I will be in The Narrows of Stornoway for the three days before the General Election: Monday 1st, Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd July, ready to hear about the issues you think are important and to answer any questions you may have about Liberal Democrat policy. I look forward to meeting you. Look for the orange rosette!
Alex Cole-Hamilton launched the General Election manifesto of the Scottish Liberal Democrats yesterday at Craigie’s Farm near Edinburgh, alongside Wendy Chamberlain. Alex described the manifesto as “a bold and ambitious plan for our country”, and said:
“Our fair deal for Scotland would see:
Read the entire manifesto here.
Iain X, the local freelance journalist and podcaster, is creating a WeeDebates podcast in which he and Donald Macleod interview all the electoral candidates for the Western Isles. Here is his interview with me.
All the interviews may be found on Facebook with the hashtag #weedebates, and on X at @iainmaciver.
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.
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.
A fair deal that gives everyone opportunity. A fair deal that puts power in your hands. A fair deal that holds the powerful to account. This is the fair deal the Liberal Democrats are fighting for.
In very tough times, the British people have shown remarkable decency and strength. Everywhere across our great United Kingdom, people from all backgrounds and all walks of life are working hard, raising families, helping others and playing by the rules – but finding it harder and harder to make ends meet.
Now more than ever, people deserve a fair deal.
More and more people are turning to the Liberal Democrats to put an end to this terrible Conservative Government. They know that every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to elect a strong local champion who will fight for a fair deal for you and your community.
1. A fair, prosperous and innovative economy that promotes opportunity and wellbeing.
2. Fair access to good public services and a strong social safety net.
3. A flourishing environment, with fair access to nature for all.
4. A strong United Kingdom and a fair international order.
5. A truly fair democracy, where everyone’s rights are respected and individuals and communities are empowered.
For more information, see our Vision and our Policy pages.
Our Policy Paper “For a Fair Deal” can be downloaded here.
