Latest news with #LandReformBill
The National
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
SNP 'working with Tories to weaken Land Reform Bill', MSPs say
The Greens' Mark Ruskell and Labour's Mercedes Villalba both told the Sunday National that the SNP Government was using Tory votes to keep effective measures out of the new legislation. The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill will this week pass 'stage two' at Holyrood, where amendments to the initial wording are proposed by MSPs and voted on for inclusion or rejection by members of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. However, last week, MSPs on the committee – which has three SNP, two Tory, one Labour, and one Green member – voted against measures including putting a public interest test on the proposed buyer of Scottish land. Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon speaking to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee in a meeting held on June 17 (Image: Holyrood TV) The amendment, proposed by Villalba and rejected by the SNP and Tories, would have forced ministers to take into account things like a potential landowners' tax residence when deciding if a sale would be in the public interest. MSPs and the Government did support dropping the threshold for estates covered by the legislation from 3000 to 1000 hectares – but the SNP and Tories voted together to reject an amendment to push that down further to 500 hectares. There are around 2.5 acres to a hectare, and 1.6 acres to a standard football pitch. Villalba had tabled a more radical proposal that would have prevented anyone in Scotland from owning more than 500 hectares of land unless it could be shown to have environmental or community benefits. This was also voted down by the SNP and Tories. READ MORE: Rachael Revesz: The Land Reform Bill is only tinkering round the edges Changing the threshold at which estates are covered by the bill from 3000 to 1000 hectares means that the number of estates which will be required to publish Land Management Plans, support wild places, and comply with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code has been doubled to a total of about 700, covering just over 60% of Scotland's land, the John Muir Trust said. Villalba said that 67% of Scotland's countryside is owned by 'just 0.025% of the population' and that the 1000-hectare threshold would do nothing to change this. Further questions surround whether land must be contiguous to be considered a single 1000-hectare estate. The SNP put forward a rule saying that plots of land are a single holding if their borders are within 250 metres. The Greens had been set to table an amendment to make this 10 miles, but it was not moved. Ruskell said this was due to a shared understanding that the 250m limit was too low – and that it would be addressed at a later stage. However, Ruskell further said that the bill in its current state was 'fundamentally not going to lead to a solution to the growing inequalities in land ownership that we have in Scotland'. Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell in the parliament chamber (Image: Holyrood TV)'This bill does not tackle that, full stop,' he went on. 'It gives communities a bit more power, it provides a bit more scrutiny as to what landowners are currently doing, but it's not clear that this is going to make any major difference in terms of getting a more diverse pattern of land ownership and really changing the answer to 'Who owns Scotland?'. 'Things will continue broadly as they have been for centuries, but with a wee bit more community involvement. It's a bill that's tweaking around the edges of existing systems rather than having a big bold vision.' He told the Sunday National that the Scottish Government could 'easily put forward a more radical vision into this bill and get support from Labour and the Greens, easily'. 'Every amendment would pass. Every single amendment would be unchallengeable. So it's their call because they have the votes for it and they have the consensus on the left – but they don't want to play to that. 'So they're getting support from the Tories to defeat anything that's taking a bill into a more radical place.' READ MORE: Lesley Riddoch: Scotland needs real action on land reform Villalba went a step further, saying the bill was not fit for purpose and would entrench inequality across Scotland. The Scottish Labour MSP went on: 'The SNP have demonstrated that their true allegiance is not with the Scottish people, but rather with wealthy private landowners who manage their property not in the public interest but to maximise their own profits. 'Scotland's land should belong to the people, and benefit both local communities and the natural environment. It's high time the SNP stopped deferring to lobbyists and empowered Scots to take back control of their land.' She added: 'By voting against the inclusion of a presumed limit on ownership over 500 hectares in the bill, the SNP risk allowing land to be sold or managed in ways that benefit private interests at the expense of the public good, entrenching the very problems their proposals seek to correct. 'What's more, by aligning with the Conservative Party to reject the inclusion of a robust public interest test, rather than stand up for Scots, they have rolled over for the wealthy – and not for the first time.' The SNP and Scottish Government were approached for comment.
The National
6 days ago
- Politics
- The National
MSPs consider plans to stop landowners 'blocking' community buy-outs
The Scottish Greens tabled the amendments to the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill which would give communities greater powers to take back local land from 'absentee' landowners. Currently, communities are restricted from progressing with community buy-outs of neglected land if the landowner brings a small part of the area 'into use'. READ MORE: Plans submitted for 102-bedroom Premier Inn in Scottish city centre Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell brought forward the amendments which would mean landlords would have to bring at least 50% of a landholding into use, otherwise it would be classed as abandoned or neglected and would be eligible for community buy-out. The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill was tabled by the SNP Government and passed its first hurdle in the Scottish Parliament at the stage 1 debate in March. Part of the legislation aims to increase opportunities for community buy-outs of land, and also when large estates are put on the market, ministers could break up this land – in a process known as lotting – into smaller areas, if certain conditions are met. However, ministers have already been told by Holyrood's Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee that 'significant change' is needed to the bill if it is to deliver on the Scottish Government's 'ambitious policy objectives'. Ruskell's proposals are set to be debated and voted on at the same committee on Tuesday. Mark Ruskell Commenting, Ruskell said: 'For too long, people have been unfairly barred from bringing local land back into community ownership because of a tiny loophole in the law. 'It cannot be right that neglectful landowners are able to leave land ignored and derelict for many years, whilst communities are desperate to bring areas back into productive use. READ MORE: 'Evacuate Tehran': Donald Trump issues warning as he departs G7 leaders summit early 'The Land Reform Bill should be an opportunity to tackle this kind of inherent unfairness in Scotland's land ownership – and that's exactly why I've brought these proposals forward.' Ruskell added that he has been supporting locals in Largo, Fife, where he said that plans for the community buy-out of local land have been blocked by the landowner converting less than 10% of the holding into a horticulture business. He said that the rest of the site – which includes historic buildings and gardens – have been left 'abandoned and neglected'. Ruskell added: 'For folks in Largo, this ridiculous saga has gone on for too long – it's time to close the Largo loophole for good.'
Scotsman
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Scottish landowners face massive £40k fines for 'management plan' breaches in 'attack on rural life'
Sign up to our Scotsman Rural News - A weekly of the Hay's Way tour of Scotland emailed direct to you. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The paper, which aims to improve transparency in landownership, includes a requirement for landowners to produce Land Management Plans (LMP) with an emphasis on promoting engagement within communities. Under current plans, if landowners breach such arrangements, fines up to £5,000 could be issued. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, an amendment has been put forward by Glasgow SNP MSP Bob Doris to increase this sum eight times over after the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee said the current fine would not be sufficient. Land around Loch Laxford seen through the hills. Picture: PA Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said the £40,000 figure will only apply to the maximum fine that could be levied under the new Bill, which is at stage two. Ms Gougeon said: 'Decisions on fines would be for the new Land and Communities Commissioner to consider in the event of a breach, and the maximum fine would not be levied automatically. I have always been clear that the intention is for the new commissioner to work with landowners and communities in the first instance, and the Bill makes provision for an appeals route as well. 'The Land Reform Bill sets out ambitious proposals that will change how land is managed in our rural and island communities for the better. Our Bill takes steps to better ensure that landholdings in scope are transferred and used in ways that support communities and take account of local need and I look forward to working with parliament as the legislation progresses.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish Conservative Tim Eagle MSP said the new sum was 'wildly disproportionate'. He said only Scottish Tory MSPs on the committee voted against the 'punitive' plans. The MSP for the Highlands and Islands region, home to a large number of estates likely impacted by the measures, said: 'This amendment put forward by a Glasgow-based SNP MSP is wildly disproportionate. 'These fines if they are passed in the final version of the SNP's Land Reform Bill will now hit land managers with £40,000 for merely failing to produce a plan. 'That is eight times the level of the current level of fines and will set alarm bells ringing among our rural communities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It was only the Scottish Conservatives on the committee who voted against these punitive measures. 'The fines are greater than people would get for a breach of the peace or for behaving in a drunk and disorderly manner. 'The SNP's version of the Land Reform Bill as it stands is an attack on the rural way of life and is backed by Holyrood's cosy left-wing consensus, some of whom want to go even further.
Scotsman
21-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
How Scotland's Land Reform Bill could fatally damage tenant farming
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Scottish Government's ambition to make Scotland 'the best that it can be', as laid out in its Programme for Government, is laudable – but does it really help rural areas thrive? From the Borders to the Highlands, there are enterprising rural businesses putting their shoulders to the wheel to deliver for people, jobs and nature, but all too often they are left feeling frustrated or forgotten. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There are many causes for their frustration and the current Land Reform Bill proceeding through the Scottish Parliament illustrates perfectly how government policies can end up having the entirely opposite effect to what political leaders envisage. The Scottish Government is wedded to an ongoing land reform agenda despite the clear evidence the vast majority of the public – according to government research – do not see it as a priority. Scotland's estates are responsible for significant social, economic and environmental benefits (Picture: CM Dixon/Heritage Images) | Getty Images Benefits of large estates The Cabinet Secretary in charge of the Bill, Mairi Gougeon, knows well the passionate and often polarised positions adopted on this issue, given she serves as MSP for North Angus and Mearns. She will also know, however, from her days as development and enterprise convenor on Angus Council, about the need for and value of investment and economic growth. And this is where the rub is with this current Land Reform Bill. On one hand, the Scottish Government seems committed to breaking up large rural landholdings in the name of diversity of land ownership but has there really been enough thought given to what the outcome will be? It doesn't appear so. Again, we are facing a situation where ideology and practical outcomes collide. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Large estates are actively involved in helping to deliver housing, renewable energy, employment and business opportunities, food and drink, whilst tackling climate change through peatland restoration and tree planting as well as improving nature. All of these are government priorities and ministers are aware these activities need investment from sources including private enterprise. So why pursue and frame legislation that targets the very rural businesses currently delivering those benefits on the ground? The answer for many is the need to rectify perceived historic wrongs. But we are now living in a different time and surely land reform today should be about the future, not the past. Those of us involved in land management are already hearing noises that the uncertainty created by proposals in the Land Reform Bill is disincentivising both local investment and interest from further afield. The more a business sector is penalised, the less likely people will be willing to invest. Taxpayers face hefty bills I don't believe that this is a desired outcome by the Scottish Government but there is a very real chance of that happening because of proposals like giving ministers the power to interfere with land sales and force estates to be sold off in lots. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Do taxpayers, who may have to foot hefty bills for compensation for the loss of value, really want this? And considering such interference may be fraught with legal difficulty and creates unwarranted problems for those people working on estates, does that make it worthwhile? A similar situation arises in the part of the Bill which deals with tenant farming. The government is adamant that it wants to see a thriving tenant farming sector. However, there are very few agricultural landlords who are keen to let land because of the proposed retrospective changes to contracts that have the potential to hamper a landlord's ability to get his own property back without having to pay even greater compensation. Again, the outcome of a stagnant sector is the exact opposite to what the government say they want to achieve. All of us who work in the land management sector understand the land reform agenda. While some people claim land managers oppose land reform, that is simply not correct. We have no problem with greater transparency of ownership, opportunities for communities to acquire land where it becomes available, and the need for productive community engagement. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A great many examples already exist where estates are working harmoniously as part of their local community and the continuous implementation of further legislation only serves to jeopardise that. No shortage of land reform laws As well as numerous willing sales to communities, extensive legislation is already in place enabling communities to acquire land where it has been abandoned or neglected, or where the landowner is acting as a barrier to sustainable development. Like many legislative measures already in place in Scotland, their use to date has been limited perhaps due to unawareness. Lack of use doesn't mean that more legislation is needed. There has been no shortage of land reform legislation since the Scottish Parliament was established. This is now the third bill to go before the parliament. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As things stand, there is a widespread view beyond the interests of landowners that the Land Reform Bill in its current form is unworkable. We would appeal to the Cabinet Secretary to take heed of these genuine concerns and consider seriously amending the Bill rather than deliver flawed legislation which will risk the delivery of local and national benefits. The government has already shown its willingness to improve legislation during its passage through Holyrood, as it has done with the Housing Bill and it should act similarly to make the Land Reform Bill work. We all know from experience that leaving so much detail to secondary legislation tends to store up trouble for all in the future. We understand the SNP, in particular, is committed to a land reform 'journey' that is far from ended. However, we fervently hope that, at some stage along the way, there can be some recognition that estates are significant social, economic and environmental contributors to rural Scotland and that politicians will take this seriously before bringing forward policies which discourage investment and fatally damage tenant farming.
Scotsman
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Readers Letters: Addressing the historic injustices of land ownership in Scotland
As a councillor who represents Stornoway North in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, I write to express my support for the principles underpinning the Land Reform Bill currently under consideration, while urging further ambition to address the historic injustices of land ownership in Scotland. The bill represents a vital opportunity to reshape our relationship with the land, ensuring it serves the common good and fosters thriving communities across our nation. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... For too long, Scotland's land has been concentrated in the hands of a few, a legacy of feudal structures that have denied communities their rightful stake in the resources that sustain them. The bill's aim to diversify ownership and empower local people is a step toward justice, but it must go further to dismantle the entrenched inequalities that persist. Land is not merely a commodity; it is the foundation of our collective existence, entrusted to us to steward for the benefit of all, not to be hoarded for private gain. I advocate for measures that prioritise community-led ownership models, ensuring that the fruits of the land—whether agricultural, environmental, or cultural—are shared equitably among those who live and work upon it. The bill must also strengthen accountability. Large estates, often held by absentee landlords, have too often neglected the needs of local people, prioritising profit over prosperity. Robust mechanisms are needed to ensure landowners act as responsible custodians, investing in the social and ecological health of their communities. This includes supporting sustainable practices that preserve the land for future generations, reflecting a moral duty to care for what we have been given. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In the Outer Hebrides, we see the transformative potential of community ownership, where land is managed collectively to support housing, enterprise, and cultural heritage. The bill should expand such models nationwide, empowering communities to shape their own futures. This requires not only legislative support but also adequate funding and resources to level the playing field, particularly for rural and island communities facing unique challenges. I urge the Parliament to view this bill as a chance to build a Scotland where land serves as a shared inheritance, fostering unity and opportunity for all its people. Let us commit to a vision where every community has a voice in the land that defines it, and where the wealth of our natural heritage is harnessed for the collective good. Councillor Gordon Murray, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Bigger Loch issues Having spent one of the sunniest and warmest week of the year at the Duck Bay Area of Loch Lomond I am surprised at the various parties who represent the interests of Loch Lomond complaining about the pollution, noise etc which will be allegedly coming from the proposed Flamingo Park. Despite the fact this particular Saturday is glorious I have been driven indoors by the horrendous noise and smell of spilled fuel and exhaust fumes from totally irresponsible jet skiers doing what best could be described as 'doughnuts' within about 50 metres from the Duck Bay Marina area. If these guys (yes all male) were in cars they would be given Asbo's by the police. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad So far this week I have seen canoeist and paddle boarders almost getting knocked of their boards and the canoe overturned by the near misses and two swans almost beheaded by these jet skiers going far to close to people and birds. As I write this, a Park Authority Patrol boat has arrived on site but after 15 minutes left so now the noise has once more returned, along with a strong smell of recreational drugs coming over the wall between where the jet skiers hang about and the Duck Bay Marina hotel I seriously suggest the Park Authorities et all get other local issues which have been increasing considerably over recent years in order before they start complaining about a venture which may or may not be detrimental to the area. For anyone wishing a quiet week at the side of Loch Lomond around the Duck Bay Marina area in the summertime forget it. The noise from the jet skies is horrendous and the strong smell of petrol fumes is nauseating. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This antisocial behaviour would not be tolerated on the road if the guys were driving cars, yet all the appropriate authorities responsible for the running of Loch Lomond Park tolerate it. The same applies to local hotels who charge up £2,000 for a few days stay in a room with a loch view yet seem to use very little of their influence to stop these skiers camping quite literally at their back door. William Barrie Horsburgh, Stonehaven Low esteem The Scottish Government has approved the Loch Lomond mega resort scheme, in spite of massive local opposition, and this does not seem to be a 'one off', with many examples of Holyrood approving housing plans after local council rejection. This shows how little the SNP esteems local democracy, and is after many years of cuts to local government! William Ballantine, Bo'ness, West Lothian Teach the teacher The Labour's Children's Wellbeing and Schools bill being discussed at present will require new teachers to have earned 'Qualified Teacher Status' or be working to obtain it. It would seem obvious that a teacher had to be a teacher in fact, not just in name. Covid demonstrated that every parent could be a teacher to their own children until they actually tried to do it and found that on Friday afternoons some student's enthusiasm waned and in reality many waned by Monday afternoon. Appropriate Qualifications are needed not just advisable. I don't want my car serviced by someone is only a librarian, nor ask for reading advice from a mechanic. I want people who knows what they are doing after having studied and developed experience in their specially. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In hindsight however, I have to admit that much of my own four year teaching degree was a waste of time and practical experience was the best way to develop my classroom skills. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia Write to The Scotsman
