Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the rural business organisation, has demanded the government drop its “unnecessary” land reforms after it was forced to implement a £500,000 cut in spending on the policy. 

Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said millions of pounds of public money have been spent on land reform over the last 20 years.

The government wants to introduce measures that will avoid land being held in a few hands. The Land Reform Bill will enable ministers to intervene in the sale of land and, if necessary, dictate that it should be sold in lots. The proposed change in the law also imposes new requirements on consultation.

“Much of what is now being spent on land reform, including the development of yet another Land Reform Bill, is entirely unnecessary,” said Ms Laing. 

“There is a mountain of legislation already in place that has empowered communities and brought about significant, positive changes in land use and ownership.”

Ms Laing said the government should axe plans to introduce a land commissioner and complex processes – such as lotting and enforced land management plans.

Instead it “should focus on taking a collegiate approach and to promote guidance and best practice with communities and landowners to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes without further disincentivising much needed private investment.”

Her statement came as she launched an attack on former tenants’ rights minister and co-Green leader Patrick Harvie over his comments in the parliament yesterday.

Writing on X/Twitter, she said: “Unsurprising to hear @patrickharvie make an unwarranted attack on private landlords. Our members provide affordable rented homes across rural Scotland & want to build more – facts that Mr Harvie continues to conveniently ignore. Ah well why let facts get in the way of prejudice?”