Council / SIC leadership defends attending SNP conference
COUNCIL leader Emma Macdonald has defended attending the SNP conference over the weekend – saying “I will always do whatever is needed to make sure I speak up for Shetland”.
There appears to be grumbles among some councillors regarding Macdonald and depute leader Gary Robinson attending the conference in Aberdeen alongside SIC chief executive Maggie Sandison, particularly over the cost to the “public purse”.
The annual conference took place from Saturday to Monday, with the SNP’s 2026 election candidate for Shetland Hannah Mary Goodlad having a motion passed on the topic of cabins and fares on the Northern Isles ferry service.
Goodlad will be going up against Macdonald, who is representing the Liberal Democrats, in the race for the Shetland seat next year.
Macdonald, an independent councillor, said she was attending the SNP conference to make sure Shetland’s “voice is heard”.
The council had a stall which touched on topics such as future development in Shetland and transport.
Shetland Islands Council appeared to be the only local authority which had a stall at the conference.
Macdonald said she felt it is about “ensuring value for money”.
“For a small investment in attending the conference for the three days we can speak directly to decision makers whose choices directly affect us,” she said.
“If we don’t make Shetland’s case we risk being overlooked and forgotten about. Having people in one place makes it a good way to maximise our time and the cost.”
Macdonald said as council leader she has worked “really hard” to ensure the SIC has good engagement with the Scottish Government, highlighting results such as fully funded ferry services and a £10 million capital grant for inter-island transport connectivity.
“For me that makes it all worthwhile,” she said.
Macdonald said it was the third time the SIC has attended the conference, while the council was also represented at the Labour conference in February.
Depute leader Gary Robinson, who is also an independent councillor, said party conferences offer a “unique opportunity” to discuss matters of importance to Shetland with ministers, senior politicians and decision makers.
“Having a stall at such events means that we can raise the profile of issues like tunnels, connectivity and housing with a wide range of attendees,” he said.
“A host of other organisations attend these events including businesses, NGOs, charities, academia, and trade unions, so it’s often a good chance to engage with representatives of these too.
“Having a few people there helps us to continuously man our stall, attend pre-arranged meetings with cabinet secretaries and ministers, and senior politicians as well as attending relevant fringe events.”
He gave examples of SIC representatives attending talks and events on topics like the energy transition, child poverty, fishing and GB Energy, where Yell’s community-owned Garth wind farm was highlighted.
“I am firmly of the view that Shetland Islands Council must remain outward-looking and engaged so long as the solutions to so many of the islands’ challenges lie beyond our shores,” Robinson said.
One councillor who appears not to have been won over, however, is Shetland Central member Ian Scott.
“It’s difficult to see just what benefits the SIC will accrue due to its leadership – well, our elected leaders – visiting the SNP conference, or any conference for that matter,” the councillor said.
Scott quipped that it is “obviously a ‘sustainable’ expenditure which at least precludes” political communications firm Message Matters from attending on the SIC’s behalf.
“So, I am quietly assured that a Lib Dem candidate and a former Tory Party candidate [Gary Robinson at the 1999 Scottish Parliament elections] will have the attentive ear of John Swinney and his cronies,” Scott said.
“Networking, as this is politely called, yields many benefits I have been told, and is indispensable in the political theatre – although I feel that a visit to Reform UK‘s conference might have yielded greater, more aligned avenues of thought.”
Meanwhile Lerwick North and Bressay councillor Stephen Leask said he felt such trips should not be paid by the public purse.
“I am at a loss to understand why such a number – the leader, depute leader and the chief executive – have to go,” he said, adding that it is “pushing the envelope a bit far”.
Leask also claimed the “optics aren’t great” around the local Lib Dem candidate attending the SNP conference.
Only one other candidate is publicly confirmed for the Shetland 2026 Scottish Parliament election – John Erskine of Labour.
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