Accusations fly after HIE board vote in Holyrood
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Nationalist politicians in the north have been accused of betraying their constituents after voting against protecting the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Opposition parties united against the SNP to vote against plans to replace the board with an overarching national body.
The victory at Holyrood on Wednesday was narrow, with just one deciding vote, after all of the SNP MSPs in the Highlands stuck with their party and voted against the motion by Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Donald Cameron.
This sparked widespread criticism of the SNP, with the opposition accusing them of not representing the people of the Highlands.
Edward Mountain, also a Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said: "One thing I have learned from living and working in the Highlands is the impact people place on loyalty and in this instance they [Highland SNPs] put their party before their people.
"All MSPs are sent down to Holyrood to represent their constituents and by standing up for HIE that is what I did.
"People in the Highlands have long memories and they will remember this vote for a long time to come."
The vote, which won by 64 to 63, is not binding but as a minority government, to ignore it will make it difficult for the SNP to gain support for other matters, including their upcoming budget.
Dissolving the HIE board into a central body, which would also represent Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council, has been suggested as part of a review into skills and enterprise organisations across the country.
Those in favour of the change say this will allow HIE to benefit from shared skills and resources, while retaining a presence in the north.
This was refuted by those who spoke at the debate, who called the government obsessed with centralisation and said removing the board will take power away from HIE.
But Kate Forbes, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch defended her decision to vote against the motion.
"I’ve lived in the constituency a lot longer than I’ve been a member of the SNP," she said.
"In every decision I take, I ask whether this is what’s best for the people of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.
"That was the basis of how I voted, and will continue to be the basis of how I vote in the future.
She also accused the opposition of lying and exaggerating about the risk to HIE.
"The opposition have moved the debate on HIE’s future from reality to nonsense," she said.
"It is worth recalling that we’re only at stage one of the review and so how the opposition can make their claims when they’ve not seen the conclusions of the report is anybody’s guess.
"It is a downright mistruth to say HIE is being abolished, when the only changes will be to the board."
Since the vote there have been calls for a climbdown on the plan, including from Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant.
"The future of HIE is extremely important for the Highlands and Islands," she said.
"It is a matter which transcends party politics. We may all have been put for election by our parties but we were elected by the people and it is to them that we owe our first loyalty.
"During my speech, I called upon Highlanders and Islanders to stand together and reject this wrong-headed government plan. I also made a direct appeal to the SNP MSPs from the Highlands and Islands to join all the other parties and put people before party.
"Unfortunately, they chose party first. They voted to centralise power in the south and in favour of neutering HIE, regardless of the consequences on the communities they serve."
Despite this, Scotland’s economy secretary Keith Brown continued to defend the plan but promised to consult local MSPs in the next stages of the review.
"The review we are undertaking is aimed at giving businesses and individuals in the Highlands and Islands additional access and support from national services as part of a more coherent system," he said.
"I am committed to the services and support that HIE provides and will meet with MSPs from across the chamber in order to discuss the way forward.
"I will listen carefully to and work closely with the enterprise agencies and MSPs from across the chamber to explore constructive ideas about how we can deliver better economic and social outcomes for the highlands and islands and for all of Scotland."
Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson added her voice to those calling for a rethink.
"This vote sends a strong message to the Scottish Government about their incessant centralising agenda and we would now urge ministers to reconsider their entire approach," she said.
"Centralisation completely contradicts the move towards localism and communities being involved in decision making and having services which reflect their local needs and geography."
How did they vote?
For the motion to retain the board of HIE:
Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands Conservative
Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands Labour
Edward Mountain, Highlands and Islands Conservative
Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands Conservative
David Stewart, Highlands and Islands Labour
Against the motion to retain the board of HIE:
Fergus Ewing, Inverness and Nairn, SNP
Kate Forbes, Skye Lochaber and Badenoch, SNP
Gail Ross, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, SNP
Maree Todd, Highlands and Islands, SNP
John Finnie, Highlands and Islands Green MSP was ill and unable to attend the debate,
