News / Local politicians of the year
THE THREE Scottish islands council leaders have scooped The Herald’s Local Politician of the Year award for their Our Islands, Our Future campaign.
Shetland’s Gary Robinson, Orkney’s Steven Heddle and Angus Campbell from the western isles had been nominated for their progress in negotiating greater powers for the islands following next year’s independence referendum.
Since its launch in June this year the campaign has made progress with both Scottish and Westminster governments, forming a ministerial working group at Holyrood and earning dedicated space at the Scottish Office following a successful conference in Kirkwall in September.
Speaking after the ceremony on his way back to Shetland on Friday morning, Robinson said they were all “absolutely delighted to come away with the award”, which was handed over at a ceremony at Edinburgh’s Prestonfield House the previous evening.
Heddle almost failed to make the occasion due to an important council meeting about ballast water regulations in Scapa Flow that day.
“It didn’t sound a very exciting meeting, but he felt it was important enough for him to stay for it,” Robinson said.
The Orkney leader had sent a cardboard cut out to stand in for his flesh and blood self at the ceremony, but managed to make it to the Edinburgh hotel just before the awards were announced and presented shortly after 10pm.
The three politicians paid tribute to the support they had received to run the campaign.
Heddle said: “This as much an award for the campaign as it is for the three islands council leaders.
“The fact that the three island groups are working together with such shared purpose and commitment has given the campaign its strength, and the fact that we’re co-operating so well is a legacy for the future in itself.”
Campbell added: “ I am delighted that the initiative of the three local authorities has been recognised through this award, which reflects the hard work done by everyone involved in the campaign.
“Through continued co-operation we can move forward with confidence that the work can bring real benefits to our island communities.”
The other shortlisted candidates for the local politician award were long serving East Renfrewshire councillor Barbara Grant and Dundee City Council leader Ken Guild.
Robinson said that comment had been made about how the Our Islands, Our Future campaign had taken three Scottish local authorities into the heart of the governments of Scotland and Westminster, and “really had the potential to deliver for our communities”.
He said they would soon be having the third meeting of the Scottish government ministerial group led by local government minister Derek Mackay, who had said “in many respects you are pushing on an open door”.
Meanwhile negotiations with the UK government had picked up since last month’s appointment of northern isles MP Alistair Carmichael as secretary of state for Scotland.
“We now have a dedicated desk at the Scotland Office and I think that is totally unprecedented,” Robinson said.
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