A fantasy proposal?
In February, during the Holyrood election, I was roundly scolded and called all kinds of unpleasant names by Hannah Mary Goodlad’s supporters for dismissing her pledge to “push for a Shetland Energy Act” as fantasy (SN, 5/2/26, “Is Ms Goodlad’s pledge credible?”).
I wrote: “Given the SNP’s 19 year record of relentless centralisation and their plans for vast expansion of renewables, the likelihood of them handing planning control to Scottish councils, or, even to Shetland, alone, is vanishingly remote.
“So, is Ms Goodlad’s pledge credible or just the latest piece of SNP election gaslighting? Alas, if it ever reaches Holyrood, it will be pronounced dead on arrival.”
OK. So, how is her pledge progressing with her ministerial “seat at the table”?
The answer came in a parliamentary reply from SNP energy minister Stephen Gethins who confirmed the SNP have “no plans” to introduce a Shetland Energy Act (SN, 30/10/26, “Broken energy system holding Scotland back, MSP says”).
Well, well. It seems Ms Goodlad’s fantasy proposal was, indeed, declared “dead on arrival” at Holyrood.
John Tulloch
Aberdeen
