Letters / Embracing Green policies pushes politics forward
The letter Vote for Alex, get Emma (Shetland News, 23 January 2026) claims that voting for the Scottish Green Party candidate is a “wasted vote” and will only hand victory to the Liberal Democrats.
That argument isn’t just defeatist; it fundamentally misunderstands the role of political representation in driving real change.
If we care about securing genuine green policies, merely backing the most electable candidate is not the same as backing the candidate most committed to delivering them.
The Scottish Greens have a defined platform centred on confronting corporate power, prioritising climate action, protecting communities, and accelerating the transition to sustainable energy.
In Shetland, candidate Alex Armitage has campaigned on these issues, from energy justice to democratic control over our resources, not as slogans but as core policies.
Other major parties, while paying lip service to environmental aims have repeatedly failed to match rhetoric with robust delivery.
Only a party that makes ecological and social justice central to its platform will consistently push for strong green policies.
If the question is ‘How do we get green policies implemented?’ the answer can’t be vote for a party that sometimes votes for them, it must be vote for the party that makes them non-negotiable.
Voting Green isn’t about casting a symbolic ballot, it’s about sending a clear message that what matters is the wellbeing of Shetland folk and the continuing health of our planet.
Dismissing Green votes as “wasted” reinforces the status quo; embracing them pushes politics forward.
If you want to see Green polices implemented the way to ensure this is to vote Green both in the constituency and especially on the regional list.
Zara Pennington
Shetland Greens
