Connectivity / Labour candidate’s call for action on digital connectivity as petition closes
LABOUR’s candidate for the Shetland seat in Holyrood has accused the Scottish Government of “kicking the can down the road” on digital connectivity for the Highlands and Islands.
John Erskine said he was disappointed that a petition he led, which called for the government to implement a digital strategy for the Highlands and Islands, has been closed by the Scottish Parliament.
He said the government will not take up his suggestion of a separate plan for the region, adding it instead highlighted a forthcoming “refreshed digital strategy” and new national islands plan.
“It’s disappointing that the committee has decided to close my petition, but I am grateful for their consideration of it up to this stage and for Rhoda Grant MSP’s support throughout,” Erskine said.
“The reality is that the SNP Government has kicked the can down the road. They have chosen to hide behind future strategy papers rather than commit to real action to fix the glaring gaps in rural broadband and mobile coverage.
“The ball is firmly back in the SNP’s court now – they must prove they are serious about closing the digital divide.”
He said statistics from the council show that one quarter of homes and businesses in Shetland remain without access to broadband capable of speeds of 30mbps or more.
Erskine said “digital connectivity is no longer a luxury, it’s the foundation for jobs, education, healthcare and modern family life”.
A report by the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (SPICE) said in response to Erskine’s petition that while 96 per cent of Scottish residences have superfast coverage (download speeds of 30+ mbps), rural areas are at a “disadvantage”.
It said in Scotland 99 per cent of urban residencies have superfast coverage, whereas only 83 per cent of rural residences do.
The report added that programmes to enhance mobile connectivity in rural Scotland are making “significant progress”, although the country still has the lowest 4G coverage across the UK nations.
It also highlighted the work undertaken through the Scottish Government’s R100 programme, which is designed to bring faster broadband to properties across the country.
There is also Project Gigabit, which is funded by the UK Government and has been described locally has potentially having a big impact for Shetland.
The Scottish Government itself said in response to the petition that it has “stepped in and played a lead role in enhancing Scotland’s digital infrastructure” despite telecommunications being reserved to the UK Government.
It also highlighted the R100 scheme, which included installing subsea cables to some Scottish islands – including Fair Isle – and the £28.75 million Scottish 4G Infill programme, which was designed to bring connectivity to mobile ‘notspots’.
There are two other publicly confirmed candidates for Shetland in the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections. They are, in alphabetical order, Hannah Mary Goodlad (SNP) and Emma Macdonald (Liberal Democrats).
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