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Thank you to my constituents who have emailed me regarding business rates relief and the impact on pubs and breweries in Scotland.

Scottish Labour recognises the vital role that pubs and breweries play in our communities, not only as places to meet and socialise, but as key contributors to local economies and jobs. We share your concern about the pressures facing the sector and the risk of closures if support is withdrawn.

The Scottish Government’s decision to provide 40% relief for hospitality premises in 2025/26 was welcome, but came after years of missed opportunities to support businesses in Scotland. The SNP failed to pass on full business rates relief in 2024/25 and has offered only temporary, limited support this year. Local authorities’ ability to provide discretionary relief has also been severely curtailed by years of cuts to council budgets.

By contrast, the UK Labour Government is delivering a comprehensive package of support and reform for businesses across England and Wales. These measures include Permanent reductions in business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure, funded by higher rates for online warehouses to level the playing field, and Targeted investment in hospitality and high streets, including a £1.5 million Hospitality Scheme.

Since the 2024 General Election, Labour has delivered £10.3bn of additional funding for the Scottish Government. There is no excuse for failing to deliver for small business owners across Scotland. Scotland’s businesses don’t just need occasional support from the SNP, they need comprehensive reform of business rates, and a new direction with a government that is on the side of small businesses.

Scottish Labour believes that the current business rates system is not fit for purpose. In Scotland the system disincentivises investment, creates uncertainty and places an undue burden on our high streets. Scottish Labour has set out proposals to make business rates fairer, starting with reforms that level the playing field between the high street and online giants. We want to create a new system that will better incentivise investment, tackle empty properties and support entrepreneurship.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has pressed for a meeting with Highland Council to discuss the ongoing uncertainty of contracts and funding for domestic abuse services in the Highlands.

Mrs Grant, who has a background in supporting domestic abuse services, is deeply concerned about the lack of clarity on funding for 2026/27 and on the allocation of contracts for the delivery of services.

The MSP has met with all four of the Women’s Aid groups in the Highlands in recent weeks and has submitted Freedom of Information requests to Highland Council in a bid to clarify just what is going on with funding and contracts for service provision going forward.

Mrs Grant is seeking clarity on the contracts being offered and the funding for outreach and rural services, together with refuge provision and MARAC funding. The Women’s Aid groups are to have individual meetings with Highland Council early in the new year.

Rhoda Grant said “The uncertainty of all of this is causing untold worry for the Women’s Aid groups themselves but also for people who have needed the specialist support of Women’s Aid in the past and know just how vital it is to protect these services.”

She continued “As things stand, some of the Women’s Aid groups will have to look at reduction in services going forward.

“At a time when domestic abuse crime is on the increase, we must have fully supported services in place to protect women and children when they leave an abuser.

“Highland Council’s communication on all of this has been patchy and confusing and we need clarity for the support groups involved to let them properly plan for the coming year.”

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has pressed the First Minister to introduce a duty of candour for the dualling of the A9 as recommended by the Scottish Parliament’s influential Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee.

Following the inquiry undertaken by the Committee in 2023, which highlighted that a lack of agreement on the availability and type of funding significantly contributed to the failure to achieve the 2025 target for the dualling of the A9, the Committee called for a duty of candour to be introduced for major projects so that challenges are brought to light sooner. The inquiry was part of the Committee’s consideration of petition PE1992 from Laura Hansler which called on the Scottish Government to fulfil its 2011 promise to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

Media reports earlier this week highlighted fresh doubt on whether the A9 will be completed by the new deadline of 2035 amid fears that the Scottish Government feels the private MIM funding agreement for some sections of the route is not value for money.

During First Minister’s Questions today (04.12.2025) Mrs Grant, asked the First Minister if he would commit to introducing a duty of candour for the A9 project as recommended by the Petitions Committee to ensure that the Parliament and the public are fully informed about progress, delays and financial challenges in real time.

The First Minister refused to commit to this, instead saying that “The Government responded to that request by indicating it would report regularly to Parliament and that’s exactly what the Government will do.”

Speaking afterwards Rhoda Grant said “One of the key recommendations in the Committee’s report was that a duty of candour should be introduced to prevent more of the same happening again but John Swinney has chosen to ignore this recommendation.

“A further recommendation of the report called for proper parliamentary scrutiny through the establishment of a parliamentary committee which could oversee major infrastructure projects, as was the case with the Queensferry Crossing project, and that too has been ignored.”

The Petition also called on the creation of a national memorial to all those who have lost their lives on the A9.

Mrs Grant continued “Again this week there was a serious accident at Ralia which left a woman in critical condition in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, and saw two other people taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

“We must make this road safer and we must ensure that the delays of the first deadline are not repeated.”

The Committee’s report can be accessed via the following link:- https://bprcdn.parliament.scot/published/CPPP/2024/11/1/8f65ceeb-cf08-4cd6-8450-58602b333637/CPPPS062024R02.pdf

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating IDM Energy on being crowned ‘National Winner 2025’ of The John Caudwell Award announced at this year’s Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards in London on 17 November 2025.

The Great British Entrepreneur Awards celebrate exceptional and inspiring businesses across the UK and are known as the ‘Grammys of entrepreneurship’. IDM Energy came out tops after fending off 800 of the nation’s top entrepreneurs to secure the national award.

The founders of IDM Energy, Iain Macphail who hails from Stornoway, and Kyle Smith are well known to the Western Isles for their dedication to the island’s HebCelt Festival which is renowned far and wide and brings millions to the Western Isles’ economy every year.

Rhoda Grant said “I am thrilled for Iain and Kyle for scooping the national award in the face of steep competition from 800 of the UK’s top entrepreneurs.

“They are well kent faces in the islands and are making their mark in Inverness and further afield.

“Their dedication to investing in people and giving them real career prospects were acknowledged by the award sponsor and is evident by the seven apprentices who form part of their 21 strong staff team.

“I wish them all the very best for their continuing success.”

Rhoda is pictured with Iain Macphail, Founder/Director of IDM Energy and a copy of her motion is below.

Motion Number: S6M-19979
Lodged By: Rhoda Grant
Date Lodged: 01/12/2025

Title: IDM Energy Crowned National Winner 2025 of John Caudwell Award at Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards

Motion Text:

That the Parliament congratulates IDM Energy on being crowned National Winner 2025 of the John Caudwell Award at the 2025 Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards, which were held in London on 17 November 2025; notes that the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, known as the “Grammys of entrepreneurship”, celebrate exceptional and inspiring businesses across the UK; further notes that IDM Energy fended off competition from 800 of the nation’s top entrepreneurs to secure the national award; acknowledges that Iain Macphail, who hails from Stornoway, and Kyle Smith, were recognised for investing in people and giving them real career prospects, which is demonstrated by seven apprentices being part of the 21 strong staff team; further acknowledges that IDM Energy, which was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic and has bases in Inverness, Stornoway and the Central Belt, was ranked 44th in the Elite Business 100 (EB100) 2024 and rose to the 37th place in 2025; considers that IDM Energy’s mission to provide energy-efficient solutions that meet its customers’ needs while keeping safety and sustainability at the forefront in all that it does, together with its core values of honest advice and quality service, is to be congratulated, and wishes Iain, Kyle and the whole staff team at IDM Energy all the very best for their continuing success.

Search and Rescue teams across Scotland will benefit from the budget with an exemption from paying Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) on their rescue vehicles. 

The budget announcement by Rachel Reeves today means that volunteer rescue services, which have to raise funds for equipment, will no longer have to pay out thousands of pounds to keep their vehicles on the road. 

Voluntary SAR teams – from Mountain Rescue and Lowland Rescue to Cave Rescue and specialist volunteer groups – are a critical part of the UK’s emergency infrastructure. They work alongside police, ambulance and fire services to save lives in some of the UK’s most remote and hazardous environments, and form a vital component of national resilience planning.

The measure, which was spearheaded by Western Isles Labour MP Torcuil Crichton through his role as Chair of the Search & Rescue Parliamentary Group, recognises the vital public service provided by volunteer and professional responders in the Highlands & Islands and across the UK. 

In the Commons Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “I will reform our motoring taxes, exempting Search & Rescue vehicles from vehicle excise duty, as called for by my honourable friends, the Members for the Western Isles and for Whitehaven & Workington”

By removing this financial burden to Search & Rescue charities, the Government is enabling SAR organisations to direct more of their limited resources toward life-saving operations, training, and equipment. 

Speaking in response to the budget announcement, Inverness & Nairn Scottish Labour candidate Shaun Fraser said: “This is a hugely positive step by the Labour Government and a well-deserved recognition of the extraordinary work carried out by Search & Rescue teams every single day in our mountains, off our coastlines, and in our rural communities”. 

Eva Kestner, candidate for Caithness, Sutherland & Ross added: “From the mountain top to the shoreline, SAR volunteers are ready to put their lives on the line to get people to safety every day of the year. This is the Labour government acknowledging that tremendous commitment, so that when they are out on the hill they know we’ve got their back.” 

Isla McCay, Scottish Labour’s candidate for Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch stated: “In the Highlands we are all familiar with the work of Search & Rescue teams: from responding to missing-person incidents and severe weather emergencies to assisting in crisis at sea operations. The VED exemption acknowledges this role and ensures that those who volunteer their time and expertise can continue to do so with better support”. 

Expressing her support for the move, Highlands & Islands MSP Rhoda Grant said: “Labour is committed to backing those who keep our communities safe. This is a win for the volunteers who give so much, a win for the charities that keep our SAR infrastructure running, and a win for every community across our region that depends on rapid, skilled emergency response”.

Donald Macrae, Chair of Scottish Mountain Rescue, welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement:

“This is a hugely positive step. It means more of our fundraising can go directly into vital equipment and training for our teams across the country. Our volunteers head out in all conditions, every day of the year, this is a tremendous show of support from the government.”

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.