Election / SNP’s Hannah Mary Goodlad breaks Lib Dem hold on Shetland
Goodlad said the result marks a ‘massive cultural shift’ in Shetland
THE SNP seized a historical win in Shetland as Hannah Mary Goodlad was elected as the party’s first member of the Scottish Parliament in the isles.
She secured 5,453 votes – a 47 per cent share – to win the seat which has been held by the Liberal Democrats since the parliament opened in 1999.
Shetland has also been represented at the UK Parliament by the Liberals since 1950.
Lib Dem candidate Emma Macdonald, who is the independent leader of Shetland Islands Council, received 3,936 votes.
Speaking after the result was declared, Goodlad – who previously worked for energy company Equinor – told Shetland News that the electorate has given a “mandate for change”, adding that it was a “massive cultural shift”.
She said she has five years to meet her manifesto pledges, adding her first priority will be “getting my feet under the table and making a 100 day plan”.
Goodlad said it was also about “making sure that Shetland’s voice is heard, and Shetland gets that seat at the table”.
She said the SNP will be visible in Shetland and will have a local office with staff members.
“It’s a brand new chapter for Shetland,” she added.
Speaking after the result was declared Goodlad also described the result as a moment in history.
She paid tribute to previous SNP candidates in Shetland, including the late Danus Skene, Miriam Brett and Tom Wills.
Goodlad said it was “long and hard fought campaign” and praised the other candidates who contested the election.
She thanked the Liberal Democrats, who have “worked very hard” for Shetland over the years.
“And now the baton passes on,” Goodlad added. “And while the direction may change, the dedication to Shetland must never waver.
“I look forward to working constructively between Holyrood and Westminster because when we put our islands first, and Shetland first, cross party collaboration could actually achieve something very special for the place that we call home.”
Speaking after the declaration, Macdonald said she was disappointed to lose out.
“It’s a choice at the ballot box,” she added.
“There were lots of promises made and they need to make sure that those promise are delivered upon.”
Macdonald also said at the declaration that the Lib Dems will continue to be the “strongest voice” for local communities.
Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael, who has represented the Lib Dems at Westminster since 2001, said the party does not take votes for granted.
But he added: “The people have made their choice. And congratulations to Hannah Mary on that victory. She has promised a great deal…so the community will expect these promises to be honoured.”
Carmichael added that there will be lessons to be learned for his party from the result.
“This is a setback, it’s a disappointment,” he said. “But I don’t think it’s the end of the story.”
In third place was the Scottish Greens’ Alex Armitage (949 votes), followed by Reform UK’s Vic Currie (725 votes).
After that it was Scottish Labour’s John Erskine (169), the Conservatives’ Douglas Barnett (137), Alliance to Liberate Scotland’s Brian Nugent (65) and independent Peter Tait (50).
The turnout in the Shetland constituency was 64.16 per cent.
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