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Labour pledges concordat with islanders over economy                12/4/10

Labour hopeful DJ Macsween on the election trail at Kallin harbour. He says the islands fishing industry and other business sectors can steer his course to revitalise the economy

►  Macsween’s vision for the Western Isles  

 

 

 

In what is believed to be a first in politics, the Western Isles Labour candidate will enter an unique economic concordat with islanders, if elected on May 6th.

 

Donald John Macsween has pledged to allow the community to shape his job as a MP with pre-set targets for a development action plan to regenerate the Hebrides ailing economy.

 

He says urgent action is required for the islands’ economy to recover and any delay in taking decisions will leave it too late.

 

Mr Macsween says a strong local economy is pivotal to the future of the Western Isles: in simple terms economic prosperity spearheads a cycle of employment, attracting people to fill jobs, supporting people to live and raise  families, as well as stabilising the population.

 

He says it is a bold reform of the way MPs have related with the rest of the islands’ administration in the past.

 

Under his “radical plan,” he promises to call a summit of community, voluntary and business leaders before the end of the year. It would also include the Comhairle, health board, development agency HIE, and Hebridean Housing Partnership.

Over two days they would thrash out a set of goals in a vision to develop the islands, combat decline, revitalise traditional industries and promote new ones, reverse depopulation, create jobs for youth, attract families, look after the elderly, and sustain communities.  

 

This gathering would set “smart and achievable targets and shape how a MP in the Western Isles will operate.”

 

He promises to report back to every 12 months at a island conference where his progress can be scrutinised and fresh aims established.

 

Mr Macsween would also publicly publish an annual report on his progress.

 

The political hopeful wants to see a Western Isles Development Authority set up to drive a focused strategy to grow local businesses and social enterprises.

 

He promises to fight for traditional industries like fishing, crofting and weaving. He says tourism should be helped to grow to its full potential.

 

He points out that small, community owned energy schemes are better than giant externally-controlled windfarms. He would also actively argue for the right of community energy companies to bypass the huge utility owners and sell electricity directly.  

 

Mr Macsween said: “I don’t believe in going to Westminster and sitting down and behaving like some drunken hooligan shouting at the other side.

 

“I will talk to people and persuade them, reasonably and quietly, of our argument. And show that the Western Isles are worth investing in. That here is a great place to live in, raise children in and grow old.

 

“We should not hesitate to do it. If we don’t then we are staring down the abyss.”

 

Central to his vision is a grassroots, bottom-up approach in contrast to the top-down methods imposed by government agencies.

 

Mr Macsween hopes that agreement will be reached at the summit to set up a Western Isles Development Authority.

 

The aim for the new islands’ authority would be to have proper engagement across all sectors to help businesses and the wider economy to grow in ways appropriate to the Western Isles.  

 

The agreed action plan will then become the responsibility of the MP to progress, co-ordinate and facilitate with an annual meeting to report on progress.

 

Mr Macsween said is “setting himself a tough task but it will not be undertaken in isolation if all agencies agree to the plan.”

 

He says his priorities are clear: “First, the advance of community landownership. Much of the land area of the islands is now owned by the community.  That is important when looking at the potential impact of the growth of the renewable power generation sector.

 

“There is already a network of community-owned renewable developments throughout the Western Isles.  

 

“These include projects in Point, Tolsta, Shawbost, Barra, South Uist and Galson with others waiting in the wings.  

 

“The communities will be able to use the profits from these windfarms to develop community-owned enterprises and pump-prime other initiatives to diversify the economy.”

 

Mr Macsween concluded: “Access to and from the Islands has never been easier – with distance narrowed by improved transport services and the internet - while windy weather and stormy seas can become a lucrative source of electricity generation and become a major advantage as well.”

 

He said: “Far from being pessimistic about economic regeneration in the islands, if the right decisions are taken now, and we take control of out own economic destiny, I predict a bright future for the islands based on the land, the people, the pristine environment, and the natural resources.”