New independence party

The Our Islands, Our Future deal will be presented to the Shetland public as ‘fete accomplis’, doubtless, in the context of saving Shetland’s country schools.

For the benefit of any who doubt that, let’s consider MSP Mike MacKenzie’s persuasive argument against the SIC’s school closure proposals as reported by ST online at:

“In the next ten years there would be potentially 3,000 jobs available through renewable energy, Mr MacKenzie said.

As employment levels in the isles are high, “that implies 3,000 new people coming to Shetland, and their families,” said Mr MacKenzie .

“Even if half of that’s realised over the next decade that’s a big increase in population. …”

Mr MacKenzie would be unable credibly to use that argument to SIC unless both parties know that a very large capacity submarine cable is going to be installed to link Shetland to the UK mainland grid.

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Funny, that wasn’t mentioned at the Our Islands, Our Future (OIOF) public meeting at Mareel, last week?

I hope I’m wrong and we must wait to see what comes out of Alistair Carmichael’s ‘Concordat’ hat this month but it looks like OIOF has sold Shetlanders down the river, with the bitter irony; “bought and sold for English gold”, ringing in our ears.

Shetland urgently needs a new independence party and lobby group to call these folk to account.

John Tulloch
Lyndon
Arrochar