Parliament needs to be more family-friendly, says former MSP Rob Gibson
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FORMER MSP Rob Gibson has expressed his support for Gail Ross and called for the Scottish Parliament to become a more family-friendly environment.
He was speaking after Mrs Ross announced she is to step down as MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross next year because of the demands of travelling to Edinburgh from her home in Wick. She says she wants to spend more time with her family and watch her young son grow up.
Mr Gibson represented the constituency at Holyrood for five years until his retirement as MSP in 2016, when Mrs Ross held the seat for the SNP. He had previously been a Highlands and Islands list MSP.
"I fully grasp Gail's dilemma," Mr Gibson said today. "I hope others do – the grind of extended travel by air, train and bus each week, servicing an area the size of Northern Ireland, from Tuesdays to Fridays, and the events that eat into precious family time at weekends.
"The work in Holyrood on two committees needs constant preparation plus casework contact."
Mrs Ross, when announcing that she will not be standing as a candidate at the 2021 election, pointed out that she had asked the Scottish Parliament’s standards, procedures and public appointments committee about the prospect of members taking part in meetings by video and voting remotely.
We need outspoken, clued-up MSPs like Gail in Holyrood.
Mr Gibson said: "Holyrood must become family-friendly for all MSPs. Remote voting and video-conferencing should be standard.
"Gail has choices in future after her son has grown up. We need outspoken, clued-up MSPs like Gail in Holyrood, but those seeking election need to understand fully the pressures of the job."
Highlands and Islands SNP MSP Maree Todd said: “It has been a pleasure representing the Highlands alongside Gail since our election to parliament in 2016. There are definitely challenges which come with representing vast rural constituencies, and I do not doubt that this would have been a very tough decision.
"Gail will be sorely missed in Holyrood.”
Kate Forbes, the SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said: “I’m very sorry that my fellow Highland MSP Gail Ross is standing down at the next election.
“The Caithness, Sutherland and Ross constituency is vast, the weekly travel is exhausting and the toll on family life is undeniable.
“It often takes me four hours to get home to Dingwall on a Thursday night, and it’s another four hours on top of that by train for Gail.
“I hope that the parliament will consider some of her suggestions, and I wish Gail every success in whatever she decides to do next.”
Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Edward Mountain said he was disappointed Mrs Ross is stepping down but he felt teleconferencing and digital voting would be unworkable.
“I enjoyed working with Gail Ross on the rural economy and connectivity committee, where she was an excellent deputy convener. I am disappointed she will be stepping down," he said.
"I don’t believe it is possible to carry out politics using teleconferencing and digital voting. Face-to-face contact between politicians from different parties is vital to ensure proper cross-party working. This obviously will put a strain on families who are left in the constituency."
Jamie Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said: “On a personal level I am fond of Gail. During her time as the MSP for the constituency, more than anything she has been truly local to the far north and the Highlands.
"Her roots in Caithness, and indeed my home town Tain, were very evident and I say this in a time when an increasing number of Highland representatives do not originally hail from the Highlands. Friendship can sometimes transcend political boundaries, and I wish Gail well for the future.
"I can empathise with Gail when she speaks of the needs of her young family. It must be very hard work covering a constituency such as Gail’s, one that is considerably bigger than my own.”
Mrs Ross has not always seen eye to eye with Caithness Health Action Team (Chat) on the issue of maternity services.
Chat chairman Bill Fernie said: “I hope that she manages to get her family life back in order, which seems to be why she is stepping down.
“Obviously being away from home is a very difficult job anyway and she has made the decision to consider her family.”
