Author: Rhoda Grant

Scottish Labour will push power out of Holyrood to usher in a new age of regional economic growth, Anas Sarwar has said.

Mr Sarwar’s intervention comes as he launches the Muscatelli Report – a report into regional economic growth written by renowned economist Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli.

In his report, Professor Muscatelli surveys the current state of the economy in Scotland, analyses Scotland’s challenges and opportunities, and produces recommendations to drive regional economic growth.

The report was commissioned by Scottish Labour to inform the policies that the party will develop in the run up to the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

Mr Sarwar has criticised Scottish politics for being an ‘economics-free zone’ and has hit out at the SNP’s ‘Edinburgh-centric’ approach to economic policy.

Speaking to mark the launch of the report, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar MSP said: “For two decades, Scottish politics has been an economics-free zone.

“We all want to see social change driven by proper policymaking, but the truth is that we cannot have the social policies we need if we do not have a thriving and growing economy.

“Under the SNP, economic growth has been ignored and the unique potential of communities across Scotland has been held back by an Edinburgh-centric view of the economy.

“If we are to meet the challenges of the future, we need a thriving and growing economy that works for every part of the country.

“That’s why Scottish Labour is determined to learn from experts like Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli to ensure we have a plan that is ready to deliver the growth and prosperity we need.

“As First Minister I will end the economics-free zone at Holyrood and push power out and into our communities to empower entrepreneurs and kickstart growth.”

Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli said: “I was commissioned by the Leader of the Scottish Labour Party to examine how Scotland might unlock the full potential of its regional economies.

“In conducting this work, I have done so entirely independently, drawing on evidence, consultation and international best practice to offer recommendations that I hope will be of value to all those with an interest in Scotland’s economic wellbeing.

“Scotland’s long-term prosperity depends on placing economic growth and productivity at the centre of public policy.

“This report highlights the need for greater coherence in policy design, stronger collaboration between Scotland’s governments and a renewed call for the levers that lie in Holyrood to be used to foster the distinctive strengths and mitigate challenges of our regional economies.

“Economic growth is not an end in itself, but the essential means by which we can raise living standards, sustain high-quality public services, and tackle persistent inequalities.

“My hope is that the findings set out here will help stimulate the focused, long-term approach to economic development that Scotland now urgently requires.”

A copy of Professor Muscatelli’s report can be accessed via link: http://scottishlabour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Independent-Report-on-Regional-Economic-Development-in-Scotland.pdf

Anton Muscatelli is a Distinguished Honorary Professor of the Adam Smith Business School at the University of Glasgow

I was delighted to meet with Hospice UK and Kenny Steele of Highland Hospice in Parliament recently during Hospice Care Week.

Highland Hospice is leading the way in Scotland with its 24 hour Palliative Care Helpline which provides a single point of access for 24/7 advice, support, and information for people who may be in the last 12 months of life, and for their families, carers, and health and social care professionals across Highland and Argyll and Bute.

Kenny Steele’s compassion and drive is unrelenting and in today’s financial climate it is even more important than ever that hospices are fully supported by government to allow them to continue providing their invaluable care and support during one of the hardest times of life.

During First Minister’s Questions in Parliament today (09.10.2025) I raised the issue of Murdo Maclennan, the only islander on the Board of CMAL, not having his membership renewed.

I said to the First Minster “This is a snub to our island communities who are left, yet again, with no islander on the Board. I asked the First Minister what he is going to do to increase the number of islanders on the Board of CMAL and ensure that islanders are represented on boards that are crucial to their survival.”

“The First Minister appeared sympathetic to the issue however he missed the basic point I was making. He said Boards should consult with islanders and listen to their legitimate issues but islanders should be on the Boards, in the driving seat, as they live with the issues and know what needs to be resolved and improved upon.”

I concluded “Given the chaos that goes on repeatedly with our ferry fleet and the damage that is being done to islanders and island businesses as a result, it is imperative that island representation is reinstated on this Board and I will continue to push for this to happen.”

A link to the recording of my question and the FM’s inadequate response is here

Meeting of the Parliament from 09/10/2025

I wanted to let you know that Scottish Gas customers in Highlands and Islands could be eligible to support of up to £2,000 with their energy bills this winter, as the British Gas Energy Trust re-opens its Energy Support Fund as part of their commitment to supporting those struggling with their bills.

The Energy Support Fund is available exclusively for Scottish Gas customers who have energy debt between £50 – £2,000 on a pre-payment meter, or £250 – £2,000 on a credit account. Last year, this fund provided more than £4.2 million in grants to almost 6,000 vulnerable households across Britain.

They are also providing additional support to customers from any energy supplier through the British Gas Energy Trust’s Individuals and Families Fund (I&F), which provides those struggling with energy debt on a prepayment or credit accounts with up to £1,700.

Throughout this winter, energy customers across Britain can also visit their local British Gas Support Pop Ups, where British Gas Energy Trust funded advisors will be on-site to provide an in-depth overview of the support available, signpost people to local organisations for ongoing support, check for benefits entitlements and provide free energy-saving tips and advice.

Customers can apply for British Gas Energy Trust grants here.

• British Gas Energy Trust’s Energy Support Fund has reopened, with grants available of up to £2,000 for Scottish Gas customers struggling with energy debt. Apply at: https://britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants-available/.

I have today released this statement to the Press.

“Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, and Scottish Labour Holyrood candidates have issued a stark warning about the deteriorating state of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) across the Highlands and Islands, citing critical staffing shortages and underfunding.

Ms Grant revealed that only 10 out of 125 on-call fire stations in Argyll and Bute, Highland, Moray, and the Islands are currently fully staffed—less than 10%—following a series of Parliamentary questions she lodged.

“The level of risk this leaves my constituents facing is deeply troubling,” said Ms Grant. “As we saw during the recent wildfire at Dava—the largest in Scotland’s history—the demands on this vital public service are enormous.”

She attributed the crisis to long-term cuts under the SNP government, noting that the SFRS has lost over 1,200 firefighters since 2007 and is currently operating with a 29% vacancy rate.

“It’s no wonder the service is under such pressure,” she added.

Ms Grant also criticised local SNP MSP Emma Roddick for holding a debate on wildfire risks while failing to address the root causes.

“Ms Roddick should be lobbying her party to reinstate the lost firefighters and restore the £59million funding removed from the SFRS budget,” she said.

Scottish Labour candidates for the Highlands and Islands echoed these concerns. Shaun Fraser, candidate and godson of a former senior firefighter in Inverness, described his recent visit to Inverness Fire Station. He said:-

“The team there do an incredible job under difficult circumstances, but they need to be supported by the Scottish Government. I saw fire engines being kept operational well beyond their intended lifespan—literally held together by running repairs. Our firefighters deserve far better.”

Fraser highlighted the toll on staff, citing exhaustion from overtime and missed training opportunities due to understaffing.

“They’ve been badly let down by the SNP,” he said

Eva Kestner, candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, stressed the regional impact. She said:-

“The further you live from Inverness, the more serious this issue becomes. I’m calling on SFRS senior management to present clear proposals to address these urgent concerns in the North and West.”

Scottish Labour is calling for immediate action to restore staffing levels, reinvest in equipment, and ensure the safety of communities across the Highlands and Islands.

The Government have announced the Flu and Covid-19 winter vaccination programme for this year.

With deaths from flu reaching a 45 year high in Scotland last winter  and Covid-19 remaining lethal along with the growing evidence of the longer lasting debility and negatively impacting other health conditions I urge all those who are invited by the NHS to attend for their vaccine to do so.

Programme timings
The winter programme commences in September, starting with the child flu programme and the flu offer to pregnant women. Co-administration of the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine will begin at the end of September. Below are the key dates for the programme, noting that there may be slight differences in terms of start dates between the Health Boards:

• 6 September: Start of child flu programme
• 8 September: Start of flu offer to pregnant women
• 15 September: Adult flu programme begins
• 29 September: Beginning of co-administration to those groups eligible for both flu and COVID-19
• Saturday 31 January 2026: COVID-19 programme ends
• Sunday 29 March 2026: Flu programme ends

More information can be found here – Winter vaccines | NHS inform

 

I was pleased to be alerted today to the launch of ‘Highlands Reimagined’ a new podcast made and produced in Sutherland. The podcast was commissioned as part of the Artist Residency Programme, made by Will Sadler of Anya Media and published in partnership with Wild for Scotland. The podcast was part funded by Museums Galleries Scotland, Highland Council through the Community Regeneration Fund and the Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund.

Highlands Reimagined asks what needs to change to stop young people from leaving north Sutherland – and either stay or return to build their futures here. Will worked closely with students from Farr High School to investigate why young people are leaving the region and what it will take for them to stay or return.

Through conversations with people tasked to encourage resettlement, the Scottish Land Commission, local business owners and regional campaigns for community self-agency, the students discuss the pressing issues facing the Scottish Highlands today; whether housing shortages, insecure jobs, struggling schools and concentrated land ownership.   From the legacy of the Highland Clearances, to modern community-led action, discover the modern stories of resilience and the fight for a sustainable future for this beautiful place.

To listen follow Wild For Scotland or search Highlands Reimagined wherever you get your podcasts.

I am urging eligible parents and carers whose children are reaching school age to apply for School Age Payment. The payment is available to parents and carers, on certain benefits, to help with the cost of starting school. It is worth £319.80 per child. Parents and carers can apply for the payment if they look after a child born between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021. People who already get Scottish Child Payment will get School Age Payment automatically. However, some people still need to apply including those who do not qualify for Scottish Child Payment but get housing benefits, those who have opted out of automatic payments, or those who are under 19 and dependent on someone else who gets benefits for them. Parents and carers can apply for School Age Payment from when a child is first old enough to begin primary school. People who defer their child’s school start date to the following year are still entitled to the payment. The payment is available for multiple children from the same household. People can apply for School Age Payment online, by post or by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222. Please help us spread the word about this payment with your networks.

From data gathered from energy suppliers Ofgem  expect that within my constituency of Highlands and Islands approximately 898 constituents may be affected.

The Radio Teleswitch (RTS) Phase-Out which is now underway with the next stage due to commence from 11 August 2025. All of you due to be impacted will have been contacted multiple times already by your supplier to notify you that your meter is due to be phased-out.

To mitigate against the risk of consumer harm, the RTS Phase-Out will be conducted in a gradual and careful manner over the course of the coming months. Ofgem have provided information that you may find useful should you experience any interruption to your heating and/or hot water.

Background

RTS uses radio signals to instruct specific RTS electricity meters to switch between peak and off peak rates. These electricity meters were designed to support consumers who may use electric storage systems and panel or immersion heaters in water tanks, which typically charge and heat up at night.

Since 2011, energy suppliers have been obligated to take steps to replace traditional electricity meters such as those reliant on RTS infrastructure with smart metering equipment.

The infrastructure which supports RTS, first introduced in the 1980s, has reached the end of its natural operational life. Stakeholders involved in the provision and support of the infrastructure which support RTS – including the transmitters located in Droitwich, Westerglen and Burghead – have made clear that it can no longer be maintained on a long term basis. Maintenance of this infrastructure is no longer practical and is too costly to continue to maintain.

RTS Phase-Out

The radio signal, as noted above, is now being phased out. Consumers who have not received an upgrade to their RTS meter, may experience disruption to their heating and/or hot water provision within their home or business, or potentially will experience higher rates of tariffs when their RTS meter fails to switch between the different rates.

Ofgem alongside the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) will be closely monitoring the progress of the Phase-Out and the ability of energy suppliers to provide rapid support for any consumers who may be affected during this initial stage. They have received assurances from suppliers that they stand ready to support consumers during the Phase-Out. However, they have made clear that should they believe that suppliers are not adequately responding to consumers including prioritising those in vulnerable circumstances, they will pause the Phase-Out until such a time that they are confident that the necessary processes are in place to protect consumers.

Advice for consumers

Suppliers are currently upgrading RTS meters at a rate of over 1,000 meter points per day and expectation is that this number will increase as the RTS Phase-Out continues. The phasing-out of RTS meters will pause over winter months, however, RTS upgrade activity will continue at pace during these months before phase-out activity recommences in March/April 2026.

It is critical that any of you still with an RTS meter take steps to contact your supplier and secure an appointment for a smart meter upgrade.

If you think you may have RTS equipment in your home or business, you should contact your energy supplier, and they will arrange for it to be upgraded. If anyone with an RTS meter experiences issues with your heating and/or hot water, you should contact your energy supplier immediately. Energy suppliers are standing by to prioritise RTS meter upgrades and respond to any issues quickly.

RTS meter upgrades

The best way for you to know whether you have an RTS meter is to contact your energy supplier. Suppliers have access to the most up to date information about what type of meter you have.

Some things you may look at that might give you an indication that you have an RTS meter are:

• The property is heated using electricity or storage heaters.
• You get cheaper energy at different times of day (usually overnight). Your tariff might be: Economy 7, Economy 10 or Total Heat Total Control.
• There is no gas supply to the property. This is often the case in blocks of flats and premises in rural areas.
• There may be a separate switch box near the consumer’s meter with a Radio Teleswitch (RTS) label on it.

Smart meters are the like-for-like replacement for RTS meters and are the best option for the vast majority of consumers. Smart meters give access to a wider variety of tariffs and greater control over your electricity usage. Without a smart meter, your supplier may be unable to support the cheaper off-peak charging for their heating and hot water. A smart meter also gives you greater visibility of your energy consumption, allowing you to minimise your usage and save money.

The RTS Phase-Out Toolkit is available to access here.

Next steps

Ofgem will be monitoring and evaluating closely the progress that suppliers make in upgrading RTS meters during the Phase-Out.

I and other Labour colleagues are horrified by the appalling scenes in Gaza including images of starvation, desperation and suffering of children and babies.

Scottish Labour’s direct priority is to continue to call for immediate humanitarian aid and relief – on the ground and at scale. We continue to call for an immediate ceasefire, unfettered UN aid to Gaza, and the immediate release of hostages.

This UK Labour government was elected by the British people with a commitment to recognise the state of Palestine. It has always been a question of when, not if.

Palestinian statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. It is also essential to the long-term security of Israel.

The UK Government announcement sets out a pathway to recognition of a Palestinian state in September before UNGA. It is part of a wider plan for peace aimed at ending the suffering and re-establishing a pathway to a two-state solution. As we have consistently said, Hamas must immediately release the hostages, agree to a ceasefire, commit to disarmament and have no role in the future governance of Gaza.

It is vital that the international community demonstrates to the Israeli government that we will not allow a two-state solution to be prevented. Given the situation on the ground, there is a historic, moral and diplomatic imperative to take this action now.

We continue to support the US, Qatari and Egyptian governments in their attempts to bring about a ceasefire and demand an immediate ceasefire to stop the slaughter, that the UN be allowed to send humanitarian assistance into Gaza on a continuing basis to prevent starvation, and the immediate release of the hostages.

We are committed to working together with our international partners to develop a credible peace plan for the next phase in Gaza that establishes transitional governance and security arrangements and ensures the delivery of humanitarian aid at the necessary scale. This must be accompanied by the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the removal of Hamas leadership from Gaza as key steps towards a negotiated two-state solution.