Humza Yousaf: CalMac should be 'decentralised and based in the heart of our community'
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The SNP candidates who are in line to become the next First Minister were able to agree on significant democratic changes – decentralisation.
In a major break with the past and certainly with the Sturgeon years, Kate Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf all backed granting more powers to local authorities.
Mr Yousaf believes that not only should local authorities get more power and funding but that community councils should see more investment and autonomy as well.
- Kate Forbes: 'Let’s start by breaking up Highland Council – you heard it here first'
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His boldest suggestion was that “organisations, public bodies and companies like CalMac and there's many others as well – we need to make sure that they are representative and representative of our communities.”
He added: “When it comes to public bodies and the creation of them – don’t just stick your offices in Glasgow or Edinburgh, make sure their offices, the centre of their power, the head office is in those communities that are being affected by them, so I'm actually committed to doing that.”
It came after a question from a SNP member who highlighted how for some the Edinburgh government for many people seemed as remote as the one in Westminster.
The member asked: “My question concerns maximising support for independence throughout Scotland particularly in the northern isles and borders where the Edinburgh government would not be remote and not a great advantage over the one in Westminster.
“My question is what would the candidates think about having a modern Scandinavian type of government, which is much more decentralised than what we have, much more regional power, and much power in the hands of people who feel close to it?
Humza Yousaf said: “For me we can't just talk the talk, we have got to walk the walk and our ambition for independence is to put the power back into the hands of the people.
"And when it comes to public bodies, I've got something else to say in the next few days, so when it comes to our public board, I think we've got to make sure that we're devolving them to our local communities.
“And I can't think of a better one to start with than CalMac. They should be decentralised and based in the heart of our community, and on their boards should be people who make up those communities, who live in those communities, who reside in those communities, who depend on those lifeline services in those communities.
“So I think organisations, public bodies and companies like CalMac and there's many others as well – we need to make sure that they are representative and representative of our communities.
“When it comes to public bodies and the creation of them – don’t just stick your offices in Glasgow or Edinburgh, make sure their offices, the centre of their power, the head office is in those communities that are being affected by them, so I'm actually committed to doing that.
“I also believe that we need a new deal, not just for local government because local government of course plays an important part, but I, for example, remember in the Western Isles, when I was in there not too long ago, they were telling me they felt Stornoway was just as remote and far away as Edinburgh.
“So we have got to make sure we get out to community councils who do a phenomenal job. We have councillors in the audience today who probably go to those community councils week in, week out, and they are doing a phenomenal job. So, let's not just put the resource into local authorities councils, let’s get it out to our community council who are helping people on the ground day in and day out.
“My deal for local government, that will be empowering our local authorities, looking at funding mechanisms, looking at ring fencing that exists
