine flu