Land reform

BOOK EXTRACT

Balmoral Castle in the Cairngorms National Park

Balmoral Castle

3

Andy Wightman: King’s ownership of Balmoral is a block on real Scottish land reform

Aerial view from drone of town of Ullapool, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland

Aerial view from drone of town of Ullapool, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland

2

Taxing the land not the buildings: How a land tax could work in Scotland

David Hayman and Lesley Riddoch will host the event

David Hayman and Lesley Riddoch will host the event

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David Hayman and Lesley Riddoch to host land reform event in Scotland

Jeremy Leggett, CEO of Highlands Rewilding

Jeremy Leggett, CEO of Highlands Rewilding

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Rewilding project CEO defends £11 million 'fire sale' of Scottish estates

Struggling businesses on the high street should not be hammered

Struggling businesses on the high street should not be hammered

Look to France for a good example of a fairer tax system

Former head of The Assynt Foundation Alastair McAskill in Glencanisp, Lochinver

Former head of The Assynt Foundation Alastair McAskill in Glencanisp, Lochinver

2

Deals give fresh life to struggling Highland estate buyout

The motion was debated at the SNP conference on Saturday afternoon

The motion was debated at the SNP conference on Saturday afternoon

4

Time to bin council tax and bring this in instead

Some of Scotland's disused land has been sitting vacant for decades, even centuries

Some of Scotland's disused land has been sitting vacant for decades, even centuries

6

The huge lost potential of Scotland’s vacant and derelict land

Community Land Scotland says that large estate owners are using public funding to inflate the value of estates before selling them on for usually huge profits

Community Land Scotland says that large estate owners are using public funding to inflate the value of estates before selling them on for usually huge profits

7

Public money should be 'clawed back' after large Scottish land sales, charity says

Demonstrators outside Taymouth Castle estate called for stronger land reform

Demonstrators outside Taymouth Castle estate called for stronger land reform

1

More than 100 demonstrate for stronger land reform as farmers 'completely priced out'

SNP Land Reform Secretary Mairi Gougeon, and a stock image of a private land sign

SNP Land Reform Secretary Mairi Gougeon, and a stock image of a private land sign

21

Without change, SNP reforms will do nothing about Scottish land ownership

A protest at Taymouth Castle gates, in John Swinney's constituency, will call on his SNP government to go further on land reform

A protest at Taymouth Castle gates, in John Swinney's constituency, will call on his SNP government to go further on land reform

11

'Not far enough': Taymouth Castle protest to call on SNP to strengthen land reform

The Far Ralia estate in the Cairngorms

The Far Ralia estate in the Cairngorms

Carbon offsetting

1

Highland estate back on market after three years – with 60 per cent higher price tag

Martin Geissler presents the BBC Scotland show

Martin Geissler presents the BBC Scotland show

7

Three-part BBC series Who Owns Scotland? is well worth watching

John Swinney during his speech at the SNP conference at The Event Complex Aberdeen

John Swinney during his speech at the SNP conference at The Event Complex Aberdeen

General Election

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Lesley Riddoch: A summer of silence and heid scratching won't cut it for the SNP

The amendment means that wealthy landowners can no longer hide their interests when they receive public money

The amendment means that wealthy landowners can no longer hide their interests when they receive public money

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Landowners can no longer hide interests after MSPs pass amendment

Land Reform legislation aiming to change how land is owned and managed in rural and island communities was introduced in the Scottish Parliament back in March

Land Reform legislation aiming to change how land is owned and managed in rural and island communities was introduced in the Scottish Parliament back in March

3

'Outdated and damaging': Campaigners call for land ownership laws to be strengthened

Michael Russell has called for a

Michael Russell has called for a

8

Michael Russell: Scotland needs more 'urgency' and 'ambition' on land reform

The poll found that two thirds of people believe the Scottish Government should introduce a total limit on the amount of land one person or business can own

The poll found that two thirds of people believe the Scottish Government should introduce a total limit on the amount of land one person or business can own

Highlands & Islands

5

'Strong support' for ambitious reform to Scottish land ownership laws, says poll

A new report suggests the pace of land price increases is slowing

A new report suggests the pace of land price increases is slowing

Scottish land market showing signs of slowdown as 'smaller' investors face exclusion

Scotland's land is a huge resource of untapped wealth, and taxing it could raise hundreds of millions, a new report says

Scotland's land is a huge resource of untapped wealth, and taxing it could raise hundreds of millions, a new report says

6

Scottish land tax could raise £450m every year, new report finds

Half of all privately owned rural land in Scotland is held by just 433 people and companies

Half of all privately owned rural land in Scotland is held by just 433 people and companies

7

Land ownership in Scotland more concentrated despite reforms, according to new data

At present, just 3% of Scotland's land is community-owned

At present, just 3% of Scotland's land is community-owned

3

Campaign aims to treble community land ownership in Scotland

The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill has been introduced to Parliament

The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill has been introduced to Parliament

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Land Reform Bill to 'diversify ownership' introduced to Scottish Parliament

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said she wants to see more of the country owned by local communities

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said she wants to see more of the country owned by local communities

Community organisations

Scottish Government to review community right-to-buy powers

The World Bank has long cited the relationship between land reform and ending poverty

The World Bank has long cited the relationship between land reform and ending poverty

2

Land Reform Bill is a tortuous bureaucratic feast for vested interests

Langholm Moor shows the potential for land reform initiatives in Scotland, say campaigners

Langholm Moor shows the potential for land reform initiatives in Scotland, say campaigners

1

Communities must be put at heart of Scotland's land reform, say campaigners

The land reform debate is centuries old and often highly emotive, writes Kate Forbes

The land reform debate is centuries old and often highly emotive, writes Kate Forbes

12

Kate Forbes: Radical land reform is critical – but it is only part of the picture

Campaigners say the Land Reform Bill doesn't go far enough

Campaigners say the Land Reform Bill doesn't go far enough

2

'Deeply concerned': Campaigners say Land Reform Bill doesn't go far enough

Professor Richard Murphy explains why he feels a land value tax wouldn't solve the problems its supporters say it would

Professor Richard Murphy explains why he feels a land value tax wouldn't solve the problems its supporters say it would

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Richard Murphy: Why am I not pushing for a land value tax? It wouldn't work.

Finance Minister Shona Robison should look back at the findings of the Social Justice and Fairness Commission to find a solution to land and buildings tax

Finance Minister Shona Robison should look back at the findings of the Social Justice and Fairness Commission to find a solution to land and buildings tax

6

Clear land tax may be key to achieving goal of Scottish independence

Former SNP president Michael Russell will serve as the chairman of the Scottish Land Commission

Former SNP president Michael Russell will serve as the chairman of the Scottish Land Commission

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Ex-SNP president Michael Russell appointed to chair land reform body

Land reform in Scotland is being hotly debated with the Scottish Government proposing a public interest trigger on on land sales

Land reform in Scotland is being hotly debated with the Scottish Government proposing a public interest trigger on on land sales

5

Andy Wightman: How I would do Scottish land reform properly

Aerial view of Tayvallich rainforest fragment

Aerial view of Tayvallich rainforest fragment

1

Scotland's land is pulling diverse interests together in a desire for change

Prices for land in parts of Scotland rose by as much as 58% from 2020-2022, according to a recent report

Prices for land in parts of Scotland rose by as much as 58% from 2020-2022, according to a recent report

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

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Report aims to plug 'vital' information gap for Scottish land reform policy

Mercedes Villalba demonstrated outside Moness Resort in Aberfeldy last month

Mercedes Villalba demonstrated outside Moness Resort in Aberfeldy last month

7

Plans to limit land ownership in Scotland given seal of approval by public

Glasgow has seen a particular boom in community buy-outs, according to the charity Community Land Scotland

Glasgow has seen a particular boom in community buy-outs, according to the charity Community Land Scotland

Community organisations

'Fantastic' growth of community buy-outs in Scottish cities, charity reports

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon has been urged to make land reform more radical

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon has been urged to make land reform more radical

5

Ignore 'vested interests' and push on with radical land reform, SNP urged

Labour MSP Mercedes Villalba has a proposed land reform bill lodged in the Scottish parliament

Labour MSP Mercedes Villalba has a proposed land reform bill lodged in the Scottish parliament

Discovery Land Company (DLC)

12

'Strengthen land reform' call after US developer buys up more Scottish land

The protest took place just north of Carlisle

The protest took place just north of Carlisle

Mass trespass staged near Border in call for England to adopt Scottish land reforms

The rush to to plant trees as a carbon fix serves to highlight the shallowness of bandwagon thinking

The rush to to plant trees as a carbon fix serves to highlight the shallowness of bandwagon thinking

Labour’s call for land reform is built on a shallowness of thought

Mercedes Villalba was looking to highlight how just 432 landowners own 50% of all Scotland’s privately owned rural land

Mercedes Villalba was looking to highlight how just 432 landowners own 50% of all Scotland’s privately owned rural land

11

MSP takes campaign for land ownership reform to Trump International

Michael Russell supports an increase in the Scottish Land Fund to buy out landowners

Michael Russell supports an increase in the Scottish Land Fund to buy out landowners

2

Plan to ‘turbocharge land reform’ will do nothing of the sort

SNP president Michael Russell has called for more radical land reform from the Scottish Government

SNP president Michael Russell has called for more radical land reform from the Scottish Government

14

SNP president backs Labour MSP in call for major change to land reform bill

Is Keir Starmer turning Labour into the Capital Party?

Is Keir Starmer turning Labour into the Capital Party?

13

Taxing wealth makes sense – and Scotland can take the lead

The Isle of Rum has its own struggle with land reform in the shape of Kinloch Castle

The Isle of Rum has its own struggle with land reform in the shape of Kinloch Castle

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Michael Russell: The time has come. Here's what we must do to turbocharge land reform

Community buyouts mean 3% of Scotland is now owned by local people

Community buyouts mean 3% of Scotland is now owned by local people

23

Lesley Riddoch: Land ownership reform key to Scots confidence in indy

It is hoped the tax would lead to landowners choosing to protect areas which sequester large amounts of carbon, including peatlands

It is hoped the tax would lead to landowners choosing to protect areas which sequester large amounts of carbon, including peatlands

2

Majority of Scots support introduction of carbon land tax on large estates

Campaigners say the bar is

Campaigners say the bar is

Community organisations

2

Only TWO communities try (and fail) to take land into public ownership in five years

We've been covering the Taymouth Castle development plans

We've been covering the Taymouth Castle development plans

4

Join us for a Q&A on the Taymouth Castle 'compound for the rich' development

A proposed bill would look to limit how much land any single person could own in Scotland. Image: Dan Smedley on Unsplash

A proposed bill would look to limit how much land any single person could own in Scotland. Image: Dan Smedley on Unsplash

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How to make our land benefit the many, not the few

First Minister Humza Yousaf said the Government would 'seriously consider' expert proposals on land reform

First Minister Humza Yousaf said the Government would 'seriously consider' expert proposals on land reform

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Humza Yousaf to 'seriously consider' major change to land reform bill

Land reform rhetoric has been successful but action has been lacking, a new report states

Land reform rhetoric has been successful but action has been lacking, a new report states

6

Scottish land reform efforts 'too fragmented and piecemeal', expert says

Peatbogs would be utilised as carbon sinks under the John Muir Trust's proposal for a land tax on carbon

Peatbogs would be utilised as carbon sinks under the John Muir Trust's proposal for a land tax on carbon

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Plans for 'world leading' carbon tax on Scotland's largest estates gains momentum