Ferry discount scheme

It was a very welcome announcement last night that we can look forward to a 40% discount on ferry fares. After years and years of pressure brought by the Comhairle and particularly by my colleague Donald Manford it is paying off with concrete promises.

As far as the Comhairle is concerned, it's a big step forward, rather than the final step, but what the public should now do is to force each of the different political parties to outbid each other with their promises. How many votes will a concrete promise of a 50% reduction for passengers and vehicles gain?

And why is Shetland being treated so much better??? I spoke to the Shetland Convener last night and he gave no hint that the announcement was almost irrelevant to them. Probably, they don't want to flaunt their success in negotiations.

Two years ago when we suggested that some of the windfarm money be used to fund RET my colleagues and I were shot down in flames -- and that was by our own side. Hopefully, more constructive comments will appear this time around.