Land Reform Bill must be stronger, says Emma Roddick SNP MSP

Emma Roddick MSP has called for a strengthening of the Land Reform Bill, which passed the first stage in Parliament last week, calling for a lowering of the threshold of the size of land that is subject to provisions in the legislation, and greater transparency on landowners.

The SNP MSP said:

“The reaction to the Brewdogs of this world coming in and buying up bits of the Highlands to kill trees on, and parading this fact around as if it is something to be proud of, has – I’m pleased to say – frequently been one of derision, dismay, and disgust.

”But there remains a pervasive attitude that the Highlands is a wilderness, available for the richest urbanites to purchase and do with as they please – because whatever cause they want it to serve is obviously going to be better than whatever the silly Highlanders would do with it.

“Let’s do what we can with the last year we have of this parliament to put power in the hands of communities in the Highlands and Islands.”

Pointing to the example of the Isle of Eigg, which was purchased by the community in 1997, she said:

“Eigg went from being home to around 60 people in the 90s to over 100 twenty-seven years later. A community knows what it needs better than anyone else – and it shows in the examples of community ownership that we have.

“Highland communities have shown incredible resilience in the face of decades of inequality, and sometimes, they are successful in purchasing and making better use of land – but not often enough. Land reform should be about recognising, supporting, and empowering that resilience.”

Ms Roddick has confirmed she is working on amendments to bring forward to the bill at Stage 2.