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I have called for a pause in all bank closures until a government review of banking services is complete. I urged members of the community to make their voices heard in defence of island services as the Access to Banking Review opens for evidence this week. The Labour Government’s Review came about after rural MPs highlighted a series of banking closures, including the proposed withdrawal of the Bank of Scotland in Benbecula. The Review is examining the impact of change

Until now I have hesitated to comment on what its own organisers pronounce as the campaign to “Abolish the Goo-ga Hunt”. It struck me as another one of these boring examples of attention-seeking behaviour, enabled by social media and fuelled by a lack of real purpose in life. The “Goo-ga” campaign does fall into the virtue-signalling camp of activism and to prove their commitment someone undertook a sweat-drenched election campaign in a penguin suit (he didn’t look anything l

Airline connectivity is vital for our islands. The reduction in the daily Loganair service between Stornoway and Inverness is deeply concerning and I will be raising this issue directly with Loganair when I meet with them in Westminster this week. This cut back will have huge implications, particularly for island patients travelling to Inverness for treatment. We’ve already lost the Benbecula connection to Inverness and seen the problems that causes. The Western Isles Healt