Viewpoint / ‘Redefining the map. No longer in a box’
In this short ViewPoint contribution, SNP parliamentary candidate for the Shetland constituency seat, Hannah Mary Goodlad, argues that the national SNP manifesto, published earlier in the week, contains some strong commitments for Shetland
There are some significant wins for Shetland in this national manifesto.
We have spent the past year in ‘listening mode’, speaking with hundreds of people across Shetland. Our local manifesto is rooted in those conversations and reflects the priorities of our community.
I’m particularly proud that a number of Shetland-led ideas on food pricing, digital resilience, island housing, culture and energy – have helped shape the national manifesto. This is what leadership from 60 degrees north looks like.
The pledge to undertake a feasibility study for a second subsea cable is a direct response to the cross-party campaign following last year’s outage.
It’s encouraging to see a community-led effort deliver results, but we must move quickly from feasibility to delivery.
A price ceiling on essential food items will be welcomed by many in Shetland facing daily cost-of-living pressures.
Likewise, support of up to £10,000 to help first-time buyers with a deposit could be transformative for local people trying to get on the housing ladder.
I would also like to explore how we use our reserve funds to match this national commitment to support our young folk. I look forward to working with the SIC and SCT together with this conversation.
We must secure a commitment to fund tunnels. We’ve talked about this for far too long it’s now time to turn tunnel vision into tunnel reality.
Shetland needs an MSP with a seat at the table to ensure these commitments are delivered, with island needs front and centre in Holyrood.
If you place your trust in me and elect me as your MSP on 7 May, that will be my absolute priority.
The candidates standing in May’s election are, in alphabetical order: Alex Armitage (Greens), Douglas Barnett (Conservatives), Vic Currie (Reform), John Erskine (Labour), Hannah Mary Goodlad (SNP), Emma Macdonald (Liberal Democrats), Brian Nugent (Alliance to Liberate Scotland) and Peter Tait (independent).
Find out more about them via the link below:
