Shetlanders push for independence from Scotland
Islands’ council votes in favour of ‘exploring options’ for achieving ‘financial and political self-determination’
Local councillors on the Shetland Islands have backed a motion to explore the prospect of independence from Scotland by 18 votes to two.
The next step in what The Times describes as the “drive towards autonomy” will see the Shetland Islands Council explore options for “achieving financial and political self-determination” from Holyrood and Westminster.
The vote was prompted by frustration over how “decision-making has become increasingly centralised and public funding for the islands has been cut under the SNP government”, says The Scotsman.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The motion, signed by council leader Steven Coutts, states: “We are concerned that this ongoing situation is seriously threatening the prosperity and even basic sustainability of Shetland as a community.”
The UK’s northernmost archipelago has long had a fractious relationship with Edinburgh. With enormous oil reserves and a population of just 23,000, the islands have the “ingredients to become an economic powerhouse”, The Times suggests.
Yet many Shetlanders live in poverty and have been hostile to Scottish independence owing to their resentment of Holyrood’s governance.
The islands voted in favour of remaining in the UK in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, during which Scotland’s then first minister Alex Salmond pledged to use the Shetlands’ large oil reserves to help his country prosper economically.
The passing of the motion by islanders this week “was a mandate for exploring options rather than for any specific action, a point reiterated by many of the councillors present both in the chamber and remotely”, says The Shetland Times.
But the result leaves Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon “the dilemma of how to keep her country together while fighting to split the UK apart”, adds the Daily Mail.
As the paper notes, if the Shetlands were to shake off Holyrood’s rule, “they would keep the revenues from oil in their waters - dealing a blow to the finances of a would-be independent Scotland”.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Georgia's new foreign influence bill
Under the Radar Critics claim the 'Russian law' could stifle dissent and wreck the country's chances of joining the EU
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
'Making a police state out of the liberal university'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
8 looming climate tipping points that imperil our planet
The Explainer New reports detail the thresholds we may be close to crossing
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
John Swinney: the SNP's ultimate 'safe pair of hands'
Why Everyone's Talking About Former leader described as a 'serious person for serious times' is front runner to replace Humza Yousaf
By The Week UK Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published