Anas Sarwar hears the case for Uist

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar was in the Western Isles last month with Highlands & Islands MSP Rhoda Grant and prospective Na h-Eileanan an Iar candidate Torcuil Crichton.

The Uist leg of the tour included meetings in Claddach Kirkibost, Benbecula, Grimsay, Daliburgh and Polachar, with business and community leaders setting out the issues and opportunities Uist faced.

Our failing ferry service was high on the agenda of those who met with the Labour leader.

At the time of the visit, CalMac was in the midst of another spate of confusing service disruptions and the issue was being argued back and forth on Radio Scotland’s popular Kaye Adams phone-in show.

Commenting on the ferry situation, Anas Sarwar said: ”People are sick of apologies, sick of warm words. It’s devastating these communities. The system is broken and the Government’s excuses are just not cutting it. The challenge I am setting myself, Torcuil and the wider party is to demonstrate how we are going to change things; how we are going to deliver an alternative.”

Mr Crichton believed that one unified organisation based in the islands would put an end to the ‘continual passing the parcel of responsibility’ between CalMac, CMAL and Scottish Government:

“We wouldn’t have got to where we are today if there had been island representation on the boards of the agencies that are meant to be serving the islands but are actually only serving themselves.”

Mr Sarwar said that in the short term, businesses should be compensated for their losses, but added that longer term solutions needed to be evolved in partnership with island communities.

When Am Pàipear asked the Labour leader if he saw cause to hope, he replied: “I am 100% confident that we can and will find a solution, but we need to be led by the community.

“Despite the despair, there is huge opportunity here, but the islands need a Government that is on their side.”

Mr Crichton added: “Thirty years ago, when I was a journalist here, the talk at a round table event like the one we attended today would have been ‘what can we do to make this place work?’ Now, the economy is actually bursting with opportunity; the place is running like a fair, but it is being held back by structures and institutions that haven’t changed in 30 years.”

The politicians said that meeting after meeting had highlighted the issues of a one size fits all Scotland, where policy devised in Edinburgh was just not working for island communities.

“HPMAs are a perfect demonstration of central Scotland policy designed in Holyrood with no connection to the islands and no idea of the impact on communities” said Mr Sarwar.

Mr Chrichton added: “Affordable housing is another example. The unit price Government allocates for social housing in Glasgow or Edinburgh is not going work here in the islands, where the cost of materials is so much higher.”

Summing up his visit for Am Pàipear readers, Anas Sarwar said:

“I had a tremendous week in the Western Isles. Over almost 200 miles of travel and over a dozen different meetings with Labour’s candidate Torcuil Crichton and Rhoda Grant MSP, I learnt a lot.

“I saw first-hand the incredible potential the islands have. But to unlock that future they need a Government on their side.

“I heard directly about how cancelled ferries mean missed cancer appointments, lack of supplies coming in and businesses in danger of going to the wall.

“I also heard how the HPMA consultation left people feeling threatened by an out of touch SNP government in Holyrood that takes islanders for granted. I got the message loud and clear – the HPMA proposals are not acceptable.

“Six years ago Humza Yousaf, then SNP Minister for Transport and the Islands said that resolving the Western Isles’ ferry crisis was a ‘priority’.

“Islanders are still waiting, the situation is worse and Humza Yousaf is First Minister.

“This can’t wait any longer. Millions of pounds are being lost, people need support right now.

“That’s why Labour has called for a compensation scheme while the ferry chaos continues.

“The challenge I am setting myself, Torcuil and Scottish Labour is to demonstrate how we can work together to deliver for you.”