‘Broken energy system’ holding Scotland back, MSP says
Hannah Mary Goodlad says UK Government should devolve energy to Holyrood
SHETLAND’S MSP says she is still committed to making her Shetland Energy Act a reality – but says Westminster is severely limiting what Scotland can do.
Hannah Mary Goodlad said Shetland was being held back by a “broken energy system” which has socialised energy costs and privatised their profits.
The SNP politician added that she was “committed to changing that”.
Photo: Scottish Government
Goodlad was responding to Shetland News after energy minister Stephen Gethins said in a parliamentary answer there were “no plans” to introduce a Shetland Energy Act at Holyrood.
Gethins added that this was because energy matters were largely reserved to the UK Government in Westminster.
Goodlad made the Shetland Energy Act a key part of her campaign when she launched her manifesto in March.
She said she would look to deliver lower energy bills, local planning control and a minimum 20 per cent community stake community in future energy developments.
Gethins’ quotes were used by The Telegraph to accuse Goodlad of “selling out” voters over her Shetland Energy Act plans this week.
Tory MSP Tim Eagle, who asked the question about the act in Holyrood, was quoted as saying Gethins’ remarks were a “humiliating putdown for one of the SNP’s rising stars”.
But Goodlad said she remained committed to the Shetland Energy Act, and said the UK Government’s control over energy matters was holding Scotland back.
“There are three main goals of the proposed Shetland Energy Act: local ownership, control, and price,” she told Shetland News.
“I am actively working on all three to improve the lives of islanders.
“I never said that this would be easy, and I never said this would be delivered within a few months of being elected.
Help keep Shetland’s news open to everyone
Good local journalism takes time, care and people on the ground. Membership helps us keep reporting the stories that matter to Shetland — and keep them free for everyone to read. Members get a weekly newsletter created especially for them, local ads only, and can bookmark stories and join the conversation in the comments.
Already a member? Sign in.
“Today, energy is reserved to Westminster. I have consistently been open in my communications that devolving energy to the Scottish Government would give Scotland the power to shape its own energy future by turning these aims into reality.
“Today, we are severely limited in what we can achieve without the consent from Westminster.”
Goodlad, who was elected as Shetland’s first ever SNP MSP in May, said it was not how these key aims were achieved that was the issue.
“Instead it is the urgent need to end fuel poverty in a place that is awash with energy projects and produces more energy than it can consume,” she said.
“The scandal of energy bills costing less at the other end of the UK, compared with those customers in Shetland who look out every day on the largest wind farm in Europe, is an injustice that must be addressed urgently – regardless of the way in which this is achieved.”
The MSP has come under increasing scrutiny from the national media since her election in May, and her appointment as Scotland’s public finance minister.
She was forced to defend her decision to recruit an artist for a temporary role earlier this month after the story was used on the front of the Scottish Daily Mail.
The newspaper accused Goodlad of hiring a “personal artist” paid by the taxpayer, which drew criticism from other national outlets.
Responding to criticism, the MSP said she has “always done things differently – I’m in politics to do things differently”.
“I want to make politics accessible to all, especially those who have felt in the past that politics is not for them,” she added.
Keep Shetland’s news open to everyone
Your membership helps us report the stories that matter to Shetland — and keep them free for everyone to read.
Already a member? Sign in.
