Sirs,
As a councillor who represents Stornoway North in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, I write
to express my support for the principles underpinning the Land Reform Bill currently
under consideration, while urging further ambition to address the historic injustices
of land ownership in Scotland. The bill represents a vital opportunity to reshape
our relationship with the land, ensuring it serves the common good and fosters thriving
communities across our nation.
For too long, Scotland’s land has been concentrated in the hands of a few, a legacy
of feudal structures that have denied communities their rightful stake in the resources
that sustain them. The bill’s aim to diversify ownership and empower local people
is a step toward justice, but it must go further to dismantle the entrenched inequalities
that persist. Land is not merely a commodity; it is the foundation of our collective
existence, entrusted to us to steward for the benefit of all, not to be hoarded for
private gain. I advocate for measures that prioritise community-led ownership models,
ensuring that the fruits of the land—whether agricultural, environmental, or cultural—are
shared equitably among those who live and work upon it.
The bill must also strengthen accountability. Large estates, often held by absentee
landlords, have too often neglected the needs of local people, prioritising profit
over prosperity. Robust mechanisms are needed to ensure landowners act as responsible
custodians, investing in the social and ecological health of their communities. This
includes supporting sustainable practices that preserve the land for future generations,
reflecting a moral duty to care for what we have been given.
In the Outer Hebrides, we see the transformative potential of community ownership,
where land is managed collectively to support housing, enterprise, and cultural heritage.
The bill should expand such models nationwide, empowering communities to shape their
own futures. This requires not only legislative support but also adequate funding
and resources to level the playing field, particularly for rural and island communities
facing unique challenges.
I urge the Parliament to view this bill as a chance to build a Scotland where land
serves as a shared inheritance, fostering unity and opportunity for all its people.
Let us commit to a vision where every community has a voice in the land that defines
it, and where the wealth of our natural
Councillor Gordon Murray
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Letters: Supporting the Land Reform bill
19 May 2025