Western Isles SNP candidates to prioritise jobs in islands

The SNP’s council election manifesto in the islands will prioritise jobs, one of the party’s Stornoway candidates announced today.
Gordon Murray, who is standing in Stornoway North for the SNP on 3 May, said that it was obvious to everyone in the islands that the need for more work was on the whole community’s mind.  Mr Murray commented:
“There are many individual success stories for the island economy, like the current prospect of more call centre jobs at Talk Talk.  That said, everyone can see that the islands need more jobs.  For that reason, when the SNP council candidates publish our manifesto for the islands, as we shortly will, it will concentrate on jobs.
“In the public sector, we don’t want to have to import services from the mainland or stop delivering some services. Instead, we believe it’s possible to bring together services imaginatively within the islands to achieve many of the efficiencies needed. We will encourage local service providers and companies to bid for the supply of goods and services.
“Infrastructure projects have their role to play in kick starting the islands economy, and that means we will prioritise dual tracking of roads along the spinal route.  And we will argue strongly for the revenues of the crown estate are devolved to Scotland.
“I hope that the Comhairle elected on May 3 will be one that campaigns vigorously for fair prices on fuel, something on which the viability of many jobs in the islands depend.
“Above all, we should aspire in the islands to give every possible support to new and existing businesses – clearly the Comhairle will continue to have a major role in achieving just that.”

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