Wir Shetland member resigns over online Brexit spat

A PROMINENT member of autonomy campaign group Wir Shetland has resigned from its committee after using “inappropriate” language in an online debate about Brexit.

Vice-chairman Ali Inkster this week stepped down from his position after making a comment on a public post to the Wir Shetland Facebook page, which “could be considered personally insulting”.

The post, which discussed Wir Shetland’s decision to back the UK leaving the EU and its stance on the SNP, was deleted from the Facebook page due to the content of the comment.

In a statement the group said: “Wir Shetland would like to thank Ali Inkster for his sterling work for the group since its inception.

“Ali believes passionately in autonomy for Shetland and was instrumental in getting the group going.

“Ali recently got in to an online debate on a visitor post to the Wir Shetland Facebook page. During that debate he made a comment that could be considered personally insulting to one of the other commentators, he also used language that was inappropriate for use on the groups page.

“After reviewing the conversation in question Ali has decided that he should resign his position on the committee.”

It’s not the first time Wir Shetland has experienced trouble on Facebook, with councillor Amanda Westlake resigning from the group last year over treatment received from then chairman John Tulloch on the social networking website.

In its statement on Thursday Wir Shetland said one of the main reasons why it supports leaving the EU was to gain more control of fisheries policies.

In relation to the SNP, the group said the isles have been poorly by the Scottish Government quoting the “inequality” in ferry funding.