Meet your Scottish parliamentary candidates

Kenneth Gibson - Scottish National Party

 

It’s been both a privilege and great responsibility representing Arran, which has challenges often invisible to mainlanders: a shortage of working-age residents, need for more affordable housing, fragile transport links and higher cost of living.

 

Too often, Arran is not the focus it should be, made clear at the recent Arran hustings.

 

Other candidates were dumbfounded by questions about local issues, meekly admitting they would have to “look into them” if elected.

 

Hustings participation without learning about local issues beforehand conveys only disrespect, seeing Arran as a headline, rather than an island of living, breathing communities.

 

Much has changed since I was first elected.

 

My Labour predecessor seldom visited the island, mentioning Arran in the Scottish Parliament only five times in his last term. By contrast, I raised Arran 95 times in the Parliament just ended, including in an island sustainability debate on the last day.

 

Under the previous Labour/Lib Dem administration, a summer 2007 return car journey from Brodick cost £73, equivalent to £132.30 now, given cumulative inflation. Today it’s £42.40 because I successfully campaigned for Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) for Arran. Introduced in 2014, passengers save £25 million annually.

 

The ‘second’ ferry to Arran was the decrepit “Saturn,” sailing for six summer weeks and with a 14.5 per cent cancellation rate.

 

Broadband coverage was negligible, roads atrocious. £2.2 million from the EU Timber Fund helped upgrade the String Road.

 

I also saved Corrie Primary School, successfully opposing the planned closure of all but one Arran primary school by the, then, Labour Council; ensured HMRC did not foreclose Arran Aromatics; secured a 5p (plus VAT) per litre fuel derogation; switched MV Catriona from Gigha, after successfully opposing Transport Scotland’s proposal to cancel the Lochranza to Claonaig route; secured £32 million to redevelop Brodick Harbour; helped deliver Scotland’s first No Take Zone, South Arran Marine Protected Area and obtained urgent funding to save the St Molios housing development.

 

The SNP Government funded housing in Brodick, Corrie, and Lamlash. A £5.9 million grant to Trust Housing will deliver 26 new homes in Springbank.

 

Ardrossan Harbour is now back in public hands. Its redevelopment will provide greater resilience and reliability.

 

These successes came through working with COAST, Arran Ferry Committee, Arran Development Trust, Arran for Ardrossan Harbour and myriad individuals, organisations and businesses.

 

Looking forward, scheduled ferry services have increased due to RET increasing demand. However, the level of disruption has become intolerable.

 

Glen Sannox and Isle of Islay have joined the fleet, Loch Frisa was purchased, Alfred chartered and 13 new vessels commissioned. The service must and will improve.

 

Stagecoach was awarded £9.17 million to improve Arran’s bus services over the next five years and North Ayrshire Council remains committed to retaining and staffing Montrose House, despite UK Labour Government visa restrictions.

 

A £10 million island business resilience fund is committed, and non-domestic rates relief extends to £110,000 annually, per business.

 

I continue to oppose the proposed Forestry development at Kingscross.

 

I’ve never shied from criticising CalMac or my own government, when necessary, because Arran needs an MSP to advocate for you before party political considerations.

 

My record demonstrates just that.

 

If re-elected, I look forward to representing you in the Scottish Parliament.