The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) has welcomed the new minister for crofting, Fergus Ewing MSP, and calls on him to address the calamity being played out by the Crofting Commission on common grazings.
“It is very welcome news that the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, Fergus Ewing, has the responsibility for crofting”, said SCF’s chair Fiona Mandeville. “Fergus has a long track record in rural affairs and has been a friend to crofting for many years. He has been a keen participant in the Cross Party Group on Crofting that we organise, and we are sure his commitment to crofting will continue.
Ms Mandeville continued, “We have already written to him about the disaster that is unfolding at the hands of the Crofting Commission. The way they are applying grazings regulation in such a draconian manner threatens the very existence of regulated grazings. We are calling for Scottish Government to intervene as a matter of urgency before it is too late and have asked the Cabinet Secretary for a meeting to discuss this as soon as possible.