Windwalker

You could say that but you would be wrong. And I likely agree with you on that as I voted remain, but I was making the point that those that voted leave are no more to blame. Parliament dragged the people into this situation and in my opinion it backed fired on them as the vote didn’t go as they expected. Some people voted with their heads, other with their hearts based on the information, including many truths and lies, put to them at the time. Three years later we are where we are with the constant political bickering which is causing this country greatly. As far as I’m concerned no voter is to blame, but if you have to apportion blame for the current situation I would lay thus at the doors of some if our politicians.

they won’t budge, because they had the upper hand in the negotiations from the start, and they see no reason to offer anything better, due to the way the uk have handled the negotiations. The UK has made a backside if this since Cameron first went to the EU looking for some changes, the EU refused and before we knew it our future membership of the EU was at the ballot box. Since then our government had continued to handle this badly, be it the Moggs, Johnson, May, Corbyn, Sturgeon and many more. People were asked to vote, based on the information at the time. To lay the blame at the doors of those who chose leave is unfair.

The “collateral damage” isn’t as a result of people voting to leave, it parliaments inability to agree a deal with the EU. I think if anyone is to blame, it’s our incompetent MPs who after 3 years could not get a deal agreed. The time and effort they have spent arguing with each other rather than with the EU has got us where we are. Of course you could also say that it’s the remainers fault as they have done their best to try and stop the will of the people at every turn.

Aye, but sturgeon’s determination to have independence regardless of the majority being against it doesn’t.

The reason I wouldn’t have understood it is quite simple. The government sent out a leaflet to every home prior to the vote, headed “a once in a generation decision” and whilst they recommended that we should remain in the EU, it clearly stated “ the referendum is your chance to decide whether we should remain in or leave the European Union. The leaflet went on to say the following: “This is your decision. The government will implement what you decide”. That seems pretty clear to me. No where in this leaflet did it state your vote will only be advisory. I would think that most people reading this leaflet would assume the outcome of the vote would be carried out. As a person who voted to remain, I was disappointed with the result, but as I believe in democracy, I accept the result. I understood and had access to exactly the same information you had access to. Anyway circumstances have moved beyond this now. I suppose if you keep saying it folk might start to believe it, but the reality as nothing came through people’s doors even from the remainers saying it would only be advisory. This was not clear at the time of voting.

Incorrect Sturgeon is acting in a democratic way. SNP had in their manifesto the commitment to hold a second referendum if circumstances drastically changed ie Brexit. Since they were voted in on that manifesto that is democracy in action. Her offer to May to take independence of the table if there was a separate arrangement for Scotland to me was a fair one. And to heck with the decision of the people

If things are bad now, god help us if Jeremy Corbin ever takes the reigns

The reason I wouldn’t have understood it is quite simple. The government sent out a leaflet to every home prior to the vote, headed “a once in a generation decision” and whilst they recommended that we should remain in the EU, it clearly stated “ the referendum is your chance to decide whether we should remain in or leave the European Union. The leaflet went on to say the following: “This is your decision. The government will implement what you decide”. That seems pretty clear to me. No where in this leaflet did it state your vote will only be advisory. I would think that most people reading this leaflet would assume the outcome of the vote would be carried out. As a person who voted to remain, I was disappointed with the result, but as I believe in democracy, I accept the result.

Sorry if you didn't understand it but it was always advisory. No he hasn't been keeping me personally updated but obviously he has been in contact with you on a regular basis. No, but I don’t claim to know exactly what he doing. It’s not a case of not understanding, it’s a case of it wasn’t publicised to the voters. But it makes a good argument for the remainers

The issue is none of them are acting in a democratic way, whether it be Westminster with Brexit or sturgeon with the independence vote. They all have their own agenda and are sticking two fingers up at democracy.

No it wasn’t made clear, no one I’ve spoken too thought for one minute that the vote was advisory. When asked to vote I very much doubt if many people searched the internet to find out if it was a normal vote or advisory. Nor did it suggest anything on the voting paper. Most people with busy lives believes their vote counts and the outcome of the election would be enforced. As for Boris not doing anything, well I’m sure he hasn’t been keeping you personally up to date with the work he and no doubt his team are doing, the plans they are making and the results they aim for. At least he is trying something, and I would rather see that then the shambles we’ve had over the last 3 years. By threatening to leave on the 31 October he was starting to rattle the EU which is a lot more than what’s happened over the past 3 years. I’m no lover of Boris, but I think he is likely the best person to bring this to a head, one way or another, so this country can move on. Of course the remainers will continue to play games at the expense of democracy.

No we just have to accept that a referendum is advisory unless it specifically says so in the legislation. The only progress that an election would bring is that a no deal Brexit would happen on the sly. Lot of rubbish, the vote was either we stay or leave. That’s what the folk thought they were voting for, no where did it say it was just advisory. If they had made that clear at the time, I for one wouldn’t have bothered. The idea of removing the no deal option must be making the EU negotiators fall about laughing, thinking all their Christmas’s have come at once. What a bunch of useless self serving, overpaid idiots some if our elected members are I think Boris, had he not had his hands tied, may have got a better deal, but whilst I voted to remain in the “advisory” vote, I am now in the view of let’s get out if this shambles now.

Not sure why you would say it was great to see them despite accepting it could be a bit intimidating for some voters. This over the top approach by the SNP, with lamp post posters, flying in all the top brass, bringing in the foot soldiers, folk at doors of polling stations leaflets after leaflet, over planning etc etc, likely ended up having a negative effect. I think the SNP let Tom down by their over the top approach. This push it down your throat approach might work in Edinburgh, but it’s not the way we’re used to it up here. The top brass in their desperation to win the seat, took over his campaign and I think that lost him votes.

Yep but it is the democratic system and the outcome, regardless of how the remoaners try to dress it up.

Whilst I’m not sure Boris should have taken this action, I wonder if parliament needs some kick up the backside to get on with Brexit. The opposition and Labour in particular have been trying to get him out, suggesting votes of no confidence etc, with Corbin thinking he can take over, hows that democracy, the people didn’t vote either him or labour into power. In my opinion British politics is in such a mess, we need to get on with Brexit and leave on the 31 Oct with or without a deal, otherwise we will be still in the same position in years to come. And I voted remain and don’t vote conservative. I’m of the opinion that if the uk would stick together the eu would give us the deal we need. At the moment they just have to sit back and let our parties destroy any prospects of an acceptable deal by their bickering with each other. I’m sick to the back teeth of politics both in Westminster and Hollyrood. A large number of them are hypocrites. Nicola Sturgeon is on her soapbox, stating that democracy is dead, someone should tell her she killed off democracy the day she decided to blatantly ignore the outcome of the Scottish Independence referendum. Do they have no sense of decency. I’ve had to switch the news off this morning as I can no longer listen to the crap coming out of the mouths of some of these politicians. What a bunch of greeting bairns. Ffs. Rant over, normal service will resume shortly

The issue for me is whether any of it is genuine or is it all about timing, and a clear determination to win by whatever means they can throw at it. You get the feeling they are following a prepared script and timetable, no doubt been planned out by the advisers in Edinburgh. I would have liked to see a campaign run by Tom himself with some support from his party, not one run by his party, with some support from him. They have hijacked ‘his’ campaign. It’s a shame as I do believe Tom’s desire to represent Shetland well, are genuine, but if elected, I think he’ll find his ability to work on Shetlands behalf will depend on whether this fits the party line.

Agree with most o yon Davie, but a cynic might think it’s more about trying to get the youngsters votes. But hae ho dats politics

There’s nothing so blind as those who cannot see. Why do you think half the Scottish government is here ? Is it to say ‘sorry we promised you full funding for your internal ferries at the last poll and forgot to live up to that promise’, no it’s lets offer free foot passengers on our ferries, a token gesture, in fact they are not even promising it, they are only promising to look at it. Let’s be honest, to make their candidate look good they will likely end up offering to give the council a few extra thousand to pay for this, but rest assured they will ‘yet again’ hit us with the hardest cuts in our annual settlement, but argue they met their promises. They have proved that their hollow promises cannot be trusted and have no interest in Shetland other than they need us desperately for their independence desires. Something which most sensible people can see through and know is totally unaffordable.

It would be interesting to see a definition of "Democracy." government by the people especially : rule of the majority. b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.

Ha ha, they must think the Shetland folk are stupid, this us all so orchestrated it’s unbelievable. Their backhanded tactics will eventually backfire on them.

I’m not sure there is any smear campaign against Tom Wills, he’s a local man with good intentions, I for one would rather see a local person elected, rather than someone from the mainland, who won’t know the ways of the isles. I think the issues lie with how his party has taken over his campaign which is not doing him any favours. This extremely over the top, in your face approach is not the Shetland way.

Nah, I think it’s just the way the SNP operate and the people, as you put it, are seeing through them. Their interest in Shetland will fade very quickly as soon as the election is over, regardless of who wins.

I think youve mixed up two separate issues. Everyone accepts that political parties and individuals will make statements about what they can offer and what they hope to achieve, this helps us decide who we might vote for. This is a completely different issue from the SNPs backhand attempts to basically say, you won’t get anything unless you vote our man in. Most of the SNP top dogs have suggested this and in my opinion that’s where the threats and blackmail lie. Policies are one thing but their vail attempts to persuade us that things can only get better if we vote in Wills is completely unacceptable.Not mixed up at all, it's the same issue not seperate ones, Tom Wills issued a list of policies for Shetland he said he would work hard to try and get implemented if elected. If he's rejected at the polls then he reverts to being a normal citizen like you or me, he can hardly try and get his plans implemented in Holyrood if he's back working with windmills in the North Sea. Not blackmail just the way the world works.What are the SNP supposed to say, would it go something like this?... The best chance the people of Shetland have of getting Tom Wills ambitious plans implemented is to reject him and our party at the polls and vote for one of his opponents I have no problem with Tom Wills laying out his list of policies, this is what I would expect him to do, he’s been clear in what he hopes to achieve. The problem lies with the visiting dignitaries from the SNP party who are making statements which basically say the only way we will get listened to is if we vote in their candidate. We seem to be at odds with this, so we will just have to agree to disagree.

Take the blinkers off and read the news items, it’s staring you in the face. They’ve been brought up for it. Perhaps if I mentioned Westminster you’d agree I’ve not seen anything similar from the other parties, but of course they are not in power in Scotland.