'The best bit about Perth & Kinross is showing it off'

Keen landscape photographer Noah Khogali is a Conservative member of Perth and Kinross Council. The well-travelled councillor tells Holyrood why his Strathearn ward is out of this world.

Describe the area you represent in one sentence. 
It’s a beautiful place in the world and evinces something genuinely poetic about the country that I don’t think you get anywhere else. Places like St Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow are beautiful but there’s something so unique about the hills.

How long have you lived there? 
It’s a bit of a complicated one. I grew up mostly between Shanghai and Brussels and by the time I was 11 years old I decided I wanted not to move every four years and to go to boarding school instead. We had a look at a few schools and fell in love with Glenalmond in Perthshire, and as a family we all ended up here. My sister came to the school and we bought a house, and our family home is here now.

Tell us something we won’t know about your local area. 
Cultybraggan is the only Second World War prisoner of war camp still kicking about in Scotland. And Prince William is the Earl of Strathearn – that’s not one of the titles you most often hear in reference to him. About 10 years ago William and Kate came to visit and everyone appeared on the street. I’m hoping one day when eventually he is king, he’ll come back.

Who is the best-known person from your area? 
Probably Ewan McGregor – Obi Wan Kenobi himself. He’s around every so often, so you might be walking down Crieff High Street and end up in Star Wars. I’m a massive, massive Star Wars fan and when I found out he was from here I was so excited. My favourite character is probably either Obi-Wan Kenobi or Qui-Gon Jin.

What made you stand for election? 
I was a bit of a political nerd, growing up. In Brussels everything was very politicised, and seeing Shanghai as I got older and the lack of freedom and the gap between people who had power and people who didn’t have power inspired me to get involved myself. At a more local level, if you are complaining about the state of the roads and the way education works, it’s pointless shouting into a vacuum. A lot of young people love complaining at each other but if you’re not willing to do anything about it, then what’s the point?

What’s the one thing Holyrood politicians could do that would be of greatest benefit to the area you represent? 
Everyone knows councils are struggling, but funding to give us the ability to be bold with policy in the long-term. With something like school credits, if we had the money and will to investigate if that would work at local level, it could be hugely important. When we’re struggling to afford basic services we’ve got to focus on the here and now, but it would be wonderful if we could try and be bolder, looking forward.

What challenges are unique to your particular part of the country? 
Rural Scotland gets mischaracterised by lawmakers. Sometimes there’s a presumption that just because areas are rural there’s a broad spread of wealth. That isn’t necessarily true; there are pockets of deprivation and it’s important that gets the attention that it needs. There’s also a challenge in renewables, with more turbines and pylons. That’s a big change that’s coming to the landscape and wherever you are on that issue, there are a lot of people that feel like it’s changing their home, and that’s something that’s important to recognise. 

What’s the best bit about living where you do? 
Showing it off. I do a lot of photography in my spare time and just love it. When you bring a friend or family member and they come and see the area, it’s like you see it again for the first time. The awe they have of the landscape, it’s wonderful to be able to see it. 

Is there a particular word you love using that only people in your part of the country would recognise? 
It’s common to other areas of Scotland, but ‘cludgie’. We’ve had an ongoing issue in regard to the public toilets and the Crieff cludgie has been mentioned more in the past year than at any other point. It’s the glamour of being in local politics. 

If you could live anywhere else, where would it be? 
Brussels feels like my childhood home still. It’s where some of my first memories are, but I don’t want to be anywhere else but here. Strathearn is stunning.