Independents are good

In response to Robin Barclay (Isles not ready for more power; SN 14/5/12), with current local election turnout averaging above 50 per cent in Shetland, independent candidates provide the electorate with more choice and help to unlock voter apathy.

This is proven by the fact that the national voter turnout is at an average of 32 per cent where party political candidates are prevalent.

There have been independent councillors serving their communities for well over 100 years, and they carry on the tradition of open and accountable local government.

Independent councillors want to respond to the local community in a way that serves the community interests and not a national party political interest.

Being an independent does not mean that the candidate has no political views of their own. Just about everyone has some political views and tends towards supporting a national party on some national issues.

However independent councillors believe that national concerns often do not translate well into local government issues. 

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Independent councillors have a belief that no party has a monopoly of good or bad ideas and that local government depends on people of public-spirited goodwill. People who listen to the electorate, argue and debate and are capable of arriving at decisions on their merits, for the good of the community and are not driven by higher party allegiance.

It is no coincidence that independent politics remains at its strongest in rural and island communities, as these are the communities that are the most fragile.

All local council candidates should become independents and throw off the restrictive shackles of the party whip and escape the decision making done behind closed doors in Westminster and Holyrood.

Gordon Harmer
Brae