Politics

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has welcomed the announcement that CalMac is to locate five seasonal jobs in Stornoway this year.

Constructing a 600MW interconnector to the Western Isles would cost consumers just 4p more per household per year than the 450MW option.

Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil has written to Home Secretary Sajid Javid calling for the UK Government’s Seasonal Workers Pilot scheme to be extended to include the fishing industry.

“The Western Isles remains your home,” is the message from Western Isles politicians MP Angus MacNeil and MSP Alasdair Allan to all EU citizens living locally, amid ongoing Brexit uncertainty.

As the Brexit behemoth stumbles to a halt once again, who are the likely candidates for the top job?

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has written to Minister for Energy and Islands, Paul Wheelhouse MSP to underline the urgent need for investment in new ferries for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service network over and above the commitment to build the two ferries at Ferguson Marine Engineering that are now set to be at least two years late before they enter service.

Whatever the estimated numbers turn out to be, no one can deny that last weekend’s demonstration in London was an impressive expression of people’s desire to move to a second referendum to settle the Brexit debacle.

Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has welcomed a proposal by the Scottish Conservatives to create a £100m Pothole Action Fund believing that it is something that his region desperately needs.

Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan raised the issue of an interconnector to the Western Isles with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during this week’s session of First Minister’s Questions.

Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil is pushing for a debate and vote in the House of Commons next week to end Brexit.

At the recent Scottish Labour Party Conference in Dundee, Western Isles delegate, Donald MacKinnon took to the stage to highlight how important European Union community-led local development funding has been to the Western Isles economy and that there is an urgent need for clarity on the continuation of these funding streams post-Brexit.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland has begun (Wednesday 20 March) a consultation with councils on proposals for electoral arrangements in the Western Isles, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands.

Scottish Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has expressed concern following the release of figures which indicate that the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) is to receive the worst financial settlement of any local authority in Scotland, while rates paid by businesses in the islands are forecast to rise by 10%.

The council tax hike is causing financial pain to island families, say the SNP Group at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar who have received many representations from the community in the last week.

Six young people from across the Western Isles are currently campaigning to become Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs).

Islands MSPs Liam McArthur, Tavish Scott and Alasdair Allan jointly sponsored a reception at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday evening to make the case for an “Islands Deal” for Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.

Western Isles Alasdair Allan earlier this week backed the Fuel Poverty Bill at Stage 1 in the Scottish Parliament.