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Commissioners told to apologise to crofters





Cabinet minister Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn)
Cabinet minister Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn)

Highland crofters have welcomed the prospect of a review at the Crofting Commission.

The Scottish Crofting Federation reported on Thursday (September 22) that Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing has told the commission to apologise for their behaviour over common grazings while launching a review of the Commission.

“It has taken a long battle to get to this point”, said federation Chair Fiona Mandeville,

“But it is extremely good that it is reported that Mr Ewing has made clear his support to crofters by directing the commissioners to issue a full, unequivocal, public apology for their mistreatment of common grazings committees.

“This whole episode has been badly damaging to individuals, to crofting communities and to crofting itself, so we hope an apology may be the first step in a healing process.

“As the person who seems to be behind the on-going attacks on crofting committees, it would be appropriate for the Convener of the Crofting Commission, Colin Kennedy to give the apology in his resignation statement.”

The BBC were told on Wednesday that Mr Ewing had held a meeting with the commissioners where he had made it clear that a full public apology was expected of them.

The commissioners meet next week for a board meeting.

Ms Mandeville continued: “SCF has been asking for a review of the Crofting Commission, to look critically at its procedures and governance. The news that Mr Ewing has instructed government officials to carry out a review is very promising. “This situation must be prevented from happening again by modifying the way the commission works. It makes no sense at all that the convener was involved in local meetings - and was making personal statements regarding grazing committee business.”


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