SCOTTISH Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton is calling for an urgent rethink of the government’s Island Business Resilience Fund (IBRF).
He wants to see a change that would open the way for Dunoon and other coastal communities across Argyll to be included in the fund.
Mr Cole-Hamilton told this newspaper there must be an extension of the ferry compensation programme to islands and coastal towns in the region that have been excluded by the existing government scheme.
He is visiting Dunoon this week as part of his party’s pre-election campaigning.
When challenged on the
fact Dunoon is not an island, it is part of a peninsula, he responded: “Ah, but it is a coastal community and its businesses have been hit hard and they must get government support to help regrow.
“Quite simply, the IBRF needs to be reworked to support places like Dunoon and all of Argyll’s coastal communities.”
It will be one of his party’s key policies at next year’s Holyrood election.
Opinion polls suggest the First Minister John Swinney will secure enough votes and seats for the SNP to become the largest party at the Scottish Parliament, but fall short of an outright
majority. In that case, he may choose to operate as a minority government or rely on parties like the Liberal Democrats to strengthen his hand.
That scenario could afford Mr Cole-Hamilton the opportunity to become “king-maker”.
“I’m often asked that,” he said, “but I suggest the Scottish Liberal Democrats will surprise some, many people.” By that suggestion, he is flirting with a potential surge in his party’s vote next year.
He wouldn’t put a number on it, but is approaching the election with confidence.
Does Reform look like becoming the second-largest party at Holyrood?
“Oh, no, not remotely, but I don’t think we should ignore them.”
Mr Cole-Hamilton claims “Dunoon has been neglected by Central Belt government”.
“It deserves more, deserves better, and has every potential to become the gateway to renewable energy. Argyll can rightly host and power the AI landscape for Scotland and beyond.”
He came to Dunoon with a clear vision and left with it equally clear: “Dunoon deserves and must be included in a rethought Island Business Resilience Fund. It is too important for it not to be.
