Maree Todd sets out her aims in bid to succeed Gail Ross as constituency MSP
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Highlands and Islands MSP Maree Todd has restarted her campaign to succeed Gail Ross in the Caithness, Sutherland and Ross seat in the Scottish Parliament.
She said that if given the chance it would be “the privilege of my life to represent my own constituency and the people I grew up with and know and care about”.
To do that, first Ms Todd has to pass the SNP’s strict selection process and the candidate has to convince the party members before seeking the support of the electorate.
She has released a public letter and spoken exclusively about some of the key issues affecting the far north, outlining what she stands for.
Ms Todd, who is Scotland's minister for children and young people, praised her predecessor Mrs Ross – who announced in February that she is to step down as an MSP next year – and highlighted the work they have done together.
“Gail and I have worked together championing the people and addressing the concerns of those living here and I want to take this opportunity to thank Gail and wish her all the very best for the future,” Ms Todd said.
Amid the many challenges facing the north is replacing the employment that will be lost with the decommissioning of Dounreay and one highly disputed project is the Sutherland spaceport, which recently received planning permission.
“There are many issues facing the constituency as we look to recover from the economic impact of Covid-19. We must protect and create jobs, support businesses and invest in the industries of tomorrow," Ms Todd said.
“Scotland has ambitious targets when it comes to the space industry. By 2030, Scotland’s goal is to have a £4 billion share of the global space market, with the Highlands expected to contribute significantly to its success.
“Of course, the environmental impact of such projects remains at the forefront of all decisions but the space sector in Scotland has a key role to play in taking a stand on climate change.
“We have the real strength and capability to become a leading nation in addressing the climate crisis by developing, manufacturing, launching and analysing satellites and satellite data.
“Indeed, the recently published reports by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change were heavily reliant on Earth observation data from satellites to help study the interactions between land, sea and climate.”
More terrestrial projects may be able to deliver for local communities faster, but onshore wind remains contentious with many feeling that Caithness and Sutherland have more than their fair share of wind farms.
A real and sustainable benefit of renewable energy is job creation, which helps repopulation – an area of vital importance.
Ms Todd was undaunted, however, saying: “Scotland is leading the way when it comes to renewables. Onshore wind is the lowest cost of electricity at scale and remains vitally important to our decarbonisation ambitions.
“We know that onshore wind can bring great community benefits, from enabling superfast broadband to providing cheaper electricity, but I’m also aware of the long-standing debate on onshore wind projects within the constituency.
“We must ensure good stewardship of the incredible resources we have. It’s crucial that community members are consulted when it comes to these major projects. We must strike a balance to ensure that local communities are involved in accessing the benefits.
“A real and sustainable benefit of renewable energy projects is job creation, which helps repopulation – an area of vital importance as the Highlands prepares to bear the brunt of Brexit and a hostile, points-based immigration system.
“In total, 55.9 per cent of Highland workers would be ineligible to stay if they had to apply under that system. Without migration, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross could face a demographic crisis.
“Public services like the NHS suffer a double whammy – an ageing population leaves Scotland with fewer working-age taxpayers and there are fewer young people in our communities to take care of us as we age.”
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