With one month to go until the 2026 Holyrood election, SNP candidate Eilidh Munro has set out her position for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, urging voters to back what she calls a stronger voice for the Highlands.

The candidate has pointed to early manifesto commitments from the SNP, focusing on housing, childcare and health, as campaigning enters its final stretch across one of Scotland’s largest constituencies.

While the full manifesto has yet to be published, the party has already outlined plans to support first time buyers, introduce pop up health MOT clinics, and expand childcare provision from nine months through to the end of primary school.

Munro has placed particular emphasis on the cost of living, with energy prices continuing to weigh heavily on households and businesses across rural Scotland.

“It’s hard to believe we’re just a few short weeks away from polling day.

“It’s been an absolute privilege to travel all over this incredible constituency, meeting so many wonderful individuals and organisations across the Highlands.”

“One of the main concerns for people across this constituency is the ever-rising cost of energy, particularly with the huge increase in the cost of heating oil and LPG recently. We’re doing what we can, with the powers we have in Scotland, to mitigate the impact on households and businesses, but we could do so much more with the full powers of independence, legislating on our own energy policy and benefiting directly from all the energy created here.”

Housing has also been identified as a key priority, with the SNP signalling further financial support and targeted schemes aimed at rural communities.

Munro pointed to continued investment in affordable housing, alongside proposals for a new Rural and Islands Housing Grant Scheme to bring existing properties back into use.

She also highlighted support for first time buyers, including potential assistance of up to £10,000 towards deposits.

“We’ve made a lot of progress in providing more affordable housing across the Highlands, but there is still a lot of work to do, and I’m pleased that as well as the £4.9m being invested in housing annually over the next 4 years, if elected the SNP will introduce help for first time buyers of up to £10,000 towards their deposit, along with setting up a specific Rural and Islands Housing Grant Scheme to support the renovation of existing properties to be brought back into use.”

Health and workforce pressures were also raised during the campaign, with Munro pointing to improvements in waiting times while arguing that further powers could help address staffing shortages.

“While in government, the SNP has prioritised supporting people all over Scotland with the cost of living, as well as improving our NHS, investing in its recovery from the impact of the pandemic.

“While it’s really good news that waiting times have dropped for 9 months in a row now, it is frustrating that Scotland doesn’t have control over policy areas like immigration, which would allow us to implement specific visas for healthcare, as well as for sectors like social care or hospitality in the parts of Scotland where there are big recruitment issues.

“Scotland has all the ingredients to be a thriving independent country, and if we had the power to take a different direction than Westminster, we could be so much better off.”

As campaigning intensifies, Munro has framed the upcoming vote as a choice about direction, positioning her campaign around what she describes as ambition and long term change for Scotland.

“Our campaign is one of ambition and hope, and a vote for me in May is a vote for a better future for Scotland, and a strong representative for the Highlands at Holyrood.”