Politics / ‘Intensifying discussions’ over greater island autonomy, first minister says
First minister John Swinney has arrived in Shetland for a two-day visit
FIRST minister John Swinney has said discussions about the Scottish Government giving Shetland Islands Council greater autonomy have “intensified”.
He was speaking to Shetland News at the start of a two-day trip to Shetland, and ahead of a visit to the community-led Garth windfarm in Yell today (Wednesday).
Swinney said there was a “fundamental injustice” between Shetlanders paying among the UK’s highest energy bills while hosting large-scale developments like the Viking wind farm.
The first minister also said pilot work was ongoing to find out whether a suggestion from SNP candidate Hannah Mary Goodlad – who is accompanying Swinney on his visit – that a local quota of cabins could be set aside for islanders on NorthLink ferries at peak times would work.
He called it a “very good idea” and praised Goodlad’s vision for Shetland if she is elected as MSP.
Swinney also said the Scottish Government is continuing to back Shetland Islands Council’s exploration of potential fixed links, saying they would support them financially whether tunnels or new inter-island ferries were needed.
And he said the SNP government was working with Shetland, Orkney and Western Isles councils about giving them greater autonomy to make decisions relating to their local areas.
Swinney is on a two-day visit to Shetland, and his itinerary includes visits to a nursery, Lerwick Port Authority, UHI Scalloway and a local crofting business.
He is also due to take part in a public discussion event at the museum in Lerwick tonight (Wednesday) which is being hosted by SNP candidate Goodlad.
Speaking to Shetland News at Toft ferry terminal on Wednesday morning, Swinney said he wanted to give Shetland Islands Council “much greater power” to be able to “determine the issues that matter to the people of Shetland”.
He said he wanted to ensure there was “much more scope within Shetland to determine the priorities of the people of Shetland”.
“I’m a believer in decentralisation so that should be reflected in our structures in government,” Swinney said.
“There’s so many advantages of designing public services based on the locality needs of Shetland.”
He added the Scottish Government wanted to enable Shetland’s community to “determine more and more of its own choices and future”, calling a strengthening of power for the SIC “absolutely critical” to that.
Political candidate Goodlad said that autonomy and independence were “two sides of the same coin”, and it was up to Shetland to go out and seize it.
“We really shouldn’t wait for autonomy to come to Shetland, we should be asking for what we want and being very, very clear about what it is we want,” she said.
“That’s on us – no-one’s going to give this on a plate and say ‘here’s the autonomy that you want’.
“We need to be confident and very clear on what it is that we want.”
The first minister called tunnels a “really exciting opportunity” for the isles, and said discussions with the SIC are continuing about its fixed links ambitions.
However, with tunnels not expected to be in place until 2032 at the very earliest, Shetland’s reliance on its aging inter-island ferry fleet will likely have to continue much longer.
Swinney said that while tunnels would provide a “level of sustainability and improved connectivity”, the Scottish Government would back the SIC if replacement ferries are needed.
“There’s active development work underway with the SIC on ferry replacements,” he said.
“Judgement has to be made about what the appropriate path to take is, and this will be a route-by-route proposition.
“Whether it’s ferries or tunnels, the government will be supportive.”
Swinney and Goodlad were themselves taking a ferry immediately after the interview, and were headed to Yell for a tour of the Garth wind farm.
The five turbine development has become the by-word for a successful local renewable enterprise, delivering 4.5MW of energy, housing and a free lunch club among other community benefits to the people of Yell.
The first minister said he was keen to see a “tangible proposition” where renewable energy was developed and the people around it were the ones to benefit.
“An issue that is concerning me enormously is that communities in and around Scotland are generating huge amounts of renewable energy, but not nearly enough of that benefit is being shared by people,” he said.
“Energy costs here are among the highest in the UK, fuel poverty is among the highest in the UK.
“This community is generating a phenomenal amount of renewable energy. That’s a fundamental injustice.”
He added that was a product of the UK energy market, and called Garth a “really interesting model” which could be followed elsewhere.
Swinney said there was “not nearly enough of” wind farms in Scotland benefitting the people around them in such a positive way.
Goodlad has gained support in recent weeks for a suggestion that a quota of cabins should be set aside for locals on NorthLink ferries during the busy summer months.
She said the idea came to her after three trips on the ferries recently, in which she had to sleep on the floor every time, and noticed that most of the people doing likewise were Shetlanders.
Speaking about her early campaign trail, Goodlad said the subject of ferries had “come up again and again”.
“It’s an idea right now, but we’ve explored it and we’re looking into the practicalities of it,” she said.
“It’s something that isn’t unique, it happens in Sweden, was trialled in Norway, France is looking into it.
“Fundamentally the simple principle is this is not a luxury cruise. We have to get down to Aberdeen then work the next day sometimes, or take a long journey and drive.
“People need horizontal sleep.”
The first minister confirmed there was “some pilot work being undertaken” on the proposal, and called it a “very good idea”.
“Clearly island communities depend phenomenally on the lifeline services that exist, and I think it’s only fair we consider how we make that as effective as service as possible,” he added.
He praised Goodlad, calling her a “strong advocate” to make points pertinent to Shetland.
She will lead a talk about Shetland’s future at the Shetland Museum tonight, with free tickets selling out quickly.
Goodlad said people often said there was “an apathy in politics”, but she said the event’s popularity showed that was not true.
“I think you just have to go on social media channels and see people have something to say,” she said.
“The talk sold out in 36 hours, so that shows there is an appetite and need for this kind of conversation.”
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