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Election 2021: Part four of a series of reports asking Holyrood candidates their views on how to tackle fundamental issues faced by the country sees Tina McCaffery from Freedom Alliance – Integrity, Society, Economy gives her views on depopulation and housing shortages


By Scott Maclennan

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Tina McCaffery is one of the wave of candidates from smaller parties standing in the election, the Freedom Alliance platform is largely based on opposing what they see as an effort to “challenge and oppose the restrictions commonly referred to as lockdown.” Described as a campaigning political party that is committed to the “principles of personal liberty, sovereignty, and human rights.”

Stark official numbers show that the constituency will over the next 10 years see its population depleted drastically unless action is taken.

So we asked her what is the solution?

She said: “As you have correctly mentioned, there is a significant lack of affordable housing within the Highlands and Islands which is causing many young people to leave the areas they grew up in and not return. This has its own catastrophic implications to small, rural communities and this urgently needs to be addressed and actioned as we move forward.

"To date, figures released by the Scottish Government show there have been only nine homes built in the islands out of the £5million ring fenced islands fund, and only fifty-nine in rural areas on the Mainland out of 500 that were supposed to be built under the £25million Rural Housing Fund.

"The announcement that there will be a cut to investment of affordable and social housing by £268 million is a devastating blow and will impact heavily on the Highlands and Islands and its rural areas over the coming years.

"As the candidate for the Freedom Alliance Party, it is important that this issue is tackled in various ways and the following examples, moving forward, will be discussed and actioned:

• The Highland Council be given greater authority to control second homes in rural areas

• The ability to build on brown land: Areas of land and buildings (many of which are derelict) that are not in use should be considered before green land.

• Tackle higher building costs associated with the Highlands and Islands.

• Community led affordable housing projects, owned by and for the communities especially in remote rural areas.

• The rent pressure zone policy needs to be adapted and go further.

• The ring fenced £5million for the Islands needs to be increased and measures put in place for the money to be easily accessed by those looking to build homes for the local communities on the Islands.

"As the Regional and Constituency candidate for the Highlands and Islands it will be one of my priorities if elected to hold the next current Scottish Government accountable."

Read more of our election coverage including the other candidate's views on the issue by clicking here


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