Dave Thompson MSP

This will be my last Political Notebook before the election on 5 May although I hope to be back after that as the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch (which includes the Black Isle, Dingwall and Loch Ness). This will be dependent, of course, on whether you want me back and I will continue to work hard right up to the election to convince you that I can do a good job for you over the next four years.

I believe that the actions of the SNP in government as a minority since 2007 have proven our ability and commitment to Scotland and that our record is good. Despite being outnumbered by the 82 opposition MSP’s our 47 have managed to fulfil many of our manifesto commitments. For instance, we have funded the Councils to freeze Council Tax and will abolish prescription charges by April. We have completed 303 school building projects, brought in the small business bonus, put 1,000 more police on the beat to drive crime to a 32 year low, restarted council house building, protected free personal care and the bus pass, abolished the graduate endowment and introduced world leading climate change legislation etc etc.

However, important as the work of the SNP government is to you as Highlands and Islands voters, I believe that you will put more store in the work I have done as an MSP fighting on your behalf as individuals and for the Highlands and Islands at large when considering whether to support me in May. This is something which is far more important in the north than in the rest of Scotland and that is how it should be. We are primarily elected to represent our constituents and woe betide any Highlands and Islands MSP who does not do that.

Some of my colleagues are standing down this time round and I would like to pay tribute to Peter Peacock, Jamie Stone and John Farquhar Munro for their lengthy public service. I have known all of them for a very long time and worked with them all when I was a Director with Highland Region and then Highland Council. Indeed, I will be forever grateful to Peter who used his Convener’s casting vote to appoint me to the post of Director of Protective Services with the new Highland Council in 1996.

It is interesting that Jamie has chosen to stand down at a relatively early age and I wonder if it has anything to do with the coalition but that is certainly not the case with John who announced his intention just after the last election. I have particular respect and admiration for John as I stood against him in 2003 and 2007 in the Ross, Skye and Inverness West seat. He is an amiable opponent and it was a pleasure to tussle with him over the years. His personal standing is high and that is reflected in his vote. I wish him and his wife Celia well for the future.

It has been a great experience and an honour to represent you and I hope that you feel I have at least done my best for you individually and as a community and that I have managed to change things even in a small way for the better.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the Ross-shire Journal, particularly Hector, for the privilege of having a regular column which I hope has occasionally been of some interest to you the reader. I would also like to wish you all a happy and prosperous new year.