The problems that have to be addressed

The inexorable decline of our population is the number one, existential threat to the whole Western Isles, an issue which successive governments have tinkered with ineffectively for decades. The second issue is the shortage of good quality, well-insulated houses at affordable cost coupled with fully resourced and available medical facilities to attract and retain permanent residents. The third is the appalling failure of the ferry service, particularly severely affecting South Uist, but also Barra, North Uist, Harris and the Sound of Harris.

What I plan to do about these

We must develop excellent reasons why energetic younger people will want to stay here or migrate here, building and maintaining their families and whole-community well-being. The political system for managing our country has been trashed during this Century. It is overdue a reset, transferring power back to the voters.

Firstly, Liberal Democrats will strengthen your democratic rights by implementing proportional representation for electing MPs and giving 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in General Elections, as they do already here for our MSP and councillors. We will appoint a Commission to produce a plan to implement a federal system throughout the United Kingdom, which should have the very swift effect of Scotland taking full responsibility and accountability for her own spending and tax raising as a fully autonomous country within the UK.

We will develop “localism” – where decisions are taken as near as possible to the point of effect, by the people about to be affected. CnES will set local priorities and be solely accountable to Western Isles voters for the entirety of its endeavours, including achieving net-zero and crofter-led peat restoration, and its budget, delegating power and responsibility to local communities where possible. At least 50% of the board members of NHS Western Isles, CalMac and HIA will be island residents, so that these organisations deliver what the islanders require.

In this locally-driven framework, the depopulation issue can be tackled with the focus, endeavour and the capital equal to the scale of the task. It can be achieved through building a fair and prosperous economy from which all benefit, exploiting wind power, developing the hydrogen economy, building expertise and capability in modern satellite and fast fibre communication systems, encouraging sustainable fishing and better managing tourism. With such wide-ranging powers and local members, the Comhairle as well as health, ferries and airports authorities will be empowered to deliver what the people of the Western Isles want.