KATE FORBES: My commitment to you as local MSP remains as resolute as ever
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After the campaign period of debating and discussing the best way forward for Scotland and the SNP, I am incredibly grateful to those members and constituents who have encouraged me throughout.
I am still receiving thank you cards which are sincerely appreciated.
I hope we can all get behind our First Minister, Humza Yousaf, as he governs for all of Scotland and continues to make the case for independence.
The best and most important part of the leadership contest was the exploration and development of policy areas, and then being able to communicate these ideas with SNP members and the wider public.
Many of these policy ideas I wrote of in my last column, and I remain committed to continuing to press on these policy areas from the backbenches in Holyrood.
One such area I focused on during my campaign, and an immediate priority as we approach the August launch date, is the roll-out of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).
Throughout the campaign, I was clear in my continued belief that small businesses are the backbone of the Scottish economy and a key part of our country’s success story.
A thriving SME sector enables us to grow our economy in a way that allows us to reinvest in our public services.
I have heard the calls from businesses loud and clear: it is why I chose to have a campaign stop at the Cairngorm Brewery in Aviemore.
The rollout of the DRS must be paused until its sticking points can be ironed out.
The principles of the scheme are important but as it stands its implementation could be flawed. I will continue to engage with colleagues in parliament and with the Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater on this issue.
The dualling of the A9 was a key part of my pitch to be First Minister and one that has rightly dominated my time as constituency MSP.
Further delay is unacceptable and unthinkable. To that end, I have been actively engaging with Transport Scotland over the development of the procurement process and will join backbench colleagues in pushing for the project to be fast-tracked.
The issue remains chief among my priorities as Badenoch MSP.
Also high on my agenda is the issue of affordable housing – another central pillar of my leadership campaign.
Housing remains under pressure across Scotland and especially across the strath. A clear focus should be on identifying more land in key areas that can be built on, offering councils the option of implementing a council tax surcharge on empty second homes and targeting further investment specifically for rural areas.
The partnership approach between the Cairngorm Business Partnership, Highland Council, Scottish Government and the Highland Housing Alliance – progressing the roll-out of six mid-market rent houses for workers in the strath – is one example of what can be achieved with a can-do attitude.
Further progress of this kind will undoubtedly go a long way in easing demand and sustaining the local population and economy.
While I may not have been successful in my bid to be First Minister, my commitment as Badenoch MSP ultimately remains the same: to see a thriving local economy, strengthened infrastructure, and safe, affordable housing for all who need it.
n Kate Forbes (SNP) is MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.
