Dave Thompson MSP

As constituents will know I have decided to stand down as your MSP at the next election in May 2016. Consequently, by the time you read this, the local branches will have selected the person they wish to replace me to stand for the SNP in our beautiful constituency.

The National Executive of the party decided that where MSP’s were standing down there should be all female shortlists. I heartily approved of this decision. Since the Suffragettes won women the vote there has been much talk of equality but sadly our representatives at local and national level are still predominantly aged, and male. This must change as there are many highly capable women both young and old out there who will bring a fresh perspective to political decision making.

I am therefore delighted that we have an all women shortlist in the constituency and that we have selected a woman to stand for the SNP next year.

It was great to attend another busy Black Isle Show this year, where the weather was kind and the event its usual roaring success. The SNP stand was bristling with faces old and new and visited by many folk on the day. I also visited George McLaren of McLaren Tractors with SNP MP Ian Blackford to discuss the tractor business and also spoke with Angus MacColl of the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association, who, I am glad to hear, is still busy representing and looking after the interests of tenant farmers in Scotland. It was also a pleasure to meet Allan Bowie, the new President of the NFUS and many other old friends and new.

It was excellent to see so many other senior SNP politicians attend, including the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food, and Environment, Richard Lochhead (also MSP for Moray), the MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Rob Gibson, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP, Drew Hendry, and Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP, Paul Monaghan.

The Black Isle Show is a feather in the Black Isle’s cap, contributing immensely to the local economy, becoming synonymous with the Black Isle itself. I wish those involved in bringing together this showpiece all the best with future events, which of course, I hope to be attending in a more leisurely way in future.

Once again, I attended a superbly organised Belladrum festival, where I took part in a Panel Debate, Chaired by Gary Robertson, on the merits of communities in the Highlands and Islands having more powers devolved from Edinburgh.

The debate saw Gary asking panellists questions with good audience participation. Cllr Margaret Davidson, Cllr David Alston, David Stewart MSP, Jamie McGrigor MSP, Drew Hendry MP and Isla O'Reilly, Scottish Green Party, all took part in what was a robust exchange of views and the audience seemed to enjoy it.

I would like to extend my thanks to the main Bella organiser, Joe Gibbs, and all of his team who clearly worked very hard to bring together another successful event and for inviting me to take part in the devolution debate.

In June I attended the Allangrange Arms, in Munlochy to see at first hand apprentices, following the hospitality framework, under the tutelage of Manager and Head Chef George Callum. This neatly followed Scottish Apprenticeship Week, which took place in Scotland between 18 and 22nd of May.

Allangrange Arms employ two trainees via the hospitality framework. The framework helps young adults gain new skills and is an invaluable resource for employers, as personnel and business are able to grow together, which is fantastic.

A big thanks goes out to George Callum, Manager and Head Chef, Amber Noble, Commis Chef, Sinead Macrae, Trainee Supervisor, and Heather Martin, the On Track Training Provider for taking the time to meet with me and for the great hospitality shown all round and to Skills Development Scotland who facilitated the visit.

I recently got a tour of the new £50 million inverness college campus which recently opened its doors and was so impressed with the facility I considered enrolling myself.

This campus will bring extra life to the city of inverness which will rival the vibrancy of Glasgow and Edinburgh in the central belt and I hope it will mean more students will remain in the Highlands from study years and on into working life.

I have been away for a summer holiday and have since been on a busy schedule of surgeries across the constituency in Easter Ross, including the Black Isle.

They took place on the 18th August in Beauly (Lovat Arms Hotel) at 12.00pm, Dingwall (Thorfin House) at 2pm, Cromarty (Victoria Hall) at 3.30pm and in Avoch (Station Hotel) at 4.30pm.

I hope you have all managed or soon will manage some relaxation here or further afield and I wish you are blessed with better weather than the dreariness we have become accustomed to of late.