Emma Roddick MSP has spoken out about the need to reassure rural and island Scotland that a minority SNP government will work for them.

Questioning the First Minister John Swinney as he stated his priorities for Scotland in a statement to Parliament today, the Highlands & Islands MSP pushed for commitments to rural and island areas in Scotland.

She said:

“It is important that the First Minister makes strong commitments to the Highlands & Islands, recognising there is trust to rebuild and investment needed to reverse the trend of depopulation.

“The SNP has a strong history of investing in the region: Inverness Castle, money for innovation in energy and the space sector, and Stornoway deep water terminal, to name a few, however, folk have felt left behind through the Bute House agreement.

“That happened both because key community leaders didn’t feel involved in policymaking and because the messaging around some legislation left things open to misinterpretation or, often deliberate, misinterpretation.

“I have already written to ministers pressing for clarity on transport investment in the North, support for tailored migration solutions, and to look again at building regulations which put rural and island housing providers in difficult situations.

“Our move to ‘Net Zero’ must be led by rural and island expertise, not leave my constituents – who are already facing fuel poverty at greater levels than the rest of the UK – even worse off. We won’t end child poverty in Scotland without addressing poverty in rural and island areas.

“I was glad to hear John Swinney state that the Scottish Government is committed to delivering for rural and island areas, and I look forward to continuing to work with him and other SNP Ministers to make sure my constituents are heard at the highest level.”