It speaks volumes about the character and focus of Humza Yousaf that he chose the day after his decision to end the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens to make a major announcement on housing.
Housing has been a key area for the First Minister, and he has aided the positive progress on rural and island housing, including agreeing priorities for delivering for the islands and addressing island depopulation, an issue that I have had lots of engagement on during my recent recess visits, not least in Orkney.
To hear Humza announce £80 million to bring empty homes back into use was really excellent news from the new minority Scottish Government. This is especially true for island areas where being bounded by the sea means folk have by definition less of a choice of where to make their home.
There are many empty homes across Orkney, including in many of the islands, and I look forward to seeing Orkney Islands Council make progress on bringing them back to life with support from the Scottish Government. Helping councils buy back these homes to be able to offer them to folk struggling to find a home is a fundamental example of the SNP’s aim of creating a fairer country for everybody, no matter where they live.
To have celebrated this news on Friday, it was gutting on Monday to listen to Humza announce that he will stand down as First Minister once the process to find a new SNP leader and First Minister is concluded.
The First Minister leaves a positive legacy, not least for his focus on poverty and inequality, and I am convinced we are going in the right direction on these and many other issues.
For example, this year marks five years of operation for Social Security Scotland, which has introduced 14 Scottish Government benefits, seven of which are available only in Scotland, since it was established. The Scottish Child Payment, which is unique to Scotland, is helping lift 100,000 children out of poverty this year.
Elsewhere this week, on Tuesday I was pleased to back Stage 1 of the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill introduced by my friend and Green MSP Gillian Mackay. Gillian has put much work into this proposal to provide safe access toe facilities that provide abortion services. It is unacceptable for anyone to experience harassment, intimidation, or unwanted influence as they access what is essential healthcare.
If anyone needs a reminder of where the real challenges to democracy and decency in this country lie, then look no further than the revelations on Monday that the UK Tory Government is planning a major operation to detain asylum seekers across the UK, following the passing of the deplorable UK Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act.
This hostile and inhumane policy is yet another reason that Scotland needs independence. Full powers over migration policy would allow us to create an asylum system rooted in respect for international law, human rights, and social justice.
This is a regular column by SNP MSP Emma Roddick. All Highlands and Islands MSPs have been offered the same spaces in The Orkney News to share their personal views.