Re-elect Ariane Burgess for Highlands & Islands

Aim

I’m standing to be re-elected as your Green MSP for the Highlands & Islands. Together we can build the future our communities deserve.

“Ariane is one of the most approachable MSPs I’ve ever met. She really listens, takes on board what people say, and brings those voices into Parliament.” - Highlands and Islands Constituent

I’ve had the privilege of serving as the Scottish Green MSP for the Highlands & Islands since 2021. I’ve worked with communities across one of the most beautiful, diverse, and geographically spread regions in Scotland. I’ve heard firsthand the challenges people face — from housing shortages and the rising cost of living to the impacts of climate breakdown on our land and seas.

I stood in 2021 because I believe our region deserves a strong Green voice — one rooted in fairness, sustainability, and the knowledge that our communities can thrive when they are supported to shape their own future. That belief has only grown stronger during my time in Parliament.

What I’ve done

In my first term as an MSP, I’ve championed:

• Housing and community empowerment – pushing for stronger support for community-led housing and better planning rules so local people can access good, affordable homes. I also ensured landlords must address damp and mould in the homes of their tenants as a matter of urgency.
• Land reform – holding the government to account on ensuring land benefits the many, not the few, and making the case for community ownership as well as ensuring our rights and responsibilities are upheld.
• Local food and enterprise – supporting projects that connect farmers, growers, and local businesses, building resilience and keeping wealth in our communities. I introduced regenerative agriculture to Scotland’s farming policy and negotiated for the Scottish Food Commission to be established. Proposed training in regenerative agriculture for farmers and crofters to ensure existing farmers and new entrants have the support they need.
• Environmental protection – speaking up for our seas, peatlands, and forests, and making sure the Highlands & Islands lead the way in climate action. Calling for a pause on the expansion of the salmon farming industry until environmental and animal welfare problems are addressed.
• Public Transport and Active Travel – campaigning for the future of local bus services, supporting community buses, ensuring the rollout of the under 22 free bus commitment. Supporting local active travel initiatives to take the lead in designing the best local routes.
• Reforestation – listening to land managers and stalkers about their goals of better deer management to allow for natural regeneration. Working with the forestry sector towards an appropriate balance of trees for biodiversity and trees for timber. Pushing for primary use of Scottish grown timber in Scotland’s housing.
• Community energy – catalysing Scottish Government action to support repowering for community-owned renewable energy, so that local people can continue to benefit from the clean energy they generate. Calling for a better deal on community benefit, easier pathways for community ownership and national community wealth fund.
• Local government – being a consistent champion for councils and instrumental in improving communication between local government and national government, so decisions are better informed by what’s really needed locally.
• Community organisations – backing the work of grassroots groups, charities, and social enterprises at the heart of our communities, ensuring their vital contribution is recognised and supported and calling for multi-year funding.
• Community voices in Parliament – ensuring the issues I raise come directly from the people I represent, whether that’s housing in Orkney, ferries on the west coast, or skills development in rural towns.
• Ethical investment – securing a Green win with the Scottish Government’s agreement to remove funding from arms manufacturers in Scotland who were selling weapons to the Israeli government.

It hasn’t always been easy, but we’ve achieved real progress. Communities across the Highlands & Islands have shown incredible innovation and resilience, and in Parliament I’ve been proud to amplify their work and push for change.

Why I’m standing again

We live in a moment of stark imbalance: wealth is increasingly concentrated, while many struggle to keep a roof over their head, heat their homes, or access reliable public transport. Nature is suffering, climate breakdown is accelerating, yet too often those who contribute least to the crisis bear the worst impacts. Social justice and environmental justice are still treated as optional rather than essential. 

I believe our region deserves better: a society where wealth does not remain hoarded at the top but is shared more fairly; where climate and nature crises are met with urgency and action that protects people and ecosystems; and where public transport is affordable, reliable, and inclusive — so that nobody is left behind simply because they live in a rural area or cannot afford a car.

With your support, I want to continue raising the alarm, building momentum, and pushing the government, public bodies and the private sector to deliver justice—for people, planet, and place.

 What your donations will support

Campaigning in the Highlands & Islands is unlike anywhere else. The region covers half of Scotland’s landmass and hundreds of islands, so reaching people takes time, resources, and travel.

Every pound donated will help us:

• Print and deliver campaign leaflets across the region.
• Reach voters online with clear, positive messages.
• Equip volunteers with the tools they need to campaign effectively.

Your contribution ensures people know they have the option to vote Green — and to re-elect a Green MSP who puts communities first.

How you can help

Change doesn’t happen through one person — it happens when we come together. If you share my vision for a fairer, greener Highlands & Islands, you can:

• Join our team of volunteers.
• Share your ideas and experiences with me.
• Spread the word in your community — tell people you’re voting Green and why.
• And when the time comes, use your vote.

Every conversation, every post shared, every neighbour spoken to makes a difference.

Why your support matters

Elections in the Highlands & Islands are always close. Greens don’t rely on big donors — we rely on you. Every donation helps us reach more voters and build the momentum we need to win.

I’ve seen the difference Green representation makes in Parliament. With your help, we can keep that voice strong. 

Together, we can build a Highlands & Islands where housing is secure, communities are thriving, and our environment is protected for generations to come.

Please note: if you are kind enough to donate more than £50 to Ariane's campaign your name and address will be checked against the electoral register to ensure you are a permissible donor.

Promoted by Ariane Burgess, Scottish Green Party, at 19b Graham Street, Edinburgh, EH6 5QN.

This project successfully funded on 12th January 2026