A motion has been lodged in the Scottish Parliament to celebrate Scotland Loves Local Week – highlighting the importance of local businesses and enterprises.
MSPs from across the political spectrum are supporting the motion, laid down by Liam McArthur, the Liberal Democrat MSP for Orkney.
It commends the Scotland Loves Local mission to promote localism and communities across the country – highlighting that stronger communities are “key to a more sustainable and better future”.
Commenting on Scotland Loves Local and motion, Mr McArthur said: “Orkney boasts an astonishing number and variety of small businesses. They are run and staffed by hugely talented people who make such an enormous contribution both to our community as well as our economy.
“Of course, being in business has not been without its challenges over recent years, and the environment continues to be a difficult one for all sorts of different reasons. That is why it’s so important for all of us to show our support for local businesses and promote localism wherever possible.
“I welcome the work being done through the Scotland Loves Local campaign and was happy to lend my support to the pledge. Here in Orkney, we are very conscious of the link between localism and sustaining strong communities, but this is a message that needs to be reinforced across the country.
“I wish the campaign continued success into the future and hope the motion I have lodged in parliament, which has secured cross-party support, will help to raise the profile still further.”
Politicians have been visiting enterprises and organisations of all kinds in their constituencies throughout this week, shining a spotlight on the critical part they play in communities. They are urging people to support them, protecting jobs, safeguarding services and helping to reinvigorate communities.
People, businesses and other organisations are also being urged to sign the Scotland Loves Local Pledge – a commitment to supporting local businesses whenever it is possible to do so.
Scotland Loves Local is spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership, supported by the Scottish Government, as a means by which to boost local economies and improve places by galvanising support for the people and businesses in them.
Thanks from everyone at Scotland Loves Local go to Mr McArthur for lodging the motion and to the MSPs who are supporting it – along with all of those who are supporting Scotland Loves Local Week on so many different ways.
The motion (available to see on the Scottish Parliament website here) states:
“That the Parliament welcomes 2024’s Scotland Loves Local week, which is taking place from 26 August to 1 September; notes that Scotland Loves Local is a campaign that is spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership and supports people across Scotland to choose local, as part of building a stronger and more sustainable future; understands that for this year’s Scotland Loves Local Week, following the success of the inaugural week in 2023, the campaign is working with local civic and community leaders, businesses and social enterprises, as well as local representatives, to promote what it sees as the significant impact of localism and support local organisations and communities; notes the wide range of organisations across the country, including in Orkney, that are taking part in Scotland Loves Local week this year; commends the Scotland Loves Local campaign’s efforts to promote localism and local communities across Scotland; believes that stronger communities are a key to a more sustainable and better future, and wishes the campaign success in promoting this goal.”
Those supporting the motion (as of 02.09.24) are: Karen Adam, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Sarah Boyack, Miles Briggs, Ariane Burgess, Foysol Choudhury, Jackie Dunbar, Tim Eagle, Annabelle Ewing, Murdo Fraser, Pam Gosal, Christine Grahame, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Craig Hoy, Bill Kidd, Monica Lennon, John Mason, Stuart McMillan, Audrey Nicoll, Paul O’Kane, Douglas Ross, Alex Rowley, Mark Ruskell, Alexander Stewart, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, Sue Webber, Tess White
