Who would have thought?
A well-crafted and passionate speech is always a joy, and many Shetlanders were impressed by Hannah Mary Goodlad’s performance at the SNP conference last October.
She captivated the conference audience and beyond with her argument that our lifeline ferry service is simply not good enough.
There were many who thought her speech would have no impact, and suggested that she is ‘all talk’, but there is no doubt that Hannah Mary has delivered ‘big style’ on ferry fares.
Shetlanders will no longer have to pay peak ferry rates during the summer months – a policy that will cost the Scottish Government almost £6 million over the next three years. And quite right too.
But the question jumps out at me; why have our council leader and our LibDem MSP not demanded this before?
It was of course not only her speech. Hannah Mary has worked hard in the last few months to persuade government ministers that this is an essential requirement for islanders.
I believe that Hannah Mary is determined to get a better deal for Shetland and, having made a great start, she will deliver so much more if Shetlanders elect her as our new MSP in May.
Chris Bain
Levenwick
