Tea break: Torcuil Crichton

In our regular feature, we join a local for a tea break and find out how they spend their time - and their time off. This week, we welcome MP Torcuil Crichton, who popped in to the office after a visit to the Bays of Harris

Reading the best newspaper on Harris!

Please introduce yourself...

I’m the Labour MP for the Na h Eileanan an Iar constituency. I’ve only been doing this job for 15 months, but I’ve been around politics in the islands since the 1980s. This role is a huge privilege, but I feel a responsibility as well. I know the islands and I hope that islanders know me – which means I have to do my best to represent them well.

Tell us about your life up to now...

I am from Lewis, and spent childhood summers in Harris. I went to school at the Nicolson Institute, then worked as a journalist at the West Highland Free Press. I have worked for national newspapers and the BBC. When I moved to London my first big story was 9/11 - I was with Tony Blair when the planes flew into the twin towers. The last event I covered was the funeral of the late Queen, which felt like the end of a century. Then I came home to stand to be the local MP – and won!

What were you doing in the Bays?

My constituency is massive, with 10 islands, 2 ferries and 4 causeways, but it has a smaller population than other constituencies. Not everyone is in Stornoway, so when time allows I like go out and make a direct connection with constituents. Some people are cautious about the idea of an MP’s surgery – people think they have to dress smartly or come fully equipped or briefed and I’ve found that some people are more relaxed talking in their own home.

The issues discussed ranged from public utilities to connections, roads, and big issues like depopulation and the skewed demographic we have here with not enough people of working age.

The withdrawal of the Leverburgh lifeboat, due to lack of crew, is a living example of that. Housing and jobs and childcare - three big ingre dients – are solutions, but the prob lems aren’t easy to resolve. Leverburgh has a local economy that is ready for lift-off. It’s got all the ingredients, a shop, petrol, harbour, tourism and so much potential.

The bottleneck is getting young people and getting young people to stay, plus providing public services so they can put roots down. The new houses built this year are just a start.

What can you do for local people?

My team deal with a variety of issues. Some people come to us as a last resort, and some come with campaign issues.

Constituents also get in touch about international issues like Gaza and the Environment and local difficulties with services and utilities. We are not always the right place to come to, but if we can’t help, we can find other people who can.

You learn a lot in a year, and I’ve found that the title MP can really make a difference. You do get outcomes – a bill settled, for example, can make a huge difference to the person concerned.

I have a really good team of staff who know and are committed to the islands and they do a lot of the heavy lifting. This isn’t a job you can do on your own.

Discussing local matters with the Harris Voluntary Service team

What are your aims for the coming year?

I want to get movement on Community Energy. We should see renewable projects coming onto the grid and make sure that communities aren’t bypassed by this transformation. I want to ensure that the generations of people who have earned energy security are included in this transition. I want to highlight and tackle the big issues of depopulation, housing and childcare.

We have a Scottish Parliament election coming up and a great Labour candidate in Donald MacKinnon. The islands have been taken for granted and haven’t had their voice at the centre for the last 18 years. We want everybody in Edinburgh to know where we are.

How do you spend your time off?

I don’t get much time off, but when I do I try to stay healthy – I sometimes go swimming. I try to read when travelling and I miss going to the cinema. It’s good to have the Screen Machine for that.

Tea break time, what’s your order?

Black tea and one of Logan Air’s Tunnocks wafers. The worst thing about being a Westminster MP is that you can’t make a proper cup of tea in London because the water is so awful. When I’m away I do crave a proper island cup of tea!

Contact Torcuil at torcuil.crichton.mp@parliament.uk or find him on social media