A Manifesto that works for you
A STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY:
Gerry McGarvey and Labour will rebuild the economy after years of damage by the Tories and LibDems. He will fight to attract high quality jobs and inward investment to these islands which is not over-dependent upon the Oil Industry. He will resist the SNP’s plans to plunge us into a future of uncertainty and mediocrity as oil prices fall, reserves dry up and Scotland’s economy shrinks.
PROTECTING FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE SERVICES:
Rural frontline medicine is in crisis. There are huge problems with recruitment. GPs are retiring with fewer trained GPs coming through. The loss of one-stop-dispensing hurts local rural Practices. Practices under strain means longer waiting times to be seen and problems with Out-of-Hours access to doctors. There are fewer beds in hospitals and so we need excellent compassionate home care; but for the last few years there has been a squeeze/freeze on council funding, with a knock-on effect on home care services for the vulnerable. Labour’s Gerry McGarvey will address this crisis as a priority.
TRANSPORT
The ferries play an essential part of life for the islands, which is not replicated anywhere else. Gerry McGarvey believes the islands’ transport requires special attention. Gerry would support keeping ferry services in public hands but would look to fight for greater government subsidies to offset the financial pressures placed on our local authorities. This is an unfair burden placed on islanders when using ferries to access essential services, such as hospital visits.
THE BEST START FOR CHILDREN:
Gerry McGarvey will fight for every child to have an excellent start in life and
to make sure that parents and guardians have quality childcare support so
they can go out to work. He supports the provision of schools in local areas
to preserve rural communities.
AFFORDABLE ENERGY:
The energy market is unfair and broken. The Tories and Libdems say high
bills are your fault for not switching suppliers. Gerry McGarvey and Labour
would freeze energy bills until January 2017 – saving a typical household
£120. Labour would demand simple new tariffs from energy companies and
replace Ofgem with a new watchdog that really stands up for consumers.
FARMING AND CROFTING:
Key at the moment is the operation of the new Common Agricultural Policy, where we need consideration of how Common Grazing rights will be registerable. Further, we need to start to lobby for the new Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme which will replace LFASS (Less Favoured Area Support Scheme). We also need support for co-operatives and small food businesses, to help with the development of a local meat industry, which the co-operative abattoir has assisted in getting off the ground. Gerry McGarvey, with a history in the Co-operative Movement would wholly encourage such initiatives.
RENEWABLES:
At the moment, the rest of the UK subsidises the burning of oil and gas on the islands to generate our electricity, to the tune of £20 million a year. Some consideration has to be given to seeing renewable energy as a necessity for the future development of a sustainable Shetland and Orkney. Our wind, waves, and tide resources could be developed, but not until all the islands are connected to the national grid, and only thenfollowingrigorous consultation with communities. Gerry McGarvey is fully aware of the complexity of the arguments and emotions this issue raises both in support of and against, having been previously at the heart of this debate. Viking Energy is now a fact. Gerry McGarvey believes that the local communities now need to get the best they can from the "Community Benefit Fund" and would work, and indeed be prepared to negotiate, so that local communities do get the best deal possible
ENVIRONMENT:
Scottish Labour and Gerry McGarvey care deeply about the environment, and are fully committed to protecting it. We say, loud and clear that we want a tough new regulatory scheme and will not consider any fracking until worrying environmental concerns are fully explored, addressed, and even then always give local people the last word with a local referendum. That is Scottish Labour’s “triple lock” against fracking.
TOURISM:
Gerry will work to bring more visitors to Orkney and Shetland, encouraging them to stay longer and contribute more to the local economy. As your Labour MP, GerryMcGarveywould lead the way in making our islands must-see places to visit and stay.
FISHING INDUSTRY:
The fishing industry is a crucial part of the islands’ economy. It consists of pelagic and demersalsectors, plus shellfish boats and a large salmon industry. However, part of the industry, demersal fishing, which is a mixed fishery, is under great strain with the introduction of a “no discards” rule. Inevitably sea bed trawling brings up a mixture of fish, some with more, some less quota. Nobody supports discarding at sea.Councils and Fishermen's leaders are jointly lobbying Brussels for a slow and careful introduction of this matter, with possible introduction of multi-species quotas. Labour’s Gerry McGarvey will support and work with the industry to do all to ensure that is possible to help, not hinder, the Islands’ fishing.
RURAL BROADBAND:
High speed internet is not a luxury item in the 21st Century but vitalfor jobs and businesses in our rural areas. It is also essential so residents can to get access to the services they need. As your MP, Gerry McGarvey would work to bring quality broadband access to even more homes and businesses.
