Renewable energy future in the Western Isles

With news of the predictable withdrawal of support for the islands interconnector by the UK Government

Labour machinery within western isles council

Western Isles Council on 21st April confirmed it considered £50 Million required to be saved over the next 5 years reading from the Manifesto of Westminster austerity parties of Labour and Conservative.  On 28th April it issued a press release stating £15million may be the order of magnitude; avoiding any reference whatever to its earlier prediction.

CITIZENS ADVICE DIRECT CALL-HANDLING CENTRE STORNOWAY - MACNEIL RAISES PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

Following a meeting on Saturday with Flora Somerville (Unison), a staff representative fromCitizens Advice Direct (CAD) Call-handling Centre, Stornoway, and local Councillor Gordon Murray, Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP, Angus MacNeil is to table Parliamentary Questions to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to clarify the situation in terms of funding.

Pensions and the legacy of a No vote

It is sad to see Westminster treat pensioners so badly as the UK State pension is now the lowest in the developed world.

Better late than never ......

The Western Isles council SNP group welcome the late arrival of councillor Angus McCormack to a disgraceful issue facing islanders almost a year after Angus Brendan Macneil first raised it in the House of Commons.

Open letter to Derek Mackay regarding Uist turbines

In light of the recent decision by the Scottish Government minister Derek Mackay, Western Isles Council SNP Group leader councillor Donald Manford has written the minister highlighting the implications and consequences of his decision and to seek a way forward....

Yes vote guarantees 100% crown estate revenues to western isles

Today saw the launch of the prospectus for Our Islands Our Future and the culmination of the hard work done by the three island council leaders and Derek Mackay MSP, Scottish Minister for Local Government and Planning in the Scottish government.

SNP Councillor John A.  Maciver, present at the launch of the prospectus, was delighted with the announcement from the First Minister that 100% of Crown Estates revenue would be retained in our Islands.

"This is fantastic news. We had hoped for 80% but to get 100% is excellent. This would mean that after a YES vote in the referendum, income from our coastlines such as our huge marine renewable energy potential will be kept in the islands rather than going down to UK Treasury, which happens at present.

"Only a Yes vote in September will allow us to reap all the benefits of our vast resources."

Westminster ,Welfare and Independence

The current "reform" of the Welfare state is one of the most controversial policies in recent years from Westminster. The Tories have embarked on a campaign that scapegoats the poor, the unemployed, the disabled in a bid to make some savings to offset the growing national debt.

Trade Union funding restored

The SNP Group at the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar welcomed another u-turn by the ruling council administration who restored funding to the trade unions on Thursday.

Carloway says YES to Scottish Independence

Carloway hosted an Independence referendum last week which gave the Yes Campaign and the No Campaign a chance to debate with a vote at the end.

Truth will prevail

At the last council meeting, 30 councillors voted to give officers the green light to restore the Stornoway/Benbecula flight to 5 days. Nine of these 30 councillors voted (by way of amendment) to include Benbecula/Barra also.

Hidden energy costs Scots have to pay to preserve English scenery

The following bulletin is an item regarding the path of a proposed route for grid electricity pylons in the South of England.

Crofting and why a YES vote is vital

2013 was the year that saw an incredible turn of events whereby the Westminster Government denied Scottish farmers and crofters and amount of 230 million Euros.

Council leader leads the charge for self-determination

SNP councillor Gordon Murray congratulated council leader Angus Campbell on his recent award "Local Politcian of the Year" along with the council leaders of the Orkney and Shetland councils.

UK snub to crofting

SNP MEP Alyn Smith has reacted angrily to news that the UK government has today (Friday) announced that it will not pass on hundreds of millions of pounds in EU agriculture payments to Scotland which only accrue to the UK because of Scotland's unique agriculture.

SNP WELCOME McCLUSKEY COMMENTS ON REFERENDUM AND GRANGEMOUTH

Comments from the leader of the UK’s largest trade union warming to the case for a Yes vote in the independence referendum have today been welcomed by the SNP.

SNP group call for removal of dumping spurdog at sea

SNP Council Group at Comhairle nan Eilean, strongly support the continued calls from MP Angus MacNeil for the UK Government and Scottish Government to pressure the EU to remove the requirement for boxes of spurdog to be dumped at sea.

Mitigating the severe welfare cuts from Westminister

Another welcome announcement for the Outer Hebrides was the confirmation of £160,000 given by the Scottish Government to the Comhairle to mitigate the UK Welfare Reforms.

Scottish government budget addresses the Westminster attacks on the most vulnerable

Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP, Alasdair Allan, welcomed the Scottish Government budget published yesterday, 

Tories revert to selling off public assets

Commenting on the announcement that the Westminster government has confirmed the sale of shares in Royal Mail, Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP Angus MacNeil said: