The countryside will be a key battleground at the 2026 Holyrood election, and rural communities have outlined what they expect from parties that want to win their votes.
Following a survey of the priorities and wishes of Scottish rural people, the Scottish Countryside Alliance has published its manifesto for the Scottish parliamentary election 2026.
The document outlines important policies the next Scottish government must implement if it wishes to safeguard rural communities and unlock the full potential of the countryside.
Key actions highlighted that the next Scottish government should take include:
- Establishing a dedicated Countryside Champion to act as the liaison between rural communities and government, and publishing a Rural Community Impact Assessment (RCIA) when a proposed policy or development is likely to have a significant impact on rural communities.
- A guarantee that policies are rural proofed, so that communities in the countryside are not unfairly disadvantaged by a one-size-fits-all policy.
- Recognising muirburn as essential for moorland management and wildfire mitigation, supported by a clear and accessible licensing scheme.
- Integrating digital infrastructure planning with rural economic development, education and public services.
- Ensuring that licensing schemes for wildlife management are workable and fit for purpose, working with relevant organisations to develop them, and recognising the importance of the value of fishing, shooting and deer stalking to the Scottish rural economy.
- Ensuring at least 50% of food products used in the public sector are locally sourced or produced in Scotland and the UK, and develop a ‘blue tractor’ scheme that ensures consumers can buy Scottish produce with confidence, supporting Scottish farmers and producers.
Jake Swindells, Director of the Scottish Countryside Alliance, said:
“This countryside will be a key battleground in the upcoming elections, and rural people deserve and demand a government that will stand up for them. This manifesto demonstrates key ways in which the next government can prove its concern for rural communities.
“With the results of the elections far from certain, politicians would do well to listen to the voices of rural people, and show that they will legislate for them, and not against them.”
The full manifesto can be found here.
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