Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has called on Reform UK’s Holyrood by-election candidate to answer serious questions about his financial involvement in developments linked to the SNP’s net zero agenda.
The Scottish Conservative MSP said Ross Lambie, who is standing for Nigel Farage’s party in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, must come clean on how much he is being paid to rent his land for a workers camp in Broadford on Skye despite having publicly criticised the same policies.
Mr Halcro Johnston said the camp, which could house up to 350 people, is opposed by local residents in Broadford who are worried about the impact it will have on their community. He also called on Ross Lambie to say whether he owned any other sites across the Highlands and Islands which could be earmarked for use to house large-scale energy infrastructure.
Mr Halcro Johnston said:
“While communities across the Highlands and Islands are under increasing pressure from the SNP’s net zero agenda, it appears Ross Lambie is happy to make a quick buck from it.
“Ross Lambie and Reform should be honest with voters and say how much he is set to be paid for renting out his land for this workers camp on Skye. And come clean on whether there are other sites across the Highlands and Islands he owns through his company that are being used – or are intended for use - for large scale energy infrastructure projects or facilities linked to them.
“Mr Lambie should also make clear whether Reform UK were fully aware of his involvement in leasing land for large-scale energy infrastructure when selecting him as a candidate. If they were, it sends a clear message to local communities fighting these projects that Reform are not on their side and are happy to turn a blind eye while their candidates quietly cash in on the “net stupid zero” projects they claim to oppose.
“I have been supporting residents on Skye, across Lochaber and Badenoch, around Beauly and the Black Isle, and on our islands, all of whom are impacted by huge projects which severely impact their communities, their businesses and their lives. I know many will be furious that Ross Lambie and Reform have not been more open about his dealings with these projects.
“They deserve honesty, and Mr Lambie must now come clean on just how much he is set to make and whether the deal on Skye is the only one he’s set to profit from”.
