Meeting of the Parliament 24 March 2026 [Draft]
I agree with that. I served with Richard Leonard on the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee in session 5, and, although I accept that his politics and mine will probably never align, he has served those whom he represents extremely well in this place, even if his views are not always welcomed by the front-bench members of his own party.
I pay special tribute to my Highlands and Islands Conservative colleague Edward Mountain, whose work on the bill has been representative of his usual approach. His amendments have secured a commitment to customer responsiveness from the Crofting Commission, a commitment to consultation on common grazings ahead of future legislation and at least a positive indication from the minister on the issues of landlord representation and involvement with the commission.
Edward Mountain has been a good friend and a great colleague over my nine years in Parliament—my nine years so far, I hope—and has always provided sage advice and support. He has been a staunch ally and combative voice for people and businesses outside urban areas. His passion for rural Scotland and experience of rural issues are absolutely unrivalled. The Scottish Conservatives have always been the party that stands up for rural Scotland, and Edward Mountain has very much been in the vanguard on that. To say that we on the Conservative benches, and many across the Highlands and Islands region and rural Scotland, will miss him is an understatement.
A great deal of expertise and experience around the chamber today will sadly be absent in the next parliamentary session. When significant reform takes place, I hope that new members will look back at the contributions of members who have examined the issue and reflected on it in detail. Although I recognise that there is a great deal of consensus in the Parliament on crofting reform and a recognition that change must come, I believe that we must acknowledge the need for a clear plan for the future. I hope that that can be dealt with early in the next session and that the process will draw on the work that has been done before and during the bill’s parliamentary stages.