IsleOfSkye.co.ukIsle of Skye Government & Politics
In terms of local government, Skye forms part of the Highland Council area (Comhairle na Gaidhealtachd) based in Inverness. From 1975 to 1996, Skye along with the neighbouring mainland area of Lochalsh constituted a local government district within the Highland administrative area. However in 1996 it was included into the Highland unitary authority. Given the vastness of the council area, Skye and Lochalsh comprises one of its area committees which consists of six out of eighty Highland Council wards. Each ward elects one councillor to represent it and the purpose of area committees are to oversee the delivery of key local authority services within that specific area.
Skye is in the Highlands electoral region and comprises a part of the Ross Skye and Inverness West Scottish Parliament constituency which elects one member under the first past the post basis to represent it. Currently this is John Farquhar Munro for the Liberal Democrats. In addition, Skye forms part of the wider Ross Skye and Lochaber UK Parliament constituency, which elects one member to the House of Commons. The present Member of Parliament is Charles Kennedy MP for the Liberal Democrats, who is a former leader of the party and has represented the area since 1983.