Meeting of the Parliament 24 March 2026 [Draft]
Now for something different. I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of interests, as a partner in a farming business, a member of Scottish Land & Estates and NFU Scotland, and a crofting landlord.
I turn to part 1 of the bill. It bears repeating that, although the legislative framework for crofting was first laid out in the 19th century, the practice retains an important role in crofting counties up to the modern day—one that is as much about society and culture as it is about land tenure, as others have said. The bill is, of course, far from the first piece of reforming legislation for the crofting sector, and it will not be the last. At stage 1, I observed that, although the bill paves the way for further changes down the line, that should not be an excuse for a bill that cannot stand on its own merits or make a positive and meaningful difference in its own right.
The process of reform is essential to ensure the survival of crofting, but the crofting of tomorrow will doubtless be quite different. The process of evolution has been a major contributing factor in crofting’s continued relevance. As a result of the consultation on the bill and the lengthy process of discussions that predate it, we now have a considerable body of evidence to draw on for that future legislation. I would, however, guard against the assumption that there can be only one vision for the future of crofting. Ultimately, there will be many areas of disagreement, and, in many cases, the bill has kicked those questions further down a very long road.
Consultation cannot be a substitute for a clear vision, and that is where I think that the bill and the Scottish Government’s approach fall some distance short. Reform has also been slow going. In all reality, we could have dealt years ago with many of the issues that are raised in the bill, rather than squeezing them in under the wire in the very last week of the parliamentary session. It is my hope that the same sort of inertia on crofting reform is not a feature of the next session. The next Scottish Government, whatever colour it is, will need to be mindful of its role not only to consult but to actively make choices and to move things along where possible.
Part 2 of the bill has resulted in a greater degree of consensus around the chamber. Concerns about resourcing that arose from the consultation were noted at stage 1. Tim Eagle and Ariane Burgess lodged amendments at stage 2, which are now reflected in the Government’s successful stage 3 amendment on a review mechanism for the changes. I welcome that approach.
I turn to the contributions at stage 3. My fellow islander Beatrice Wishart successfully moved amendment 1, which was her last legislative amendment as a member of the Parliament. That was on the application of duties to owner-occupied crofters, which was a measure that we were pleased to support.
Also standing down is another islander, Rhoda Grant, who has made a significant contribution to the bill with her amendments and who has helped to guide it through the stages. Rhoda Grant is one of those members who were first elected to the Parliament in 1999, and she will take with her a wealth of experience. As she has made her last speech in Parliament, I pass on the best wishes of all on the Conservative benches.
It was also Richard Leonard’s final speech in this Parliament. I cannot believe that I have to say this, but I do not have a crush on Richard Leonard, despite what others in this Parliament—