Prime Minister told Cromarty Firth freeport is ‘vital’ to Highland economy
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Local MP Jamie Stone has used Boris Johnson’s final Prime Minister’s Questions session to throw his support behind Opportunity Cromarty Firth’s Green Freeport bid.
The bid, led by the Port of Cromarty Firth and a consortium of businesses and regional stakeholders, is up against four other ports across Scotland.
Two Scottish locations will be given Green Freeport status, with investment of up to £26 million each, in a decision to be taken by the UK and Scottish Governments.
Questioning Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Jamie Stone asked: “Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister knows that harnessing wind power is crucial to the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister also knows that the Highlands have faced great historic difficulties over the years. So I hope that the Prime Minister agrees with me that a Green Freeport in the Cromarty Firth is vital to harnessing wind energy, it has the full support of the industry, and is vital to the prosperity of that region.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson responded: “I thank him very much. I can confirm that we are committed to funding two new Green Freeports in Scotland to the tune of £52 million. It wouldn’t be possible, of course, if the SNP got their way and we returned to the European Union.”
Commenting this week, Jamie Stone said: “Highland politicians of all stripes are united in our belief that a Green Freeport in the Cromarty Firth could be transformative for local people and for the Highlands, just like Nigg in the 1970s.
“I sincerely hope that the Scottish and UK Governments will take this opportunity to level up the Highlands and finally address the chronic depopulation issues that have plagued us for so long.”
