Island councils seek greater power over affairs

SCOTLAND’S islands councils have demanded more powers regardless of the outcome of next year’s independence referendum as part of a flagship campaign launched Monday.
Scotland's Highland councils have called for greater autonomy. Picture: TSPLScotland's Highland councils have called for greater autonomy. Picture: TSPL
Scotland's Highland councils have called for greater autonomy. Picture: TSPL

The three authorities – Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles – want their status recognised and further powers to run their own affairs in a “new Scottish constitutional settlement”.

Their “Our Islands – Our Future” campaign wants greater revenue-raising powers, improved energy connections with the mainland and control of the sea bed, allowing revenue to be redirected from the Crown Estate to local need.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They also want new tax powers to give islanders more revenue from the renewable energy and fisheries sectors. Campaign leaders say there is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to push for more powers for the islands as Scotland’s future in the UK is voted on in September 2014.

Although the campaign is neutral on the vote, the anti- and pro-independence campaigns will be lobbied on whether they would back greater powers for the islands after the referendum.

At the campaign launch, Shetland Islands Council leader Gary Robinson said: “We were promised that devolution wouldn’t stop at Edinburgh, but to a large extent it did.

“Islanders feel that devolution stopped at Edinburgh, so we are asking for a greater say on how things are done in the islands.”

Mr Robinson suggested the referendum votes of many islanders would be decided by whether or not the Yes and No campaigns backed a better devolution settlement for the regions. He said: “We’re setting out our stall … this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The campaign is planning a major conference in Orkney in September, when figures from both side of the referendum debate will be asked to attend.

Orkney Islands Council leader Steven Heddle dismissed suggestions that the islands were campaigning to “go it alone”, but said a new relationship was needed with the rest of Scotland.

He said: “We feel that our special circumstances are being ignored. We need recognition of our special status. That’s why we’re challenging the two sides of the argument to say what they would do for us.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We must seize the constitutional reform agenda. It would be wrong not to take advantage of the opportunity.”

Western Isles Council leader Angus Campbell said: “The islands are looking for a level playing field … we contribute significantly to economic growth and we are asking for powers to unlock our economic potential.”

The campaign was welcomed both by Yes Scotland and the anti-independence group Better Together. A spokesperson for the latter said: “It is welcome that the island councils are making an important contribution to the current debate.

“Support for Scotland remaining in the UK is as strong on the islands as elsewhere in Scotland.”

A Yes Scotland spokesman said: “Our teams have visited the Western, Shetland and Orkney islands on a number of occasions in the last year – and will continue to do so until next year’s vote – and the keenness we have found among them to be actively involved and hands-on is very clear. We are confident the island communities will vote Yes like the rest of Scotland.”

Tavish Scott, the Liberal Democrat MSP for Shetland, backed the councils’ plans to demand greater powers from the Scottish and UK governments.

“London is pretty remote from our islands,” he said. “When the Scottish Government spend every working day removing power, financial and policy responsibility from local people a stand must be taken.”