Scotland’s rural affairs brief enters the new parliamentary term facing some of the biggest pressures seen in decades, with agriculture, climate policy, land reform, food security and rural economic resilience all climbing rapidly up the political agenda.
John Swinney returned as First Minister last week and quickly unveiled a slimmed-down cabinet, with climate and rural affairs now sitting under a combined portfolio led by Gillian Martin as cabinet secretary for climate action and rural affairs.
The move signals the Scottish Government’s intention to continue tying agriculture and land use closely to wider climate and environmental targets, while also attempting to streamline decision-making within government.
Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East since 2016, takes on the expanded role after previously serving as minister for climate action and acting cabinet secretary for net zero and energy.
Her background in energy, environment and climate policy means she arrives with significant experience on net zero policy, but relatively limited direct involvement in agriculture compared to some previous rural affairs secretaries.
Confirming her appointment, Martin said she was ‘delighted’ to take on the new brief.
“Looking forward to getting on with it and to work with my junior minister Jim Fairlie who has responsibility for agriculture, marine and islands,” she wrote on LinkedIn.
Fairlie retains his agriculture role but now takes on additional responsibilities covering marine and islands policy following a reshaping of ministerial responsibilities.
“It is a huge honour to continue in my government role, albeit different to my last role,” Fairlie said.
“I will work to ensure I engage extensively with stakeholders and ensure effective delivery.”
The continuity of Fairlie’s position is likely to provide some reassurance to farming organisations and industry groups seeking stability as the Scottish Government continues rolling out its post-Brexit tiered framework, climate conditionality measures and biodiversity targets.
However, the wider political landscape around rural affairs has become far more fragmented following the election.
Scottish Labour and Reform UK are now tied on 17 seats each, with both parties claiming to be the official opposition. Reports earlier this month suggested Reform Scotland leader Malcolm Offord and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar could alternate the unofficial role of opposition leader.
Scottish Labour has positioned itself as a constructive but firm opposition force, with Sarwar promising to focus on the economy, cost of living and public services.
“We will be an effective but also a responsible opposition,” he said.
“But we will also be relentless in holding John Swinney and the SNP to account.”
Labour’s rural affairs team includes experienced MSP Claire Baker as shadow cabinet secretary for climate action and rural affairs. Baker has represented Mid Scotland and Fife since 2007 and previously held Labour’s rural affairs brief between 2011 and 2014.
Donald MacKinnon has meanwhile been appointed shadow minister for agriculture, marine and the islands following his election as MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar.
MacKinnon, a crofter from the Isle of Lewis and former member of the Agricultural Reform Implementation Oversight Board, previously criticised the Scottish Government’s ‘one size fits all’ approach to agricultural reform.
Reform UK’s emergence at Holyrood has also changed the tone of rural debate.
The party has focused heavily on rising costs, rural decline and frustration over government policy. Jamie Langan, MSP for South Scotland, has taken on Reform’s rural affairs role.
“I decided to stand for election as I was fed up of hard-working Scots having less and less money in their pockets at the end of the month, businesses struggling to keep their heads above water, our rural communities being let down, and our town centres being left to rot,” he said.
The Scottish Conservatives are also attempting to reassert themselves as the traditional voice of rural Scotland.
Finlay Carson has been appointed the party’s spokesperson on rural affairs and the environment. Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, previously ran a family farm and served as convener of Holyrood’s rural affairs and islands committee.
“I am delighted and honoured to take up this role within the Scottish Conservatives,” Carson said.
“Having lived and worked all my life in rural Scotland, I know first-hand the challenges these communities are facing and how they have been let down by the SNP.”
He accused the government of having ‘shamefully neglected’ rural Scotland and criticised what he described as a ‘central-belt obsessed SNP government’.
At the time of writing, the Scottish Greens and Scottish Liberal Democrats had yet to confirm their rural affairs spokespeople.
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