Letters / A Trojan horse in Shetland’s political power structure
Hannah Mary Goodlad’s manifesto is exactly what’s needed – for her election campaign! A utopian mirage to mask the 19-year desert of SNP centralisation and failure.
Interesting that no previous candidate has ever released their own election manifesto? Normally, party rules prevent candidates from ‘declaring UDI’ and making unrealistic pledges against official policy?
Interesting, too, that she endorses SNP nemesis Alistair Carmichael MP: “(…) it is a great combination having (…) seasoned critic Alistair Carmichael at Westminster and (…) I representing Shetland at Holyrood.”
You couldn’t make it up. Imagine a Lib Dems candidate pledging to leave the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and restore the death penalty, while endorsing John Swinney!
If Ms Goodlad was standing for Wir Shetland, I would happily support her. It’s their policies she is advocating.
Sadly, the SNP will never devolve meaningful local powers to Shetland. In particular, a “Shetland Energy Act” to frustrate their cherished vision of a sixfold expansion of renewable energy.
SNP rules state (4.2) that members must:(b) “Endorse the Aims of the Party” and (c) “Abide by the Policy and Direction of the Party.”
Why, then, is she allowed to publish her own manifesto, in conflict with established policy?
Simple. The SNP is desperate to win Shetland and will stop at nothing. They aim to install a Trojan horse in Shetland’s political power structure, to undermine and eventually replace Lib Dem representation at Westminster.
Representation that will be indispensable for ‘real’ negotiations with Westminster on Shetland self-governance, should a second Scottish independence referendum occur with Scotland voting Yes and Shetland voting No.
SNP representation would block any such negotiations. There’s the rub!
Shetland voters are not fools and will not be taken in by this glitzy charade.
John Tulloch
Aberdeen
SNP candidate Hannah Mary Goodlad launches manifesto during town hall event
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