Shetland ‘to hold referendum’ on breakaway from Scotland
THE leader of Shetland Islands Council has vowed to begin ‘negotiations’ to get devolved powers – after the local authority voted to break away from Scotland.
Steven Coutts said the ‘status quo is not tenable’ and talks with both the Scottish and UK Governments would start as soon as possible.
He said a referendum would follow unless demands for local tax-raising powers were met – which would allow the islands to flourish after years of ‘marginalisation’.
Mr Coutts said the council’s decision had been driven by concern the islands were losing out because of centralisation of power in Edinburgh.
He said: ‘This isn’t to do with identity or Scottish independence, it’s because we feel too much power has been centralised.
‘Our working-age population is decreasing and that’s because we don’t have the 21st-century services that young people want and need. The SNP has made promises to decentralise but they have been unfulfilled.
‘We contribute significantly to GDP and yet we are losing out – we don’t have adequate broadband, for example.
‘The status quo is not tenable – the next step is for us to negotiate with the Scottish and UK Governments over taxation powers. And then depending on what happens in those talks, we would progress to a referendum.’
Mr Coutts said he wanted to see a legislative assembly, with the power to raise and spend taxes, established in Lerwick, the islands’ capital.
This week Shetland Islands Council voted overwhelmingly to start looking at ways to become financially and politically distinct from Scotland. In a debate lasting more than an hour, members argued decisionmaking has become increasingly centralised and public funding for the islands has been cut under the SNP Government.
Mr Coutts suggested devolution has not benefited Shetland and said the Scottish parliament seems ‘remote’ to islanders.
The islands, with a population of just over 20,000, have the Sullom Voe oil and gas terminal, as well as oil fields and lucrative fish-considered. ing waters. Situated 110 miles from the mainland, and closer to Bergen in Norway than Edinburgh, Shetland has not always been Scottish and remained under Norwegian rule until 1472.
Mr Coutts said other options, including the idea of becoming a quasi-independent Crown dependency – such as the Isle of Man or Jersey which have distinct political and legal systems – would also be Robbie McGregor, an SNP councillor on Shetland, backed the moves towards greater autonomy. He said: ‘If I want self-determination for Scotland how on earth could I be opposed to exploring self-determination for Shetland?’
His view was echoed by Highlands and Islands MSP Maree Todd, the Minister for Children and Young People, who said: ‘Calling for autonomy and more powers is close to the heart of any SNP politician.’
However, Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston claimed that the desire for greater powers in Shetland was prompted by disaffection with the SNP administration in Edinburgh.
Mathew Nicolson, of the University of Edinburgh, an expert on the politics of Scotland’s island groups, suggested that the council’s tactic was an attempt to gain extra money and powers.
The Scottish Government said Shetland had the power to request the transfer of responsibilities, but had not done so.
‘The status quo is not tenable’