Dave Thompson MSP

As constituents will know I have decided to stand down as your MSP at the next election in May 2016.

I am absolutely delighted that Katie Forbes has been chosen as the SNP candidate to succeed me as the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch election hopeful for 2016 and I am sure if selected to represent the area she will do a wonderful job.

Katie fought off stiff opposition from other talented candidates, however I am confident the correct decision has been made by SNP members and that Katie has all the tools required to become an excellent Highland MSP.

It is time to say goodbye to Duncan Bryden who departs as Chair of the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA). He will be succeeded by Peter Argyle who was elected by Board Members and will start in September for a three-year term. I enjoyed getting to know Duncan and I look forward to getting to know Peter as well.

I am pleased that folk in rural areas who struggle in fuel poverty are being listened to by the Scottish Government. A new group has been set up to find ways of making it easier and more affordable for those in rural and remote Scotland to heat their homes. This, the Scottish Rural Poverty Task Force, is a wonderful step in the right direction towards eradicating the scourge of fuel poverty and by the time you read this they will have hosted their inaugural meeting in Inverness. The group’s responsibility will be to come up with a range of ideas specifically tailored to help people in more remote parts of Scotland reduce their fuel costs and keep their homes warm.

There are of course weather factors that make homes harder to heat and many homes are not connected to mains gas grid. However, it is fundamentally wrong that in a modern nation those in rural areas are penalised for their remoteness, therefore I wish the group every success and I look forward to being updated on their progress.

I enjoyed taking in a number of Highland based events this summer, including the Newtonmore Highland Games and The Black Isle Show, which are both examples of how to run successful and enjoyable events.

In last month’s Strathy the venues for my local surgeries had not yet been announced, but I can confirm now that my surgeries (advertised in the Strathy last week) take place on the 26th of August in Kingussie at 1100 in the Badenoch Centre, Aviemore at 12noon in the Park Guest House (formerly international starters) and Farr at 1400 in the village hall.

The Scottish Parliament will be back in full swing from August 31st after the Summer Recess. I have a busy schedule with various meetings on a range of issues, including resuming my roles on the Standards and Rural Affairs Committees respectively. I also hope to set up a brand new Cross Party Group on Faith.

While it is set to be a busy schedule, it is still one that I will relish, particularly as there is much to do between now and when I stand down at the next Scottish Parliamentary Elections in 2016. This is especially true at such an exciting time for the SNP and Scotland as a whole.