Where is the evidence?

Danus Skene (SNP name Skene as their candidate; SN 24/02/15) comes over as a decent, intelligent, public-spirited, kind of a fellow who would make an effective parliamentary candidate – just not for the SNP.

The problem I have is I’m unconvinced the views he expresses about Shetland’s status within Scotland have much resonance with his masters at Gordon Lamb House and Holyrood, or, for that matter, with his local party colleagues.

Indeed, the disparity between his and their views presents an obvious target for his opponents.

Mr Skene is on record in the Shetland News, calling for Shetland to be accorded self-governing status akin to that enjoyed by the Åland Islands in the Baltic and is quoted saying:

“I am motivated to do this (candidacy) because of the position the northern isles are in – the need to move decisions down, not just from London to Edinburgh, but Edinburgh to the islands.

“The SNP Scottish government takes extremely seriously the Our Islands, Our Future initiative. We need to get significant decision making powers back to the islands, and that is something I want to follow through.”

Aye. The SNP take OIOF seriously, alright, in the context of giving them as near to “damn all” as they can get away with.

The crumbs offered to OIOF, to date, are a far cry from Mr Skene’s vision of Åland Islands-style status for Shetland and nothing further is anticipated ahead of, or indeed, post, the election.

So, if the SNP is committed to rolling powers down to the isles, where is the evidence?

Furthermore, Mr Skene’s local party colleagues argued consistently – and uncompromisingly – throughout the referendum, that Shetland has no rights over “Scotland’s Oil”, even though a preponderance of it is located in what would, most likely, be the Shetland continental shelf, were Shetland to achieve Åland or Faroese-style status.

Cynics may, therefore, conclude the SNP’s appointment of Mr Skene is an attempt to provide a fig leaf to mask the less palatable truth that lies beneath.

John Tulloch
Lyndon
Arrochar