Letters / It’s a straight choice in Shetland
I expect most of folk will have now seen the LibDem candidate’s CV for the Shetland seat at next year’s Holyrood elections. This continues the rush of recent activity from the Lib Dems; more LD activity in the last few months than in the last few years.
While some of Emma Macdonald’s proclaimed headlines and facts are questionable, I do agree that in Emma’s words, “it’s a straight choice in Shetland”. Emma Macdonald for the LibDems, or the SNP’s Hannah Mary Goodlad. Who then is the best choice, who is most likely to advance Shetland after the 2026 elections?
Earlier this year, Hannah Mary quit her role in renewables with the Norwegian energy company Equinor and returned home to Shetland. This move alone demonstrates an ambition and a level of commitment above that of Emma’s who seems to be tagging her Holyrood efforts onto her day job at SIC.
And even in these early days as an MSP candidate, Hannah Mary has already generated considerable (positive) debate in the run-up to the May 2026 election.
Today’s politicians have to be pretty feisty if they are going to survive. If they are going to have an impact and actually influence decisions within the Scottish Government – and provide real change for Shetland – they have to be quite exceptional.
This requires the sort of skillset that might be acquired over a decade working in a variety of posts across the energy sector. Certainly, early social media postings from Hannah Mary demonstrate a vigour, passion and awareness that will be a challenge to all the other 2026 Shetland candidates.
Our politicians are expected to be fleet-of-foot, all day every day, on alert for the latest crisis or media attack. Having watched Hannah Mary eloquently facilitate a packed lecture theatre at the Shetland museum in August, with the First Minister and guests, I have no doubt she will handle herself in a verbal street brawl.
This has to be contrasted with Emma’s (alleged) reluctance to – so far anyway – debate one-on-one with Hannah Mary.
So, thank goodness Emma’s leaflet has pointed out the straight choice we have in Shetland!
Gary Horne
Levenwick
