Inverness and Nairn

A socialist plan for managing growth and bridging the urban-rural divide in the Highland capital region

Highlands and Islands Region

The Highland Hybrid

The Inverness and Nairn constituency is a fascinating hybrid—the economic and administrative capital of the Highlands, paired with a traditional rural and coastal county. Campaigning here requires balancing the priorities of a growing, aspirational small city with the needs of its surrounding towns, villages, and farmland. The overarching theme is managing growth and its discontents.

Urban Hub

Scotland's fastest-growing city outside the Central Belt, serving as the administrative and healthcare capital for the entire Highlands

Rural Heartland

Traditional Nairnshire with its coastal communities, farmland, and market towns facing pressures from urban expansion

Balanced Growth

Steering development to benefit both urban and rural communities while preserving community character and environment

Our Vision

An Inverness and Nairn campaign is about steering the success of the Highland capital to benefit all its citizens and its rural neighbour. It must offer a competent, delivery-focused platform centred on transport infrastructure, housing supply, and healthcare investment, while ensuring the rural character and communities of Nairnshire are not left behind. The candidate must be seen as a capable manager for a growing region.

The Inverness and Nairn Constituency

From the Highland capital to the Moray Firth coast, this constituency spans urban growth centres, coastal communities, and productive farmland — a true hybrid region requiring balanced socialist solutions.

Map of Inverness and Nairn constituency showing urban areas, transport corridors, and coastal communities
Electoral map of Inverness and Nairn constituency — from the city of Inverness to the coastal towns of Nairnshire
Urban Centres
Major Transport Routes
Healthcare Hub
Coastal & Rural Areas
80,000+
Population (Inverness)
12,000+
Population (Nairn)
A9/A96
Major Corridors
Raigmore
Regional Hospital
Inverness City Centre Nairn Croy Ardersier Cawdor Raigmore Hospital

The A96 Corridor: Connecting Inverness to Nairn and beyond, this vital artery symbolises the urban-rural link at the heart of our campaign. The long-promised dualling is a key socialist demand for fair infrastructure investment.

Key Challenges & Socialist Solutions

1

Managing Urban Growth & Infrastructure Pressure

Inverness is one of the fastest-growing cities in the UK, and this creates specific tensions that require socialist solutions for fair development.

  • The "Capital of the Highlands" Function: Inverness acts as the central hub for healthcare, retail, and administration for a vast rural region. This puts immense strain on its infrastructure, which is a primary local concern requiring strategic socialist planning.
  • Traffic Congestion & Major Routes:
    A96 East: The dualling of the A96 to Nairn and Aberdeen is a critical economic issue for businesses and commuters. Its progress (or lack thereof) is a major political battleground requiring socialist commitment to public infrastructure.
    A9 South: The long-promised dualling of the A9 to Perth is a matter of safety and economic connectivity. Delays and fatalities on this road are a constant source of anger and anxiety that socialist transport policy must address.
    Internal Congestion: Bottlenecks at the Kessock Bridge (to the Black Isle), Longman Roundabout, and on the Southern Distributor Road hamper daily life and require socialist solutions for public transport.
  • Active Travel & Public Transport: There is strong demand for better, safer cycling infrastructure and more reliable, integrated bus services to reduce car dependency—a cornerstone of socialist urban planning.
2

Housing Crisis – Urban and Rural Dimensions

  • Affordability & Supply in Inverness: Rapid population growth has far outpaced housing supply, leading to soaring house prices and rents. Young people, essential workers (NHS, teachers), and those on average incomes are increasingly priced out of the socialist promise of secure housing.
  • Pressure on Rural Nairnshire & the A96 Corridor: Towns like Nairn, Croy, and Cawdor experience intense pressure from commuters and buyers looking for more affordable or scenic homes, which drives up local prices and changes community character in ways that socialist policy must manage.
  • Short-term Lets: While less extreme than in the West Highlands, the proliferation of short-term lets in central Inverness and coastal Nairn reduces available rental stock for residents, requiring socialist regulation of the housing market.
3

The Healthcare Hub – Raigmore Hospital & NHS Highland

  • Raigmore Hospital: As the main tertiary hospital for the entire Highlands and Islands, its performance is a dominant local issue.
    A&E Waiting Times & Bed Blocking: Chronic overcrowding and delays are frequently in the headlines—a socialist healthcare system must solve this.
    Recruitment & Retention: Attracting and keeping specialist medical staff is an ongoing challenge, linked to housing and infrastructure.
    The New Hospital Promise: The long-awaited replacement for Raigmore is a key local demand. Socialist health policy requires a clear position on its timeline, funding, and site.
  • GP Access: Securing appointments at over-subscribed GP practices is a widespread concern across the constituency that socialist primary care reform must address.

Bridging the Urban-Rural Divide

Our campaign messaging must resonate on Merkinch in Inverness and in Ferness in Nairnshire. We connect improved transport links (A96) to benefits for both the city and the county.

Shared Prosperity

Economic growth that benefits urban workers and rural communities alike

Connected Futures

Transport infrastructure that serves commuters, businesses, and isolated communities

Community Solidarity

Urban resources supporting rural services, rural character enhancing urban quality of life

4

Economic Development & Fair Work

  • Beyond Tourism & Public Sector: While tourism is vital (especially for Nairn's golf and beaches), and the public sector is the largest employer (NHS, Highland Council, government agencies), there is a strong desire to grow a more diverse, high-wage private sector under socialist economic principles.
  • Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal: Delivery on the promises of this investment—particularly in Life Sciences (Inverness Campus), Digital, and Aerospace—is crucial for creating skilled jobs that socialist industrial strategy must secure.
  • Rural Economy in Nairnshire: Socialist support for agriculture, fishing (in Nairn), and small businesses in market towns. Issues include fair farming subsidies, universal broadband connectivity, and progressive business rates.

The Twin Pillars of Credibility

A credible socialist candidate must have a clear, unwavering position on delivering these two fundamental benchmarks of effective representation:

A96 Dualling

Full commitment to completing the A96 dualling to Aberdeen, with socialist principles ensuring community consultation, environmental protection, and local employment benefits throughout the project.

New Raigmore Hospital

Unwavering advocacy for the new National Treatment Centre/Hospital for Inverness, with socialist healthcare values ensuring it serves all communities with dignity, accessibility, and world-class care.

Our Socialist Campaign Strategy

How we will address growth and bridge divides with socialist solutions:

Focus on Solutions for Growth

The tone should be proactive and managerial—addressing how to successfully manage the city's growth with better planning, infrastructure-first development, and affordable housing quotas, rather than simply opposing development.

Champion Strategic Investment

Be a vocal socialist advocate for the Inverness City Region Deal and for attracting high-value, unionised industries to the Inverness Campus and Beechwood business parks.

Bridge the Urban-Rural Divide

Talk about housing pressure in both urban and rural contexts, and connect improved transport links (A96) to socialist benefits for the city and the county alike.

Dual-Parliament Socialist Strategy

The MSP (Holyrood) will advance socialist policies on health, education, and the A96. The MP (Westminster) will fight for socialist infrastructure funding, broadband, and economic levers like the City Region Deal.

A Socialist Vision for Managed Growth

Our campaign offers a competent, delivery-focused socialist platform centred on transport infrastructure, housing supply, and healthcare investment, while ensuring the rural character and communities of Nairnshire are not left behind.

Managed Urban Growth

Socialist planning for sustainable development with community benefits

Housing Justice

Affordable, secure homes for urban workers and rural residents

Healthcare for All

World-class, accessible NHS services from Raigmore to rural clinics

Bridging Divides

Connecting urban prosperity with rural community sustainability

Together, we can build an Inverness and Nairn where growth benefits everyone, where urban and rural communities thrive together, and where socialist principles guide development toward a more equal, sustainable, and prosperous future for all.