Holyrood decisions may cost SNP in Western Isles warns council leader

ALEX Salmond’s drive to seize control of the Western Isles could be undermined by SNP policies at Holyrood, with senior independents on the islands concerned about party politics entering local government.

The council administration has traditionally been made up of independents, but Nationalists are making an unprecedented push for control in next month’s election. Unlike the other parties, the SNP is contesting every ward. The party’s landslide success in last year’s Holyrood election, and victories in the recent Holyrood and Westminster parliamentary votes, has left SNP strategists confident of making significant inroads.

But island politicians claim recent decisions taken by the Scottish Government, such as ending Road Equivalent Tarriff (RET) relief for commercial vehicles on ferries, have proved unpopular.

Independent council leader Angus Campbell has warned there may be a backlash among voters against Holyrood.

“I think there will be a bit of that, particularly on RET where our MSP being SNP voted in favour of that and that will rebound on them a bit,” he said. “I still think most people here vote for the person and maybe that’s old fashioned in the way we look at these things. One or two from the SNP might get in because they’re good people, but I don’t think they’ll get near to taking over the council.”

Outgoing provost Alex MacDonald, also an independent, added that RET will “put the cost of living up” across the islands.

“It will be a deterrent to anyone thinking of investing in any kind of industry in the islands,” he added.

Spiralling fuel costs have had a major impact on the island economy, particularly in the current economic climate.

It has been particularly acute as more and more of the younger generation are forced to leave the islands because they struggle to find jobs and buy homes locally. At the same time, the growing costs of supporting an ageing population intensifies.

Mr MacDonald also voiced concern over political parties muscling in on the islands’ governance.

“National politics shouldn’t play a role in local politics,” he said. “I always believe that issues should be decided on their merits not on political dogma.”

But SNP group leader on the council Donald Manford insisted RET had been an “overwhelming success” for passengers and private cars, but the tariff on commercial vehicles had not resulted in lower costs for customers.

“I find that particularly distressing, however, the reality must be faced,” he said.

“A commercial vehicle fare must be devised that will see customers receiving the benefit of any diminution in fares.”