Sir, – Simplistic though it may look and sound, the dramatic change in the political colour scheme of the rural constituencies which have turned from yellow to blue or orange bear all the hallmarks of the 'Lochhead Legacy'.

Understandably, both the fishing and agricultural communities continued to vent their frustration for recent incompetency.

Add to this, the valid perception that a Central Belt mentality in Holyrood now prevails and the writing was already well and truly scrawled on the walls for excellent MPs such as Angus Robertson and Dr Eilidh Whiteford.

Perhaps the SNP will now come to understand that there are always more than one Scotland – highland Scotland/lowland Scotland; island Scotland/mainland Scotland; urban Scotland/rural Scotland; rich Scotland/poor Scotland, etc.

These differences are not surreal. They are reality and always have been.

With respect to the incompetency, it would be far too harsh to place all the blame of this on the relevant politicians, since it is of grave concern that the ignorance of their brief has been exhibited by far too high a number of civil servants.

For far too many, their upbringing, education and academic knowledge is entirely limited to the Central Belt. These innocents lie as ready prey for the highly professional lobby groups which abound around parliaments.

Insofar as the unfortunate civil servants allocated to the fishing industry are concerned, they are only to be pitied given the fractured, divisive and competitive nature of the industry.

Add to this the previous years of fraud and cheating – which, although confined to history, still persist in the memories of any outside parties the Scottish Government has to deal with. No matter their diplomatic skills, those civil servants will continue to be up against it.

With regard to those civil servants attached to the agricultural and environmental remits, there appears to be little or no excuse. They all too frequently give every impression of being devoid of any practical background or understanding of reality.

The most recent beef efficiency scheme being yet another prime example.

At least there appears to be hope for our industry in that in Fergus Ewing, we and our government ought to have someone with the ability and stomach to confront and redd out those inadequate for the formidable task being faced.

As someone who analysed closely the demographical results post the 2014 referendum (they were simple to discern, even the numerous photographs in The Scottish Farmer revealed the distinct age structure of the opposing parties), it could be reasonably calculated that a period of less than 10 years would see the natural demise of the elderly unionist supporters being replaced by a far greater proportion of the independently motivated, younger generation.

Let us not pretend that those at SNP HQ – despite recent impressions to the opposite – are all too well aware of this fact and delays to any future independence referendum will be manipulated accordingly until a significant majority prevail to allow Scotland to progress as a nation.

Add to this the fact that, by her deliberate actions, the Scottish Tory, Ruth Davidson, possibly brought about the most considerable tactical voting ever exhibited, the SNP now not only know the exact ratio of opponents they will face in future (subject to their their studying the demographics of that body; something they are well equipped to do), they also know with a degree of precision the profile of their core vote.

Of concern also for rural dwellers – whose farming is of a social and community-based nature – is the disproportionate number of 'Scottish' Tory MPs and MSPs emerging from a farming background.

With the Tories long being considered the party of self interest, we in the Highlands (perhaps now comprising more than 50% of the agriculturally related voters), may consequently face a future backlash from the urban population in respect of future public subsidies.

Armed with this knowledge, the SNP cannot in this instance be considered as the losers and thus, the likes of Fergus Ewing, can start to rectify the severe deficiencies which prevail.

He strongly ought to reconsider those receiving more than £100,000 per year in single farm payment as being eligible for such gross sums. It was clearly understood by my generation that the EU always intended a ceiling of €150,000 per business in their original assistance.

A mere £5m of such surplus money provided in a simple crofting environmental cropping grant would so dramatically promote output, the environment, wildlife, tourism, machinery sales and, naturally, the youth and age structure of the Highland communities.

With this investment, within five years, we could witness the most significant advantageous demographic change to the Highlands in generations.

Over to you Mr Ewing, just simply tell your civil servants to liaise with the active practical crofters, free themselves from the shackles of the lobbyists and get on with it pronto in the interests of Scotland.

Peter Dodge

Aith,

Cunningsburgh,

Shetland.