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Some readers of this newsletter will remember me from my time a
year or two ago as a press officer in the Kirk's media relations
Unit in 121 George Street.
Since then, I have moved to Lewis, fought a general election and
won a seat in Holyrood.
In my constituency - the Western isles - the election was at
least as long, certainly as closely fought, and, at times as brutal
as anywhere in Scotland.
For me, this all involved some serious upheaval. Not just
in terms of me moving house and job. It also meant being put in the
bizarre position of actually turning down a seat in
Parliament. That requires some explanation. While I was in the
process of persuading the SNP members of the Western Isles to have
me as their candidate, Margaret Ewing died, and Richard Lochhead
resigned his north east list seat to fight the ensuing by-election.
Vacancies on lists are filled, not by by-elections, but by the
candidate "next on the list" from the previous election being asked
to take the seat automatically. In this case that person was me, as
I had been a north-east candidate in 2003. I decided to
become the first person ever to turn down a seat in Parliament, as
by that time I felt I had committed myself to fighting the Islands
seat.
A year later I was personally delighted to be elected in the
Islands, after a thoroughly enjoyable, if physically gruelling year
of campaigning.
The count itself was as drawn out and agonising as the campaign.
Had all gone to plan, a helicopter would have ensured the ballot
boxes were gathered in Stornoway and counted by about 2 am.
The helicopter remained in Inverness, for reasons that are still
unclear, and the result was not declared until just after
noon the next day, when all the ballot boxes from the Uists and
Barra had made their way north by sea. By that stage the
pressure had increased even further- not that I had thought
this was going to be possible. This was because, by this
point, the Western Isles was one of the last seats in the country
to declare, with the SNP and Labour absolutely neck and neck
nationally.
I am not likely to forget the SNP's celebrations at the results
locally and nationally. But I was not allowed much time to
celebrate - being bundled onto a plane to Edinburgh within a
few of hours of the result, and straight into
Parliament, a parliament where, for the first time ever, it became
quickly apparent my party was going to be in government.
Representing the Western Isles - an area nearly as long as Wales
- brings its own challenges. Not many constituency MSPs have
to get two planes to get from one end of their constituency to the
other. However, it is also an immense privilege to represent
this magnificent place, and a job I intend to take seriously.
When Parliament is in session, I tend to spend three days a week
in Edinburgh and the rest of my time trying to get round as much of
the constituency as I can. I live in Back, in Lewis, though
some weekends I do not get home, as I have things to go to in
Barra, the Uists or Harris.
As a long-term learner, I would hesitate to say what dialect of
Gaelic I have ended up speaking. Lewis people tell me it is
Harris, but Harris people tell me it is North Uist. It is probably
somewhere in the middle of the Sound of Harris! Whatever the exact
type, it is certainly now put to daily use.
In the constituency, transport costs, problems in the local
health board and the need for action to save Gaelic have all meant
I have had little time to stop and draw breath in my first few
weeks in the job. Not least because, as all this was going on, I
had to appoint staff and get a constituency office up and
running.
In Holyrood, there are not the opportunities to slink into a
corner that probably still exist in Westminster. The role of the
committees mean that all backbenchers are involved in the detail of
legislation - detail that, while important, is not always glamorous
work. I am on a committee, for instance, that is
presently regulating the sunbed industry - a task in which it is a
constant if not very original temptation to call Tommy
Sheridan as an expert witness.
I am always deeply suspicious of people who become politicians
because they say they have "an interest in politics" or because
they "would like to be in parliament". I think you should
only get involved in politics if you have specific political
beliefs you want to see pursued.
I won't rehearse my own political beliefs, but they can be
guessed from the fact that I have been an active member of the SNP
since I was a student. Suffice to say that I believe that the
Scottish Parliament, for whose creation I have fought since before
I can remember, requires now to take on the normal powers of a
normal country.
The Kirk came down in favour of the creation of a Scottish
Parliament. The debate has now moved on and the question now is
what powers that Parliament should have. The Parliament would, I
know, welcome the Kirk's view.
Meanwhile, the hard work begins now.