Labour will devolve more power to Western Isles 17/4/14
Labour will devolve more power to Scotland’s island communities, Shadow Scottish
Secretary, Margaret Curran MP, has pledged.
Ms Curran MP said: “The leaders of our
island councils have made a strong case for why their communities should have more
control over the decisions that affect their lives. Devolution was never intended
to concentrate power in Edinburgh – we need more power passed to communities across
Scotland.
“Labour would put more power in the hands of Scotland’s island communities.
This will include power to develop renewable energy resources, to tackle unemployment,
to take more control of economic development and to give the maximum possible power
over the Crown Estates."
Margaret Curran also announced that a future Labour UK Government
would maintain the islands’ desk in the Scotland Office and would also hold twice
yearly summits with the island council leaders.
She said: “The islands may be remote, but they shouldn’t be remote from the business
of the UK Government. Labour would maintain the Islands Desk in the Scotland Office
and we would also hold formal meetings twice a year with the leaders of the three
island councils.”