When economist and land use expert Mark Shucksmith ran a committee of inquiry into crofting on behalf of the government, more and better controls on crofting land were repeatedly called for by contributors to the debate. Hundreds of crofters were surveyed and two-thirds wanted restrictions on the sale or transfer of crofts, while a majority also wanted regulation of absentee tenants who leave land unmanaged, or sub-let it to others.
His conclusions, including recommendations for local elected boards and a burden on tenants to work and live on their crofts were greeted as sensible and right in many quarters when the subsequent report was published in May last year. "There is no doubt the authentic voice of Scottish crofters is in this report," said Patrick Krause, of the Scottish Crofting Foundation at the time.
But you might not know it, judging from recent developments. A petition at the Scottish Parliament opposing the Shucksmith recommendations was lodged last autumn, the Crofting Rights Emergency Action Group was founded to campaign against the proposals, and the Scottish Crofting Foundation now finds the Bill based on the report it once greeted to be "oppressive".
Two facts are apparent. One is that crofters do not have a united or consistent voice. Indeed, why should they? But this makes it unhelpful for all sides when those involved make sweeping statements about the government's crofting reform Bill such as that it has been "comprehensively rejected" by crofters. Any government legislation can be portrayed as "not in line with what crofters want" if they all want different things. That is why Shucksmith's recommendation for local, elected crofting boards has merit, allowing at least for some regional flexibility.
The second fact is that deregulation clearly isn't the answer. Some now call for letting the market have its way. It is worth remembering that fear of abandoning crofting land to the mercy of the free market was the key objection which scuppered a previous attempt at crofting reform under the then Scottish Executive.
Crofts were set up at the end of the nineteenth century to give tenants perpetual security of tenure and controlled rents. They have helped preserve a population in areas of the Highlands that would otherwise be barren and depopulated. Allow the free market to determine their future and, make no mistake, that is the end of crofting in principle.
It would be the end very quickly in practice, too, so many believe - not least Professor Jim Hunter, whose views we report today. The only likely outcome of that course would be that a generation of crofters will cash in before this unique way of life is finished for good. Consultation on the current Bill closes on Wednesday. The government has more work to do to convince crofters that the draft Bill is part of a wider package of reforms which will ensure crofting continues to thrive into the future. But it should stick firmly to its plans.
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