Orcadian Column, 13 February 2025
I’m delighted to confirm that 18 years after first being elected as Orkney’s MSP, I’ve finally delivered my ‘maiden’ speech in the cattle ring at The Mart. There are many more iconic debating chambers, but few as intimidating, with an FMQs-meets-Ben Hur feel to it.
Alistair Carmichael and I were at the Mart to address local farmers and others who had gathered to take part in a tractor rally through Kirkwall in protest at changes to inheritance tax introduced in last autumn’s UK budget with little thought or understanding of the impact. Targeting the purchase of farmland aimed at protecting wealth is not an unreasonable aim, but doing so in ways that will leave the super-rich relatively unscathed, while causing chaos and uncertainty for family farms here and across the UK is unjustified and counter-productive.
The key vote on this tax change will come in the UK Finance Bill later this year. Well before then, however, the Prime Minister and his government must think again and abandon this damaging measure. That was the clear message at Orkney Mart and again at the NFU Scotland AGM last Friday in Glasgow.
The AGM was preceded by an annual dinner, which proved as enjoyable as ever, with a strong Orkney presence, and plenty of opportunity to catch up with folk from right across the sector and beyond. This year also saw NFUS members and guests pay tribute to Martin Kennedy, who stepped down as President after four years. Martin took up the reins at a time of great change for farming post-Brexit, but proved an effective leader and voice for Scotland’s farmers. Personally, I always found Martin approachable, knowledgeable and unbelievably hard-working. He’ll be a hard act to follow.
One of Martin’s final achievements was to help force the Scottish Government to return £46m previously raided from the agriculture budget. This had also been a key ‘ask’ made by Scottish Liberal Democrats in our negotiations with government over the current budget, alongside additional funding towards ferry replacement in Orkney, of course. These, along with other concessions on support for areas such as housing, mental health, dental provision to name but a few, were confirmed to parliament by the Finance Secretary on Tuesday, allowing the First Minister to breath more easily when addressing the NFUS on Friday morning.
John Swinney may also have felt that conceding to these demands from Scottish Liberal Democrats was not unhelpful in advance of his visit to Orkney this week. Indeed, I’ve always taken the view that ministerial visits are generally to be encouraged as no minister, and particularly not a First Minister, will wish to arrive in the islands empty-handed.
Credit too is due those in Orkney responsible for planning the First Minister’s itinerary, which made sure Mr Swinney came face to face with the urgent need both for new vessels on our lifeline ferry routes, as well as a local abattoir. The pressure on health and care services, along with the specific needs of our smaller isles were also cunningly woven into an agenda that will have left no room for disputing the case for increased and sustained support as well as long overdue delivery of an ‘island proofing’ approach, first promised by Mr Swinney’s predecessor, Humza Yousaf in the Islands Act of 2015.
Finally, let me briefly reflect on the 2024 Orkney Sports Awards that took place earlier this month. As ever, it was another fabulous celebration of sporting achievement by our athletes of all ages and the tireless commitment of coaches, officials and volunteers who help make those achievements possible.
It was wonderful to see Nigel Thomson inducted into the Hall of Fame and Ken Amer picking up a popular Services to Sport award. Both looked genuinely gob-smacked. Meanwhile, Claire Rendall richly deserved her Sportsperson of the Year award having taken triathlon by storm. The undoubted highlight for me, though, was seeing my niece, Emily McArthur crowned Young Sportsperson of the Year after a stand-out season on the track.
Over the years, co-hosting these awards with Robbie Fraser has been a joy. I can also now confirm, it’s considerably less nerve-wracking than delivering a speech in the cattle ring at Orkney Auction Mart.