RAASAY SPORTING RIGHTS

What a difference a week makes in nationalist politics.

This time last week (see West Highland Free Press 6) the Scottish Government was stoutly defending its decision to let its sporting rights on Raasay to a South Ayrshire shooting syndicate rather than to Raasay Crofters' Association who had held those same  rights for the past eighteen years.  A week ago,  the Scottish Ministers were proclaiming the deal as one of "best value" and "being in the best interests of the people of Scotland" and all to do with the sum of  £1,000 odd tendered  by the syndicate  more than the Raasay Crofters' bid.

The Highlands went  haywire as never before with all and sundry deploring the deal.  Even the Wee Frees (apologies,  Rev ID Campbell!) joined in the act of opposition.

Yesterday,  no less a figure than the First Minister himself announced that the lease to the syndicate had been "withdrawn by mutual consent" and that Raasay Crofters will retain the lease after all.  However,  and this is what is sticking in our throats today,  the Scottish Government will pay compensation of £9,000 of your money and ours to the syndicate for relinquishing the lease and just to let this government off the hook.

In our view,  it would have been  much more honourable to have left the lease with the syndicate.  But honour and nationalists in the same breath?  Never.