Western Isles labour candidate speaks on housing

“Grant and Loan”

While campaigning this week with activists in the Seaforth Road, Battery Park and Newton areas of Stornoway, Labour  candidate Donald John MacSween said the provision of good quality social and crofter housing in the Western Isles was essential to maintain the islands’ population and attract young people back to live and work here.

He said: “There are three critical issues facing us right now. The ending of the Improvement and Repair grant scheme, the dismantling of the Crofting Grant and Loan scheme and the reduction in investment in the social housing stock are all severe cuts which  have all been inflicted on these islands by the SNP government.

“Housing strategy”

These are urgent problems which need a solution. As someone who has experience in housing, who understands how housing investment contributes to economic activity, and who will work to reverse these damaging SNP cuts, I will raise these topics and campaign for a properly-financed and joined-up housing strategy to keep housing and the economy of these islands moving.

“We need more houses built for our young people, we need houses well-insulated and kept in good repair. The current SNP housing strategy will not achieve this.”

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