Autonomy reaps medals

Congratulations to Shetland’s sportspeople on their outstanding success in the 2015 Inter Island Games (IIG) in Jersey, last week.

The advances made since Shetland’s four bronze medals in the inaugural 1985 IIG in the Isle of Man are impressive and reflect great credit, not only on the participants, but also on those who organise the sports in Shetland and the SIC who, in this area, have excelled.

Oil money has helped, too, however an era of allegedly unavoidable spending cuts is now in full swing and perceived “luxuries” like sporting facilities are under threat of closure due to the charitable trust’s urgent need to reduce spending to “sustainable” levels.

To those who are aware that Shetland overpays taxes versus funding received back by £80 million a year – without counting oil billions – this will be baffling. How can it be so?

Westminster collects all taxes and returns money to Holyrood via the so-called “Barnett Formula” which Holyrood then distributes via arrangements set up with Scottish councils.

Shetland is particularly poorly-served by this arrangement, which has led directly to the funding deficit versus tax paid by islanders.

The SIC has tried, without success, to squeeze more money out of Holyrood – they won’t budge, they think Shetland has too much money and they want some or all of it.

The only other way is to obtain self-governing status like Faroe or the Isle of Man. That would result in the immediate, automatic retention of, at least, the £80m/annum, plus hefty sums from the oil/gas and re-stimulated fishing industries.

Results from this will include more investment in sport and facilities and cheaper travel to the mainland, both essential for local sportspeople, with the added benefit of being able to represent Shetland in major events like the Commonwealth Games, instead of getting there by “fiddler’s bid”, guiding spectators to their seats.

A scan of the 2015 IIG medals table reveals that the top islands were Jersey, Isle of Man, Faroe and Guernsey and this is no accident. They are all autonomous, self-governing islands with Crown Dependency, or similar, status.

John Tulloch
Lyndon
Arrochar