Lerwick hosts vote count

THE COUNT of votes cast in the forthcoming general election will take place in Shetland for the first time ever.

In a break with tradition, returning officers in Orkney and Shetland have decided to move the count from Kirkwall to Lerwick.

Returning officer Alastair Buchan said the time was right to refresh the process and ensure wider accountability across the northern isles constituency.

In the past votes cast in Shetland were always flown to Kirkwall for counting, but in May the ballot boxes from Orkney will be flown to Shetland and are expected to arrive in Lerwick at 1am.

“It also allows election agents and invited guests in Shetland the opportunity to view the process, which they were perhaps unable to do so before, due to the cost and time involved in travelling to Orkney,” Buchan said.

The election takes place on 7 May with the final declaration for the northern isles expected at 4am.

So far, only the Liberal Democrats have named their candidate, sitting MP and Scottish secretary Alistair Carmichael.

Prospective candidate announcements from Labour, the SNP and Tories are expected over coming weeks.

The Greens have already declared that they would not contest the seat.