Last week, the Scottish Parliament – Scottish Labour, Scottish Greens and the SNP – came together to agree that Scotland is a nation that has a right to decide our own future.
With Andy Burnham now at the helm, there is reason for cautious optimism on the constitutional front. His comments in the chamber just a few weeks ago, which appeared to acknowledge a pathway to another independence referendum, were striking and may hint at a softer tone than we have previously seen coming out of Westminster. Whether that amounts to a genuine shift in the UK Government’s position, however, remains to be seen.
With winter fast approaching, I took the opportunity last week to write to UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks, setting out the steps the UK Government could take to help tackle fuel poverty in the Highlands & Islands. These included reforming the energy market, decoupling electricity prices from volatile gas prices, and using his influence within government to press Labour to abandon the planned 2027 fuel duty increase, which is currently set to add a further 5p per litre.
With Orkney’s extreme fuel poverty rates higher than the national average, along with many parts of the region, I am keen for the Minister to understand the distinct challenges we face. My constituents are tired of Labour’s broken promises on energy bills. Far from falling as promised, households are facing bills that are around £1,000 higher.
Michael Shanks isn’t a newcomer to government and has previously responded, though not encouragingly, to my concerns on this very issue when he served in Keir Starmer’s team.
In reply to an earlier letter on rural fuel poverty rates, he stated:
“As you know, this is an area of policy devolved to the Scottish Government and, as such, I cannot comment on fuel poverty levels in Scotland.”
I was gobsmacked with this response. Only the UK Government has the powers to reform the energy market, an area that sits squarely within Shanks’ ministerial brief. While responsibility for tackling fuel poverty is shared across different levels of government, Westminster’s decisions have a direct impact on the energy bills people pay. The UK Government has powers to significantly reduce and potentially eradicate fuel poverty in the Highlands and Islands, should they choose to do so.
I await the Minister’s response (although not with bated breath).
There has been much focus on public sector reform following the Programme for Government set out by the First Minister earlier this month.
Reforming our public sector is an ambitious undertaking, but it is one that can’t be delayed. I am pleased that, as a government, we are moving forward by starting the conversations and consultations needed to shape a system that is more responsive and efficient while ensuring decisions are taken as close as possible to the people and communities they affect.
The Government’s opening proposition is that our current local government arrangements are replaced with a smaller number, between six and ten, regional authorities focused on strategic decision-making, alongside a network of between 120 and 160 community authorities with responsibility for local decision-making.
This can’t be a one-size-fits all approach. Reforms must recognise Scotland’s diversity, particularly in our island communities. I’m pleased that bespoke arrangements for our islands are being proposed, and I will work to ensure that any future model ensures our island communities are empowered to make decisions that reflect their own distinct circumstances and priorities.
In other news, in my role as Public Health Minister, I’ve been pleased to oversee the rollout of forensic nurse examiners, a significant step forward in improving support for survivors of sexual violence. Expanding this specialist nursing role means more survivors can be cared for by compassionate, highly trained professionals, improving access to timely, trauma-informed support. These specialist nurses are also able to provide opinion evidence in court, helping to strengthen the justice process.
This is particularly important for rural and island communities, where access to specialist services can be more challenging. By broadening the workforce able to carry out forensic examinations, we can bring services closer to the people who need them, reduce delays, and ensure that where someone lives does not determine the quality of care and support they receive. It is a practical but important reform that will improve outcomes for survivors and help deliver a more equitable service across Scotland.
This is a regular column by SNP MSP Maree Todd. Highlands and Islands MSPs who wish to have a regular column in The Orkney News should email, news@theorkneynews.scot