SCOTLAND’S stunning natural beauty is the envy of the world.
But it’s also true that there are few other nations where so much of the countryside is owned by a small number of super-rich landowners.
An estimated half of Scotland’s private land is owned by a total of 432 people. That is an astonishing statistic.
From Dukes and Lords to Danish billionaire tycoons to oil sheikhs, too much of Scotland is a playground for the super-wealthy. The SNP government at Holyrood clearly – at some level – accepts this.
There have been various attempts to reform land ownership in recent years.
Sadly, all have faded into irrelevance. A new Land Reform Bill was supposed to finally change the landscape.
But the legislation, according to campaigners and observers, doesn’t go nearly far enough. Labour MSP Mercedes Villalba, who proposed much tougher measures which would have forced any landholding above 500 hectares to face a public interest test, says she is bitterly disappointed by what’s emerged.
The Scottish Government, against the advice of the vast majority of activists and charities in this area, set a massive threshold of 3000 hectares for the public interest test which will affect just a tiny fraction of estates.
The tragedy is a wider and healthier ownership of Scotland’s land would help everyone, encouraging tourism, economic growth and green initiatives.
More community ownership could encourage a new Highland revival, helping us to tackle everything from rural poverty to climate change.
But that can’t happen as long as the system is rigged in favour of the mega-wealthy.
Deliver on vow
YOUNGSTERS who spend part of their childhood in care deserve the same chances in life as anyone else.
Nicola Sturgeon launched her much-publicised Promise in 2020 following an official review that found too many
children in care were being failed.
It outlined a 10-year plan to transform how children’s protection services would operate across all levels – from charities to councils.
Five years on there has been some progress. Scotland has finally moved away from the routine imprisonment of 16 and 17-year-olds for minor offences.
But much work remains to be done. The former fist minister is right to call out those still involved in delivering the Promise. Sturgeon wants to see the pace picked up. Continuing as we are, she says, is not an option.
Her successor as First Minister, John Swinney, has said reducing child poverty is his first priority.
Delivering on the Promise would be a start.
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond.Sign up to our daily newsletter.