Commitment to respect Orkney’s crofting needs welcomed

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has welcomed an acceptance from the Scottish Government that regulation should help and not hinder Orkney’s crofters.

The acceptance, delivered in Holyrood yesterday. It follows a campaign from Northern Isles MSPs Liam McArthur and Tavish Scott to urge the Scottish Government to recognise the difference of island crofting in any regulations.

In a survey conducted by the two MSPs in 2014, the most prominent request by crofters across the isles was for an end to one-size-fits-all regulation.

Speaking after the statement Liam McArthur said that it is widely accepted that each of the crofting counties are different. He said that all the evidence shows that the needs and aspirations of crofters in Orkney and Shetland, for example, are different from those in other parts of the Highlands.

He also said that, although ministers have expressed some sympathy over the issue, to date there has been no action.

Mr McArthur said: “I welcome Fergus Ewing’s acceptance today that the current one-size-fits-all approach to crofting regulation is not appropriate or working in the best interests of crofters and crofting communities. However, we now need to see the government’s warm words translated into meaningful action.

“I will continue to work constructively with Mr Ewing and others to ensure a new direction and tailored approach is taken.”