Sir, – It's 20 years this week since the first Land Reform Bill 2003 was passed by the Scottish Parliament and what a disaster it has proved to be for those at the sharp end.

The first call was for tenant farmers to be given a right to buy their holdings, but the two leading farmers doing the shouting were promptly offered their farms to buy and the campaign dissolved faster than snow off a dyke.

The next call was for a fair rent review process and more security for limited partnership tenants. They were both granted in the Bill, but were comprehensively dismantled by the landed establishment in the courts at great cost to the unfortunate tenants involved.

So, we scroll on to the next Land Reform Bill in 2015 and lo and behold the two tenant farmer leaders got to buy their farms. Result: No meaningful reform.

The only 'good' thing to come from the Bill, after it was rewritten, was legislation to make it easier for tenants to retire, doing nothing for those who wish to carry on. The long awaited fair rent process is still just a pipe dream, as is the long awaited pre-emptive right to buy without the need to register first.

Meanwhile, ScotGov thought it was a good idea to allow landlords to evict tenants and claim the new BPS subsidy for themselves – a clear case of robbing the poor to pay the rich. No wonder young farmers can't get any land.

So, now we scroll on to 2023 and a new Land Reform Bill. Yes, you guessed correctly, the current tenant leader is no longer a tenant. Does lightning strike five times in the one spot?

Now, we have new subsidy schemes being discussed for tree-planting, rewilding, carbon capture etc, but surprise, surprise, tenants again will be excluded from most it as the laird's consent will be required and rest assured, his hand will be out if he ever agrees.

If ever there was a clear case for right to buy, that is it. Not holding my breath

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