Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has accused the Scottish Government of “rank hypocrisy” after a minister posted a picture of his woodburning stove only days after he voted against others having one.
Agriculture Minister, Jim Fairlie, wrote on his social media during the weekend that he had suffered a power cut during Storm Amy and was grateful for his woodburning stove keeping his home warm.
However, only last week, Mr Fairlie, who is part of the government’s rural team, joined SNP colleagues in voting down Mr Halcro Johnston’s amendments to the Housing Bill which would have protected their use in remote rural and island communities.
Mr Halcro Johnston had previously forced a u-turn from the Scottish Government after leading opposition to a ban on woodstoves in new build properties.
In proposing his amendments last week, the Scottish Conservative MSP had highlighted the importance of stoves particularly during the kind of extreme weather that saw thousands of homes across the Highlands and Islands left without power over the last few days.
Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
“It beggars belief to see a Scottish Government minister voting against protections for woodburners in rural and island homes during the week, then message their constituents about the benefits of having one the very weekend when the power goes down.
“Across the Highlands and Islands, many people in remote and rural homes know just how important it can be to have a back-up source of heat. Thousands of homes lost their power over the last few days and were left reliant on the kind of heating that Mr Fairlie enjoys but doesn’t think others should have.
“Last year, when the SNP/Green coalition attempted to ban stoves in newbuilds, I championed them for these very reasons – arranging a debate on the subject and challenging out-of-touch central belt ministers who don’t understand the realities of life in rural communities.
“I was pleased that we forced them to u-turn then, but was disappointed when Jim Fairlie joined his SNP colleagues last week in voting against my proposed protections that would ensure cack-handed attempts to outlaw woodburners couldn’t happen again without the full scrutiny from the Scottish Parliament.
“To vote against something on Tuesday and sing its praises by Saturday is rank hypocrisy. I know how angry it has made many of my constituents across the Highlands and Islands”.
