An interview with Rachael Hamilton MSP

The Scottish Countryside Alliance spoke to Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire (ERB). Rachael looked back on her first term in Parliament, standing up for the countryside in 2021 and the importance of country sports to Scotland.

A lot has happened since you were first elected in 2016 – what have been the highs and lows of this parliamentary term?

On being elected, James Douglas-Hamilton, Lord Selkirk of Douglas, kindly sent me a handwritten letter of congratulations wisely advising me to take the time to choose my interests and figure out what I was passionate about; very old school, but he was right. I immerse myself in stacks of projects, and enjoy working with different charities, but working with Kathy and Doddie Weir was the most fun and fulfilling. I set out to ensure people living with the life limiting condition MND receive automatic entitlement to a blue badge to make something as simple as parking closer to a shop easier. The Weir's and the My Name is Doddie Foundation have worked incredibly hard to raise the profile of MND and raised an incredible amount of money for research and the family are an inspiration. My other passion is getting more women into politics and I work with Women2Win, an organisation set up by Theresa May MP and Anne Jenkin MP. My lows have been many from Ruth Davidson standing down as leader to not being able due to covid, to meet face-to-face with constituents which I thrive on. Virtual meetings are terrible.

One of the highs no doubt will have been the election victory in 2017 when you won ERB after John Lamont stood down. Since becoming the constituency MSP what are you most proud to have delivered for the area?

I could not have foreseen Theresa May calling a snap election in 2017, signalling me to resign as a South of Scotland MSP, and stand in the by-election for Ettrick, Roxburgh & Berwickshire. It was quite extraordinary to return to Holyrood with a decent majority as a constituency MSP, it was a really proud moment for me and my family. I love the Borders and had to pinch myself to think that I now represented the people of the Borders. Of course, I had big shoes to fill following the footsteps of my friend and mentor John Lamont MP. Most of all I hope that my constituents know that I care deeply for Borderers and all that I do reflects that passion. Nothing has transcended the effects of the pandemic. From a room upstairs, thankfully with a view of fields, I worked with the help of my trusty team and battled to keep up with the tsunami of casework. I can't lie, it was pretty hard to think that people were losing the lives of family members, their jobs, their business and they were turning to me for help. I never thought I'd see the day that I'd be organising food deliveries for vulnerable people.

In 2021 you will stand for re-election – what will you aim to deliver for ERB if successful?

As we emerge from Covid, my primary focus is to ensure we have a robust economic strategy based on building back business, retaining jobs, reskilling and retraining our workforce, as well as helping young people into employment. Young people have had a tough time, I know they've found it hard to cope with such a sombre existence and incidences of mental health are on the rise.

We cannot sit back and allow the erosion of rural democracy to continue, I am saddened that the current government misunderstand the countryside and this frustration makes me more determined than ever to fight against an ever increasingly Central Belt focused SNP Government. I want to see the Beeching cuts reversed and the Borders Railway extended to Carlisle which would create jobs and bring a transformational connection on the West side of the Borders.

Do you understand the SNP Government to take seriously the needs of rural communities?

No, I believe there have been many occasions where they have failed to deliver for rural areas. It feels as though the Central Belt takes priority, whilst rural Scotland has to settle for second best under the SNP. On rural infrastructure, we have seen the painfully slow and delayed roll out of the R100 broadband programme, as well as a lack of ambition on upgrading road and rail infrastructure in places such as the Borders. When it comes to further education, we have seen a decimation in the number of part-time college courses and our local hospital has struggled to fill job vacancies. I want to help improve education and health outcomes and that is why I support the newly created South of Scotland Economic Partnership.

Country sports generates socio-economic benefits for the Scottish Borders, do you consider country sports to be under threat by the SNP Government?

The current government are opaque to the immense opportunities provided environmentally and economically by country sports. Furthermore, the entire rural supply chain is intrinsically linked to country sports, whether it is the tackle shops, self-catering accommodation or the butchers on the high street. Sporting estates provide opportunities for young people through gamekeeping and land management, in my view, I believe country sports could be part of the solution to protect species and promote biodiversity. It is short-sighted of the SNP to over regulate rather than work with partners to achieve net-zero. Take for example the recent decisions on grouse moor licensing and mountain hare culls. Despite having the scientific evidence in front of them, the SNP chose to ignore it and pander to the Greens who prop them up to form a majority in the Parliament, purely to get the Scottish budget passed.

What will you do stand up for country sports in the next parliamentary term if re-elected?

I will help fight against the ignorance shown at Holyrood to the value of country sports. I truly believe that the countryside can play its part in reaching Scotland's challenging environmental objectives. I want to see rural areas like the Borders providing opportunities for the next generation with jobs that safeguard the future of our fragile communities. We cannot let the importance of country sports slip off the radar, particularly, the skills, the expertise, the jobs and the immense economic contribution they make to areas which would otherwise not provide enough employment to support communities. Grouse shooting contributes £350 million to Scotland's economy! Jobs in country sports, are vital to ensure communities are sustainable and vibrant. With the Tweed running through my constituency I will continue my campaign to Save our Salmon and support the good work of organisations like Tweed Forum. I'd also like to see a countryside educational day made available for every P4 class in Scotland. Forging a new relationship between city and country could be a game-changer in many ways.