Macsween’s vision for the Western Isles 12/4/10
► Labour pledges concordat with islanders over economy rescue
Labour candidate Donald John Macsween formally launched his election campaign at a rally on Friday night.
A cornerstone of his manifesto is gathering local consensus to establish a Western Isles Development Authority and driving economic development.
Before the May election he will publish a draft action plan outlining his thinking on an economic recovery strategy for the Western Isles. It would be put to an initial summit attended by business representatives to formalise the development strategy and establish targets for him to meet.
He says his job as MP would be to pursue the goals set by business and community bodies.
Each year, he will put himself up to critical examination of his progress and also publish an annual report of his activities.
In his speech at the rally Mr Macsween recalled how, growing up in Point, he observed so many examples of social values and the mutual help of island society.
It was he said, a “ moral map. The importance of society, people looking after each other especially the poor. The Labour party put that into action. I still believe in these ideals. So does the Labour party.”
The excesses of finance bosses and the imploding of the banks which threaten to freeze the movement of cash was “an absolute disgrace.
Refering tot he state bailout of the banks he asked: “What would have happened if
Alasdair Darling had done what the Tories would do -
“It resulted in some very hard times in terms of public expenditure and for the economy in general.
“Gordon Brown and Alasdair Darling have taken us through that and are coming out stronger and better on the other side.
“Under Thatcher the poor, the young and the unemployed were cast aside.
“There have been times since 1977 I’ve been unhappy with the Labour Party. But think
of all the achievements gained -
“We can look forward to a living wage in Labour’s manifesto to be announced on Monday.
“I want to go to Westminster to represent this seat, to make sure our voice is heard
that the needs of this constituency is paramount -
“That kind of representation has been lacking in recent years.
“I believe we can turn the economy of the Western Isles around.
“Traditional industries like crofting and weaving can be revitalised. Some came very close to disappearing.
“There is a bright future of Harris Tweed exploiting new ways of doing it.
“Crofting has come through very difficult times. The housing grants for crofters just about disappeared. Cropping grants disappeared. We have been crofting sustainably for hundreds of years. Crofting needs help and support. It doesn’t need a new Crofting Act or more legislation.
“Crofting is the social cement keeping people on the island -
“Housing repair grants are disappearing this year. People have not yet twigged the extent but it will be awful for the Western Isles.”
“Fishing has always been worked sustainably. There was always a Close Time but then it was exposed to very avaricious trawlers from the east coats which cleaned out our seas.
“We have to ensure fishermen are not ripped off by giant supermarkets which fix prices below a market level for their catch.
“Highlands and Islands Enterprise has been decimated with budgets cut by half. If the SNP get control after the next Scottish Elections I fear HIE will disappear and become just a government department
“It is time to take control of our own destiny.
In a reference to small scale renewable energy he urged the use of natural resources of “what we already have to provide seed corn finance for other community initiatives.
He advocated islanders’ control of “community energy schemes like Point Power, North Tolsta, Horshader, Galson, Storas Uibhist, and Barra and do it for ourselves.”
“We can lift ourselves up by our bootlaces. All these projects got planning permission and these community companies are worth a lot of money now. These profits will not go to fat cats in New York or Hong Kong but are coming right back into our own communities for local schemes which need funding.
“For initiatives like Bethesda and the Alpha project for their funding gap so they do have to scrimp to survive.
“We are at the edge of something exciting for the Western Isles but we have to take the decisions now.
“We have falling schools rolls. Schools are closing because there are no children. Our youth go away to the mainland and very few come back.
They will never return, he said, “unless we create the jobs for them.”
He insisted: “We can. We can really, really, do it. We need to take the right step at the right time and believe in our faith to do it.”
He explained he would call a summit of all island organisations involved in the commercial, public and voluntary economy within a few months if he is elected.
This two-
He promised to avoid “yahoo” style politics. Instead he would use quiet persuasion to push the islands’ case to “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.”