Edward Mountain: John Swinney’s appointment is not good news for the Highlands

Every new First Minister says words to the effect that they intend to govern for the whole of Scotland.

We can expect the same rhetoric from John Swinney as he settles into Bute House over the coming weeks.

It is not good news for the Highlands that we have another SNP First Minister, given the party’s appalling record on rural affairs, its shameful central belt bias, and its obsession with urban policy-making.

And of course such platitudes about being there to lead all of Scotland will be glib and unconvincing.

Mr Swinney will be there to prioritise independence over all else, just as his three predecessors did to varying levels of intensity.

But what could be even worse news for the Highlands is who he will have to charm in order to get legislation, budgets and indeed his own appointment through.

The SNP machine has made clear it wants nothing to do with its nationalist acquaintances in the Alba party.

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His relentless pursuit of Britain’s break-up will stand in the way of Scottish Conservative support, and one would hope Labour’s and the Liberal Democrats’ too.

Which takes us back to the days of the SNP being propped up by a Green party which is even more hostile to countryside needs than Mr Swinney’s own party.

Worryingly, Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater will probably feel even more emboldened now following their defenestration of Humza Yousaf from the top job.

That means we can see a repeat of policies which are dangerous to people and businesses across Inverness and the Highlands.

The Greens have made it clear they object to major infrastructure improvements on Scotland’s roads which will place the much-needed dualling of the A9 and A96 in jeopardy again.

Vital measures that are designed to save lives will be imperilled by a party that holds dogmatic fantasies in higher esteem.

And what of other damaging policies floated by the Greens while they were in formal coalition under the Bute House Agreement?

I’ve spoken on these pages before about Mr Harvie’s bid to force all homes to have an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of C or above within just a few years.

This might be feasible for his chums who reside in well-refurbished plush flats, or slick new-build estates which are cropping up across central Scotland.

But for those in the Highlands it’s a different story altogether, and could slap home-owners and home-buyers with bills of tens of thousands extra just to get a box ticked.

The chaotic deposit return scheme, the insane ban on wood-burning stoves and Lorna Slater’s incredible demands in relation to deer culling are all symptomatic of a party that doesn’t understand the Highlands, and has no interest in trying.

And like the rest of Scotland, up here we suffer from the general nationalist neglect over areas like NHS waiting times, plummeting education standards and devastating council budget cuts.

The recent halting of capital projects, including the maternity upgrade at Raigmore hospital, was another sore one for people in this area.

So while Mr Swinney’s likely confirmation as First Minister will have alarm bells ringing for hardworking people and businesses across the country, it’s the ones who he will have to appease at every turn who should be causing us the most concern.

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