Islands referenda
I saw Neil Riddell’s article in ShetNews on the “fruitful” talks in Whitehall (‘Fruitful’ talks on further powers for islands; SN, 08/04/14).
I’m not sure whether Alistair Carmichael was misquoted (I’ve contacted him and asked), but he is quoted as saying in respect of the islands referenda and the independence option that the Faroe Islands “have never gone that far.”
That statement is mistaken. In 1946, the Faroe Islands held a referendum on independence. The result was in favour. The islands then declared independence. Days later, the King of Denmark annulled the declaration and dissolved the Faroese Parliament (Løgting), upon which there was a general election. The eventual result? They got home rule two years later.
Nonetheless, we welcome Alistair’s bringing Faroe into the debate. Another reason they are worth mentioning is that they benefit from the international recognition of Danish mineral rights in (and in some areas outwith) a 200-mile maritime zone around the islands.
Contrary to the propaganda that is currently flying about (sometimes ‘sourced’ to an article in an international law journal which does not support it at all), if Shetland either goes independent or remains in the UK an independent Scotland will lose most of its oil.
In short, the fields to the east of Shetland will belong to whichever country Shetland is in.
We actually sense a growing recognition of that fact in both Edinburgh and London.
The other matter is that Alistair has said that he thinks a week between the Scottish referendum and the islands referenda will be too short a time. He may well have a valid argument there, and it is certainly good that he raises this issue.
We should all bear in mind that the discussion of the options will begin as soon as Alex Salmond declares that he will hold the islands referenda.
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Of course, nobody wishes the islands referenda to pre-empt the Scottish vote, which could of course go either way – albeit not if one only counts votes cast in the islands.
So they should not be held before the Scottish vote. They cannot be held simultaneously either, because of a section 30 order forbidding the asking of other referendum questions on the same day. So the only serious option is after 18 September 2014.
On a practical level, if the status of any parts of what is now the UK is going to change, it will be better for everyone if all changes occur at the same time. Therefore the date of the islands referenda should be well before March 2016.
More importantly than whether the referenda will be held on 25 September or on some other date is the need to announce well before September 2014 that they will be held.
We expect the announcement to be made by June at the latest.
Before that time, we would certainly welcome a public discussion, which does not need to be protracted, of what date will be best for the islands referenda.
Catriona Murray
Referenda On The Islands
PS: We have meanwhile spoken to Alistair Carmichael who confirmed that he was not misquoted – Shetland News
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