As we approach the 2026 Holyrood election, the Countryside Alliance invited parties to write an article for our website setting out their vison for rural Scotland.
Here is the response from SNP Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity of Scotland, Jim Fairlie:
With nearly three decades of experience of representing Highland Perthshire, SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney has put rural Scotland at the heart of his government – with ministers from rural communities across Scotland.
The SNP recognise the important role Scottish Countryside Alliance members play in shaping and sustaining rural Scotland. You have a vital role to play in protecting and managing our environment and contributing to key policy objectives from nature restoration to growing our economy.
At the heart of our vision for rural Scotland is a belief that policy should always be designed and delivered in partnership with our rural communities and businesses – ensuring that policy is rooted in the lived experience and knowledge of those who steward our nations countryside.
An SNP government will take action in a range of areas to support rural communities and businesses.
Helping retain and attract people to rural and island communities is a priority for the SNP. That is why we are committed to investing at least £20m in a new Rural and Island House grant scheme including considering how we better support self builds– supporting young people and families to put down roots and breathe new life into our rural communities.
Our support for housing is part of our wider package of policies to support rural repopulation. As part of this we will deliver a comprehensive package of rural proofing measures – ensuring rural needs are at the heart of government decisions.
We will continue to take a balanced approach in areas such as wildlife management and on issues such as muirburn. Through initiatives such as the wildlife forum we will work to build consensus and ensure policy is driven by the latest evidence. Muirburn is a critical upland management tool and we recognise its importance in supporting a mosaic of habitats, enabling grazing and gamekeeping activity and in supporting wildfire mitigation. As part of the recently passed Natural Environment Act we are committed to supporting and investing in deer control and the wider venison supply chain. An SNP government will deliver a national deer and venison management plan including support for investment in deer larders, skills and local supply chain development.
We recognise the importance of improving local procurement, that is why we are committed to establishing a public sector food procurement taskforce – working at pace to review key barriers to local procurement to make recommendations to strengthen local procurement which supports local economies and reduces food miles.
The SNP will support more new entrants into farming and crofting. We will deliver a package of support for the next generation including more new entrant tenancies on publicly owned land, access to finance, investment in skills and crucially flexible capital grants. We will take action to free up more crofts for new entrants and begin to deliver small landholding opportunities.
In stark contrast to the UK Government, the SNP is committed to maintaining reformed direct support payments which support our farmers. In government, the SNP has provided Scotland's farmers and crofters with the most generous package of direct support in the UK, investing over £660m annually and is committed to continuing that direct support. That includes over £100 million through LFASS and coupled support for our iconic livestock sector.
On rural crime we will continue to invest in initiatives such as SPARC whilst ensuring effective and visible rural policing. We will work to strengthen relations between Police Scotland and rural communities.
Rural people and businesses matter to the SNP. Let’s work together as Team Scotland to build a prosperous future - one which we can all believe in. Vote SNP on May 7th for the only party which will always put the interests of Scotland’s rural communities and businesses first.
Jim Fairlie is Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity of Scotland.