Council leaders shortlisted

THE LEADERS of the three Scottish island councils have been shortlisted for The Herald’s prestigious political awards this year.

Gary Robinson, Orkney’s Steven Heddle and Angus Campbell from the western isles have been singled out for the local politician of the year award for spearheading the Our Islands, Our Future (OIOF) campaign for greater autonomy and powers for the island authorities.

The other nominees on the shortlist are long serving East Renfrewshire councillor Barbara Grant and Dundee City Council leader Ken Guild, who has been a driving force behind the city’s ambitious waterfront development.

The OIOF campaign was launched during the summer with calls for greater local control of the seabed, fisheries management and external transport amongst other things after next September’s independence referendum.

The Scottish government has responded to the campaign by setting up a ministerial working group under local government minister Derek Mackay to examine a way forward on the various issues.

Last month the council leaders led a delegation to meet civil servants at Westminster after new Scottish secretary Alistair Carmichael, MP for the northern isles, pledged to advance the islands’ interests.

Orkney, which has taken something of a lead amongst the three authorities on the issue, hosted a conference on extending island powers in September.

Shetland Islands Council convener Malcolm Bell said the nomination was a huge boost to the campaign as a whole and would increase wider awareness of the project.

“It’s clear that the government in both Edinburgh and London are taking notice and that’s to the credit of those involved, so I think it is very appropriate that they have been nominated,” he said.

The awards will be presented at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh on November 14.