Orcadian Column, 27 March 2025

Another week, another slew of MSPs announcing their intention to stand down at the next election. Of most note, if no great surprise, was confirmation that Nicola Sturgeon plans to head for the Holyrood exit next May.

In an eventful week for the former First Minister, news also emerged that she will face no charges as a result of Police Scotland’s long-running investigation into the SNP’s finances. As she faced the media on Thursday, Nicola Sturgeon looked visibly and understandably relieved. Relief, however, is unlikely to be the emotion felt by her estranged husband and former SNP Chief Executive, Peter Murrell who appeared in court earlier that day on charges of embezzlement arising from Operation Branchform.  John Swinney has suggested the SNP at least now know where they stand, but with details to play out in the courtroom and media over the coming months, that may be a slightly optimistic assessment by the First Minister.

Nicola Sturgeon’s retirement from Holyrood had been widely anticipated, as were similar announcements made by various current and former ministers, including Shona Robison, Fiona Hyslop and Richard Lochhead. Meanwhile, the political fates of Humza Yousaf and Michael Matheson were sealed some time ago. Senior Tory and Labour figures, such as Douglas Ross, Liz Smith and Richard Leonard have also announced their departures, though, true to form, rebel-in-chief, Fergus Ewing has declared he won’t stand as an SNP candidate but may throw his hat in the ring as an ‘independent’. Popcorn at the ready!

Amongst now 30 MSPs who have declared they won’t be standing next May, however, are plenty whose departures were not expected, again including ministers past and present. Many have cited the ‘toxic’ nature of politics as well as the sacrifices to family life required in being an MSP. I was particularly sad to hear Rural Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, a good friend and a popular, hard- colleague, announce she’s had enough. She’ll be greatly missed.

Of course, a turnover of MSPs at elections is generally healthy, even if not always meritocratic in who returns and who does not. However, the loss of such a large amount of experience and younger talent all at once, and before a single vote has been cast, is a bit of a concern.

Talking of concerns, the one dominating my inbox and mailbag at present is undoubtedly the planned Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) switch off scheduled for the end of June. So much so, in fact, that I’ve attended not one but two separate roundtables on the issue in the last week alone.

This affects all households with RTS meters, of which there are plenty in Orkney. The technology supporting such meters is increasingly obsolete and replacement with ‘smart’ meters is now necessary. Smart meters should also allow customers to better manage their energy usage and remove the need for estimated bills.

Unfortunately, in many rural and island areas the communications network supporting smart meters remains patchy; energy suppliers have insufficient engineers to carry out the installations required; and like-for-like replacements of tariffs such as THTC are not universally available. All this was laid out forcefully by me and my fellow island MSPs at a roundtable in Glasgow last Friday, hosted by OVO and attended by the other energy suppliers.

Given the switch off deadline has already been postponed multiple times, there really is no excuse for the lack of progress made so far. Unless the situation changes radically over the next three months, another postponement may be unavoidable.

Before then, as was discussed at a further roundtable on Monday, this time involving various Orkney stakeholders, we need to see local installers trained up; greater co-ordination amongst energy suppliers, particularly in carrying out installations in the smaller isles; and much clearer communications with customers about what is happening and when. Meantime, constituents should contact their supplier and if there are any problems, please let me or Alistair Carmichael know.

We’ve had digital switchovers before, of course, but it’s one thing having your TV service disrupted, quite another when it potentially affects your heating and hot water. There can be no question of households being disconnected, however, but we need to see the energy companies and Ofgem up their game.