Shetland North by-election set to take place in January

A BY-ELECTION in the Shetland North council ward is scheduled to take place in January following the resignation of elected member Tom Morton.

Shetland Islands Council said returning officer Jan Riise has identified the most suitable date for the by-election as Thursday 23 January, taking account of the statutory rules for local government by-elections.

The counting of votes would take place on the following day (24 January).

However, this only if there are enough nominations to allow the vacancy to be contested.

A formal notice calling for nominations will be made in the coming weeks.

Morton announced on Thursday that he would be standing down from his Shetland North councillor role as of 31 October.

The Labour councillor said he was “unable to commit the necessary time and energy due to other professional and personal commitments”.

Morton, who has a background in journalism and broadcasting, was elected in Shetland North in the last council elections in 2022.

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During those 2022 elections only three candidates went for for Shetland North’s three seats, meaning voters in the ward did not have a chance to go to the ballot box.

Also during the 2022 elections only two candidates put themselves forward for the three North Isles seats – meaning a by-election had to be carried out to fill the remaining place.