CROFTERS in their thousands have voted in the Crofting Commission elections, amid hopes that a shake up of the faces around the top table might herald a fresh start for the troubled administration of Scotland's crofting counties.

A total of 3559 votes were cast across all six crofting constituencies, and counted on March 18, in the Town House in Inverness, where only 13 ballot papers were rejected due to 'unclear' preference.

Most notable among the results were two returning figures – former convenor Rod MacKenzie, now re-elected as commissioner for the East Highlands constituency after resigning from the Commission last summer over ‘ongoing issues which he was not personally comfortable with’; and Colin Kennedy, re-elected from the South West Highlands constituency, having lost the 2017 vote for re-election after his stint as convenor coincided with a fractious internal dispute about the management of common grazings.

For this new five-year term, Messrs MacKenzie and Kennedy are joined by Mairi Renwick MacKenzie, elected from the West Highlands constituency; Duncan Gray, from the Shetland constituency; Donald MacDonald from the Orkney and Caithness constituency; and Iain MacIver, from the Western Isles Constituency. Later this year, two further vacancies will become available for Government Appointed Commissioners.

The Scottish Crofting Federation acknowledged the outcome of the elections, but noted that the new line up of Commissioners 'have their work cut out' to transform the body into one that can effectively regulate crofting, rather than the 'dysfunctional' performance seen of late.

But current Convener of the Crofting Commission, Malcolm Mathieson, was more positive in his welcome for the election results: “The calibre of candidates for the 2022 elections was really outstanding. Many folks who wanted to use skills and experiences they’ve developed not just in the crofting lives, but over the courses of the careers in other occupations too. It really goes to show what a wealth of talent there is within our remote rural crofting communities.

“I’d like to congratulate all involved for putting their names forward, a daunting task for many and I especially welcome all those elected on Friday to their roles as Commissioners. I’d also like to thank the outgoing Commissioners Billy Neilson, Andy Holt, Archie MacNab and Cyril Annal.”

Chief Executive of the Crofting Commission, Bill Barron, added: “It’s really great to be welcoming a new mix of Commissioners to the organisation. Commissioners will begin an intense few months of training to begin with, to fully equip them with the skills that they need to serve effectively on a Scottish Non-Departmental Public Body.

“It’s vital that the new board continue to make good progress against our aims and objectives and continue to address issues that arose during previous audit reports," said Mr Barron. "Providing comprehensive training and support to the Commissioners to engage with this training should help us ensure that the Commission can work collegiately to come to decisions.”

Those audited 'issues', however, hang heavy in the air at the Commission, involving as they do the relationship between elected Commissioners and the executive staff, and longstanding problems over the division of both authority and responsibility within the government-funded body.

Read more: Goose cash 'derisory' say crofters

SCF chair, Donald MacKinnon, stressed that the new top table line-up of returning veterans, re-elected incumbents and first time Commissioners should get to know right from the start what was, and what was not, expected from them.

“Now that the results are in and we have our new commission, it is essential that the new intake and returning commissioners are given a proper induction, with their responsibilities and remit clarified at the earliest opportunity. Crofting cannot afford to have a dysfunctional regulatory body. We know that lessons need to be learnt and every effort will be made to avoid a repeat of the past. SCF looks forward to working with the new Crofting Commission.”

Mr MacKinnon added: “We have been pressing the Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for crofting, Mairi Gougeon, to support the Crofting Commission in its function. An increase in budget has been awarded so we hope to see regulation being carried out more effectively.

"The reform of crofting legislation has been in the pipeline for many years and we are assured by the Cabinet Secretary that a bill will be written during this parliament, so we aim to see consolidation of the crofting acts before 2026. The new commissioners can play a vital role in this by collating the amendments that are needed to make the law effective for the commission to regulate the system well," said Mr MacKinnon. "It is clear from our village hall meetings that our members want the newly elected Commission to regulate effectively and to free up unused crofts for new entrants.”