Press Release

SNP VISIT 3 AUGUST 2006

 

Western Isles MP, Angus Mac Neil and Alex Salmond, leader of the SNP and MP for Banff and Buchan, made a brief visit to Amity House, the office of the Stornoway Port Authority. They were accompanied by Alisdair Allan, the prospective SNP candidate for the Western Isles seat on the Scottish Parliament.

 

The Chairman of Stornoway Port Authority Board, Iain Macleod welcomed the party to the Port Authority, and introduced them to Chief Executive John J. Maclennan and Harbour Master Captain Torquil Macleod.

 

Mr. Salmond now an accomplished politician, was first elected MP for Banff and Buchan in 1987. He became SNP leader in 1990, and served 10 years, before standing down from leadership in September 2000. Mr. Salmond became an SNP Member of Scottish Parliament in 1999, but stood down from the post in 2001, though continuing as a Westminster MP. He was re-elected as leader of the SNP in 2004 with 75% of the vote.

 

The constituency of Banff and Buchan includes the three fishing ports of Macduff, Fraserburgh and Peterhead. These ports share a common thread with Stornoway, so Mr. Salmond has first hand experience of the problems that the likes of Stornoway Harbour must face. He spoke comfortably about the constitution of Trust Ports and was most interested to know how the Stornoway Port Authority Board was configured.