Press statement regarding Living Wage debate at Full Council on Thursday 4th December

At a full Comhairle meeting on Thursday evening SNP Councillors Gordon Murray and Rae Mackenzie proposed an amendment that the Comhairle backdated the introduction of the Living Wage for the Comhairle's lowest paid employees to 2013. This move was however defeated by 20 votes to 7. The remaining four Councillors were absent from the meeting.

New flag for the Western Isles

A lot of manoeuvering in the Stornoway Port Authority

There has been a lot of online heat abut the Stornoway Port Authority in the last number of weeks and months.

An island Living Wage - the campaign continues

The campaign for an Island Living Wage by the SNP and the unions took a very positive step this week when the political administration of the Western Isles Council revealed in a press statement that they would be recommending payment of the Living Wage and for it to be backdated from March 2013.

Kenny Macaskill leaves policing on the islands in good nick!

A full complement of staff and officers applying to move families and settle here to work was the message given by Chief Inspector Gordon Macleod at Environment and Protective Services meeting at the Western Isles Council last week.

Island Minister appointed

The Scottish Government have appointed Derek Mackay MSP as the first ever Islands Minister. This is a welcomed commitment to the islands and demonstrates the high importance that the Scottish islands are to the Scottish Government.

Derek Mackay is well known to the three island councils with his extensive work on the Our Islands Our Future campaign and the installation of an Islands minister was one of the commitments made during that campaign called Empowering Scottish Islands.

SNP Councillor Gordon Murray stated: "This is an excellent new ministerial post that shows the Scottish Government's commitment to the Western Isles..

We hope that the Western Isles Council will warmly welcome the new post and also the new minister in this series of meetings. "

Campaign for an Island Living Wage continues

The Western Isles Council's political administration is at odds over a living wage for the poorest paid employees.