Domhnall Macsween

@KuqiCouture @ScotRuralAction Your points make my head hurt

@sweenyness @ScotRuralAction Then stop complaining people live where the houses are.

This is such a powerful image from @ScotRuralAction No wonder rural Scotland is only heard when we have something to complain loudly about!

@KuqiCouture @ScotRuralAction I don’t have a farm?

@sweenyness @ScotRuralAction Can all the candidates come live on your farm?

@JamesBurgon @Yogi1929 @ScotRuralAction 🤯

@sweenyness @Yogi1929 @ScotRuralAction It's not unclear, it's just not part of your original post. I'm not interested in arguing against improving transport infrastructure, so I'm going to tap out before this de-rails further. Have a good one.

@Glen_Binnie @ScotRuralAction What’s your point? And what point is the image making?

@sweenyness @ScotRuralAction Isn’t that broadly where most of the people live? Which rural constituencies have MSPs living elsewhere? (apart from Edinburgh when they are serving in Parliament).

@MintSauceSarnie Yup

@sweenyness Independence is a zero sum game. Replacing Westminster with Holyrood keeps the higher population centres in control. Holyrood is as remote as London to the north and islands.

Quite interesting how defensive folk have got over this image. There is a reason it was created in the first place, and many of the replies confirm that. Also interesting that many of those replying *appear* to be pro-independence. Not really selling it to me.

@sodabrunette @AFrazzledScot I also want independence and the best advert for it is running the country well. The fact you can’t answer that question suggests it may not be the case

@sweenyness @AFrazzledScot Exactly and the SNP in power in Holyrood has if anything been a centralising force. Don’t get me wrong, I still vote for them and want independence but do I trust them to bring the change rural communities like mine and yours need? I don’t know

When I think about lack of infrastructure investment in the south of Scotland I think about how often I’ve heard in pro-independence/SNP circles “they’re all tories down there they’ll never vote for us” So that part of the country doesn’t get investment cos no votes to be had

@JamesBurgon @Yogi1929 @ScotRuralAction What part of “neglected transport infrastructure” was unclear? It’s also not inclusive, some MSPs with young families have not stood for re-election with travel a large part of the issue.

@sweenyness @Yogi1929 @ScotRuralAction Perfectly valid complaint for many issues, but it’s really not the point either of you were making. At least not clearly. Though fair play if you want better rural public transport. Commendable position.

@JamesBurgon @Yogi1929 @ScotRuralAction That’s the point they are making, as did I. We’re expected to just accept poor infrastructure.

@Yogi1929 @sweenyness @ScotRuralAction Presumably you’ve not spent a lot of time in that constituency.

@JamesBurgon @ScotRuralAction Thanks for the positive engagement

@sweenyness @ScotRuralAction Presumably by car. Caithness, Sutherland and Ross also has a smaller population than the average constituency, likely about the 13th lowest. Two MSPs live within that constituency.

@SusanMSainsbury @realcolinquinn @ScotRuralAction We have umpteen consultations but that’s on specific topics, on their terms. I was thinking something along the same lines, with placements and committees. Rural MSPs do their urban placement in Edinburgh all the time 😅

@sweenyness @realcolinquinn @ScotRuralAction Perhaps a committee of the Parliament could regularly convene in rural areas to hear concerns and see problems for themselves? Or urban MSPs could do rural placements, and vice versa?

@JamesBurgon @ScotRuralAction Ok. What about Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross? How is an MSP supposed to cover that entire area, as well as spend a ridiculous amount of time travelling to Edinburgh, especially considering the neglected transport infrastructure.

@sweenyness @ScotRuralAction Orkney, Shetland and Na h-Eileanan an Iar combined have a smaller population than the average constituency. I'd be very happy with more rural MSPs, but it's important to remember that our electoral system actively over-represents rural Scotland.

@realcolinquinn @ScotRuralAction I’m pretty sure that I’ve visited every constituency in Scotland, and bet many H&I MSPs would be in a similar position. I would be interested in knowing what experience urban reps have of rural life. I’m aware I’m waffling, not formed a coherent answer yet!

@realcolinquinn @ScotRuralAction You need the relevant voices in the room when decisions are made, and diversity is more than skin deep. I think it would be beneficial to have MSPs experience more of Scotland, rather than their own wee bubbles.

@ammacj @SusanMSainsbury @ScotRuralAction In your example Edinburgh central has approximately 64500 eligible voters, Caithness S & R 56500. You reckon it’s as easy to access MSP, who has to travel to Edinburgh Central for work, in Caithness?

@sweenyness @SusanMSainsbury @ScotRuralAction Because vast areas of Scotland have relatively low population rates. Pop not evenly spread across Scotland, so MSPs not evenly spread. Caithness S & R over 1000 times bigger than Edinburgh Central, should they have 1000 MSPs?

@thecounterblast @ScotRuralAction I assume you’re happy with how Westminster works? Just going by what you’ve suggested here

@sweenyness @ScotRuralAction You haven’t been of any service at all. Nothing was subtle about your ham fisted take. Thanks ever so much.

@ammacj @SusanMSainsbury @ScotRuralAction Why?

@sweenyness @SusanMSainsbury @ScotRuralAction The map is misleading if it aims to show rural areas are underrepresented. MSPs are based on population, constituency and regional. @ScotRuralAction should re-do as a hex map.

@ReformUKScot @ScotRuralAction It literally says that on the image.

@sweenyness @ScotRuralAction This is not accurate and requires updating…