Brexit puts our economy at risk
Earlier this week, I spent the day at the Convention of the Highlands and Islands - a body that meets twice a year to bring together the Scottish Government with local authorities and public organisations across the diverse communities of the north of Scotland.
One of my commitments since becoming a minister in 2007 has been to chair this gathering on every occasion and to ensure that the concerns, ideas and aspirations of the Highlands and Islands can be heard within government.
Over the years some very good work has been done to advance the interests of the Highlands and Islands through this forum.
Persistent pressure to establish power connections to our islands has resulted in great opportunities for renewable energy to be generated. Digital connectivity has moved ahead at a much faster pace, and more people have been connected to superfast broadband than would have been the case if it had all been left to the market.
It is therefore a very valuable conversation to assist in taking forward a positive agenda for the area.
The discussion was however dominated on Monday by a significant concern expressed by those who were present about the impact of Brexit.
The Highlands and Islands has been an area transformed by the practical measures made possible by our membership of the European Union over a forty year period.
The regional policy of the EU has been designed to assist peripheral areas and to give them a stronger platform from which to succeed.
Anyone visiting the Highlands and Islands will see the huge change in infrastructure that has come about through the sensible use of EU programmes in collaboration with the work of the Scottish Government and local authorities.
Representatives expressed concerns at the loss of these opportunities and the very genuine fear that it was difficult to see how such arrangements could be made more effective outwith the EU.
There were further concerns expressed about the impact on trade of leaving the EU without a practical deal.
There are many high quality goods - particularly in the food sector - that leave the Highlands and Islands and go straight to the European markets. At this stage it is far from clear how these goods will have swift access to EU markets.
And there were also concerns about restrictions on the free movement of people.
Forty years ago, the population of the Highlands and Islands was in decline. Now it is rising but it remains fragile in many areas.
There are many people who choose to come and live in the Highlands and we need their contribution to boost our population and our economic activity.
We need that also here in Perthshire to support our economic development.The TV programme the other night - entitled Who will pick our berries? - made that point.
The UK has taken the decision to leave the EU. But the manner of the ham-fisted departure presided over by the UK government runs the very real risk of damaging the economic interests of our country.
Just last week the Scotland Office minister - Lord Duncan - told farmers they would be out of the CAP in 2019 and then was flatly contradicted by the UK government.
Our industries, communities and people deserve better from the UK government.