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Scottish Countryside Alliance manifesto 2026

In preparation for the Scottish Parliamentary Elections taking place later this year, the Scottish Countryside Alliance has published our manifesto setting out how the next Scottish government can better support rural communities and reconnect positively with rural voters.

Read our manifesto
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Highlights of the manifesto

The future Scottish government could unlock the full potential of the countryside by promoting opportunities for growth, fostering innovation and encouraging a cultural shift in policymaking. Policy must be balanced, based on sound evidence, respect the views of communities and be rural-proofed, with policymakers demonstrating that they understand and respect the rural way of life and commit to tackling the issues facing our communities.

Protect Scotland’s rural way of life and rich heritage
Connect rural Scotland
Grow the rural economy
Support our countryside
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Protect Scotland’s rural way of life and rich heritage

The rural voice must be central to policymaking. Legislation must be balanced so rural viewpoints are not disregarded in favour of central belt politics.

We call on the next Scottish government to:

  • Enable the stewards of our countryside to manage wildlife in ways that sustain ecosystems and helps nature recover and thrive.

  • Ensure that licensing schemes for wildlife management are workable and fit for purpose, working with relevant organisations to develop them.

  • Listen to robust scientific evidence and the needs and views of the experts on the ground to make informed decisions on rural policy.

  • Recognise muirburn as essential for moorland management and wildfire mitigation, supported by a clear and accessible licensing scheme.

  • Balance traditional and modern land management approaches to maintain healthy ecosystems and resilient landscapes.

  • Engage local communities in decision-making, ensuring biodiversity monitoring and ecosystem outcomes are evidence-led and locally informed.

Click here to read more

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Connect rural Scotland

Ensuring that Scotland’s countryside is connected, resilient and able to benefit from digital and infrastructure developments is essential for thriving communities, sustainable economic growth and quality of life.

We call on the next Scottish government to:

  • Prioritise digital connectivity in rural areas so that it matches urban areas of Scotland.

  • Integrate digital infrastructure planning  with rural economic development, education and public services.

  • Provide support and funding for digital skills and training in rural communities to ensure people can fully benefit from new connectivity.

  • Bring forward the long-delayed dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness earlier than the current completion date of 2035.

  • Invest in local bus services to ensure reliable access to work, education and healthcare.

  • Ensure transport planning considers vulnerable groups, including the elderly, students and low-income households.

Click here to read more

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Grow the rural economy

A thriving rural economy is vital to Scotland’s food production, environment and communities. Supporting farming and local businesses, pubs, village shops, post offices and small hotels encourages visitors beyond major destinations and helps prevent rural depopulation.

We call on the next Scottish government to:

  • Incentivise and encourage new entrants into farming and other land-based vocations to build a secure future for rural Scotland.

  • Develop a ‘countryside for all’ by investing in visitor facilities and rural infrastructure that are accessible,  safe and welcoming, while supporting communities and protecting the environment.

  • Provide business support funding in rural communities. Village shops, post offices and pubs are often a lifeline for rural residents.

  • Ensure at least 50% of food products used in the public sector are locally sourced or produced in Scotland and the UK.

  • Incentivise deer managers to produce good quality venison by supporting domestic and international markets and promoting it across the public sector.

  • Develop a ‘blue tractor’ scheme that ensures consumers can buy Scottish produce with confidence, supporting Scottish farmers and producers.

Click here to read more

star

Support our countryside

From policing and public services to housing, healthcare and education, government must ensure rural Scotland is not treated as an afterthought.

We call on the next Scottish government to:

  • Investigate why rural communities feel the police do not take rural crime seriously.

  • Tackle underreporting due to perceptions that the police will not act.

  • Promote initiatives to strengthen relations between rural communities and Police Scotland, including stable community officer assignments.

  • Streamline planning policies to support self-build and small-scale developments, protect green belt and prime agricultural land and promote affordable rural housing.

  • Ensure rural healthcare meets local needs by creating community hubs providing medical and dental services closer to home, including   
    maternity and community care.

  • Strengthen rural education from nursery to further education, support apprenticeships and land-based courses and provide young people with the skills to build careers in the countryside.

Click here to read more

Highlights of the manifesto

The future Scottish government could unlock the full potential of the countryside by promoting opportunities for growth, fostering innovation and encouraging a cultural shift in policymaking. Policy must be balanced, based on sound evidence, respect the views of communities and be rural-proofed, with policymakers demonstrating that they understand and respect the rural way of life and commit to tackling the issues facing our communities.

Protect Scotland’s rural way of life and rich heritage

star

Protect Scotland’s rural way of life and rich heritage

The rural voice must be central to policymaking. Legislation must be balanced so rural viewpoints are not disregarded in favour of central belt politics.

We call on the next Scottish government to:

  • Enable the stewards of our countryside to manage wildlife in ways that sustain ecosystems and helps nature recover and thrive.

  • Ensure that licensing schemes for wildlife management are workable and fit for purpose, working with relevant organisations to develop them.

  • Listen to robust scientific evidence and the needs and views of the experts on the ground to make informed decisions on rural policy.

  • Recognise muirburn as essential for moorland management and wildfire mitigation, supported by a clear and accessible licensing scheme.

  • Balance traditional and modern land management approaches to maintain healthy ecosystems and resilient landscapes.

  • Engage local communities in decision-making, ensuring biodiversity monitoring and ecosystem outcomes are evidence-led and locally informed.

Click here to read more

Connect rural Scotland

star

Connect rural Scotland

Ensuring that Scotland’s countryside is connected, resilient and able to benefit from digital and infrastructure developments is essential for thriving communities, sustainable economic growth and quality of life.

We call on the next Scottish government to:

  • Prioritise digital connectivity in rural areas so that it matches urban areas of Scotland.

  • Integrate digital infrastructure planning  with rural economic development, education and public services.

  • Provide support and funding for digital skills and training in rural communities to ensure people can fully benefit from new connectivity.

  • Bring forward the long-delayed dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness earlier than the current completion date of 2035.

  • Invest in local bus services to ensure reliable access to work, education and healthcare.

  • Ensure transport planning considers vulnerable groups, including the elderly, students and low-income households.

Click here to read more

Grow the rural economy

star

Grow the rural economy

A thriving rural economy is vital to Scotland’s food production, environment and communities. Supporting farming and local businesses, pubs, village shops, post offices and small hotels encourages visitors beyond major destinations and helps prevent rural depopulation.

We call on the next Scottish government to:

  • Incentivise and encourage new entrants into farming and other land-based vocations to build a secure future for rural Scotland.

  • Develop a ‘countryside for all’ by investing in visitor facilities and rural infrastructure that are accessible,  safe and welcoming, while supporting communities and protecting the environment.

  • Provide business support funding in rural communities. Village shops, post offices and pubs are often a lifeline for rural residents.

  • Ensure at least 50% of food products used in the public sector are locally sourced or produced in Scotland and the UK.

  • Incentivise deer managers to produce good quality venison by supporting domestic and international markets and promoting it across the public sector.

  • Develop a ‘blue tractor’ scheme that ensures consumers can buy Scottish produce with confidence, supporting Scottish farmers and producers.

Click here to read more

Support our countryside

star

Support our countryside

From policing and public services to housing, healthcare and education, government must ensure rural Scotland is not treated as an afterthought.

We call on the next Scottish government to:

  • Investigate why rural communities feel the police do not take rural crime seriously.

  • Tackle underreporting due to perceptions that the police will not act.

  • Promote initiatives to strengthen relations between rural communities and Police Scotland, including stable community officer assignments.

  • Streamline planning policies to support self-build and small-scale developments, protect green belt and prime agricultural land and promote affordable rural housing.

  • Ensure rural healthcare meets local needs by creating community hubs providing medical and dental services closer to home, including   
    maternity and community care.

  • Strengthen rural education from nursery to further education, support apprenticeships and land-based courses and provide young people with the skills to build careers in the countryside.

Click here to read more

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Read our analysis of the party manifestos

Meet your Scottish Countryside Alliance team

Meet the team
Jake Swindells

Jake Swindells

Director for Scotland

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Jill Stewart

Jill Stewart

Campaigns Officer, Scotland

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Meet the team

FAQs

What makes the Scottish Countryside Alliance different?

The Scottish Countryside Alliance is dedicated solely to promoting and protecting rural life across cultural, economic, environmental and community issues.

We represent over 100,000 members and supporters across the UK and work constructively across party lines to ensure rural voices are heard in parliament, the media and on the ground.

Our goal is simple: reconnect government with rural Scotland and unlock the countryside’s full potential.

What is your plan to grow the rural economy?

A strong rural economy underpins food security, tourism, land management and community life.

We want the next government to:

  • Encourage new entrants into farming and land-based careers
  • Invest in accessible and sustainable rural tourism infrastructure
  • Provide targeted support for village shops, post offices, pubs and small businesses

Thriving rural businesses help prevent depopulation and keep communities alive.

How will you support Scottish farmers and local food producers?

Scotland produces high-quality food, yet too little public-sector procurement supports local producers.

We push policymakers to:

  • Ensure at least 50% of public-sector food is locally sourced from Scotland or the UK
  • Support domestic and international markets for Scottish venison
  • Develop a trusted “blue tractor” scheme to help consumers identify Scottish produce

Growing local and eating local strengthens our economy, improves food security and benefits public health.

How do we tackle rural depopulation?

Depopulation is not inevitable, but is the result of policy choices.

It can be tackled by:

  • Streamlining planning to support affordable rural housing and self-builds
  • Creating rural healthcare hubs delivering services closer to home
  • Protecting rural schools and expanding apprenticeships and land-based education

Rural Scotland must be a realistic and attractive place to live, work and raise a family.

Why do you believe rural Scotland is being overlooked by government?

Too often, decisions affecting rural Scotland are made without properly understanding the realities of life outside the central belt. Many rural residents feel policymaking is urban-focused and disconnected from the needs of those who live and work on the land.

We believe every major policy should be rural-proofed. That’s why we are calling for:

  • A dedicated Countryside Champion within government
  • A published Rural Community Impact Assessment (RCIA) for significant policies
  • An annual State of the Countryside Report to ensure data-driven, transparent decision-making

Rural Scotland must be central to national policy, not an afterthought.

How can government protect Scotland’s rural way of life?

Scotland’s rural heritage, from salmon fishing and deer stalking to grouse shooting and farming, is part of our national identity and supports thousands of livelihoods.

We need Holyrood to:

  • Ensure wildlife management is practical, evidence-based and workable
  • Make licensing schemes fit for purpose
  • Protect traditional land management practices, including muirburn, where supported by science
  • Ensure rural expertise and local knowledge are respected in policymaking

We believe conservation and countryside management must be guided by science and those with hands-on experience, not ideology.

What is your position on rewilding and tree planting?

We support environmental improvement, but it must be balanced and evidence-led.

Poorly planned afforestation and rewilding projects have damaged biodiversity and ignored local communities. We support:

  • Balanced land management that combines traditional and modern approaches
  • Community engagement in land-use decisions
  • Biodiversity monitoring that is locally informed and evidence-driven

Environmental policy should strengthen rural Scotland, not undermine it.

Are you against renewable energy?

No. We support renewable energy, but not at any cost.

Rural Scotland should not be treated as a blank canvas for large-scale infrastructure without meaningful consultation or local benefit.

We support:

  • A rooftop-first approach for solar
  • Sensitive siting of wind and grid infrastructure
  • Tangible local benefits, including discounted power for communities

If rural areas host infrastructure, they must share directly in its benefits.

How serious is rural crime and why does it go underreported?

Rural crime affects equipment, livestock and property, but many victims feel reporting is pointless because they don’t believe action will follow.

We are calling for:

  • Investigation into confidence gaps in policing
  • Action to tackle underreporting
  • Stable local policing relationships

Farmers and rural families deserve protection and confidence in law enforcement.

Why and how should Scotland improve rural transport?

Too many rural residents lack reliable transport to work, school, healthcare and essential services.

We are calling for:

  • Acceleration of the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness
  • Investment in reliable local bus services
  • Transport planning that accounts for vulnerable groups

Better connectivity is essential to tackling rural isolation and depopulation.