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Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has called for the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy, Fergus Ewing, to make a “clear and honest public statement” on the affairs of the Crofting Commission.

Mrs Grant’s call comes after the revelation that Mr Ewing has written privately to the Commission Convener, Colin Kennedy, telling him that his interpretation of crofting law is “diametrically opposed” to that of the Scottish Government.

However, Mr Ewing has resisted calls to remove Mr Kennedy or to order an inquiry into the Commission’s conduct.  He has also made no public statement which reflects the scathing criticisms which he expressed in private correspondence which has since been leaked.

Rhoda Grant said “We are rapidly approaching the stage where it is not just Colin Kennedy who should be considering his position but also Fergus Ewing, if  he continues to treat the crofting community with such disrespect.

“To all intents and purposes, Mr Ewing has admitted privately that Mr Kennedy is a complete loose cannon, making up crofting law as he goes along, casting aspersions on decent people and creating chaos in some crofting communities.

“It is simply not acceptable for the Cabinet Secretary to accept all of this in private while doing absolutely nothing about it in public.  If the Commission has acted far beyond its legal powers, as I and many others believe, then Mr Ewing has a clear moral and political duty to say so.”

Mrs Grant recalled that she tabled Parliamentary questions in May including one which asked if Mr Ewing had confidence in the convener.  

She said “The answer at that time was evasive which perhaps reflected the fact that Mr Ewing was new to the job.

“He has now had three months to sort this out.  The Crofting Commission is sitting on his doorstep in Inverness and the facts are staring him in the face.  So I ask once again – does he have confidence in Mr Kennedy and the Commission?  And if not, when will he finally act?”

Mrs Grant noted that the leaked letter signed by Mr Ewing said it was “not sustainable for the Scottish Government and one of its pubic bodies to take opposing interpretations of the law.”

She said: “In that sentence, he admitted the Scottish Government’s responsibility for the Commission’s behaviour but it seems he is more interested in saving political face by not recognising that Ministers have failed to ensure that the commission acts in a legal and responsible manner.

“It is long past time for Fergus Ewing to make a clear and honest public statement on the state of the Crofting Commission and to start speaking up for crofters rather than defending political allies.”

 

Fergus Ewing urged to make "clear and honest" statement on Crofting Commission

26 August 2016