Windwalker

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.

Why does Shetland not go for an Isle of Man tax haven situation . Presumably if a majority of the people of Shetland voted for this than this could be done . The GDP last year of the Isle of man was 7.10 USD Billion .

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I've already covered the new high school, it was built using the "private finance initiative" or PFI. We, the taxpayers, will be paying for that for the next 30 years, and paying an exorbitant sum many times more than the building costs. Someone is getting big bucks out of this and it aint us. Alex Salmond loved the PFI. Enough said.

And incidentally Capeesh, my neighbour who has been teaching in Shetland for the past 30 years, is refusing to consider voting for the SNP after what they have done to education.

Those 'affordable homes', mostly built by Hjaltland, whose rents are appreciably higher than the SIC, and are at a level considered 'unaffordable' by those at or near the bottom of the pile. Fine for those on a moderate income to have instead of much higher private rents, or those having 100% of their rent paid by benefits, but no help to the 'working poor'.
 
Free higher education for all on demand is all very well, if it has the potential to lead to anything, or there is no way the person concerned could afford to obtain that education otherwise. There's no point in all of us paying towards folk getting qualifications that can only assist them fine work in already grossly over-provided sectors, or at such low pass marks nobody really wants to employ them. There needs to be far more done to target free higher education towards meeting demand and nurturing obvious talent and aptitude so that whats produced at the end of it is better quality for the same or less money.
 
Free nursery places should be means tested, and private run nursery places 'bought' in by the LA wherever possible to provide them, not the reverse as is happening right now.
 
Subsidised travel off isle should be capped at a certain nuber of journeys per year unless exceptional circumstances can be shown, and preferably means tested as well. I don't see why I should subsidise the likes of Maggie Sandison on her £100k+ salary every jaunt she decides to take from my taxes.
 
No, I haven't been off isle lately, I have been in the past, and if I should never go again, it will be far, far too soon.
 
Free prescriptions should be limited to 'essential' drugs only, and also means tested.
 
'Baby Box' - A gimmick, and a pretty cynical one at that. Useful perhaps to the very small number of pregnant who find themselves facing a significant change in circumstances and without any preparations. Govanhill might well have a few such candidates, which is probably what gave Natty Nikki the idea in the first place, but thank god very, very little of the rest of the country is in such dire straits as her constituency.

"Do you know anybody living in one of these new affordable homes that've sprung up all over Shetland? There's hundreds of them.
Do you have kids or grandkids going to nursery about to recieve nearly double the free hours?
Maybe they're a bit older attending the brand new high school?
Maybe they've just graduated or are away studying getting their free university education.
Have you travelled to the mainland lately? I have, 50% discount on my flights. (Had a great time thanks)
Need medicine? No probs, Shetlands sick don't get taxed for being ill, free prescriptions all round.
Just had a baby? Here's a baby box to help you get started on the joys of parenthood. The list goes on and on.
Monty Pythons sketch "What have the Romans ever done for us" springs to mind."
 
All very laudable things and, much desired but, why are you not harping on about the several percentage points deficit the SNP are running to achieve them. ?
Spending someone else's money is always a bit of a "spree" but, if Scotland ever does attain "independence", it will have to stop.  If you think that austerity was bad in Greece, you ain't seen nothing yet.
 
As for re-joining the EU.  Forget it.  !  They would just not take Scotland with it's current financial model and would enforce terms that would make us all scream.
 
The ONLY reason that they (SNP) are so interested in Shetland is to retain direct access to our resources and, once they are "in", they will be incredibly difficult to get "out".

I don't know about everyone else but I am utterly fed up with this election campaign. Mainly from the drivel and empty promises being spewed by the SNP but also by the arrogant and disrespectful tactics of the Lib Dems. 

​I would be delighted if Ryan Thomson could pull off a shock and beat them both. Neither Party has Shetland's interests at heart. I am sure Beatrice does and, though I have never met Tom Wills I accept that he probably does as well. The problem lies with their centralized leadership. Tom Wills would be utterly unable to criticize any SNP decision which negatively affects Shetland (which happens often) whilst Beatrice would be hampered with the issue of having to toe the Party line regarding opposing the SNP at every opportunity until the independence question is settled. I fear neither would have the clout or freedom to actually solve any of Shetlands most pressing problems. 

​An independent may not have the resources and support of a large political machine but at least they would be able to give criticism where it is due and not have to take orders from a Party HQ like some footsoldier in a seemingly endless war which tends to totally overlook the needs of Shetland. 

​I see people going on about what the SNP have done for us but if you have been paying attention in recent years regarding their behavior towards the SIC then your rose-tinted glasses should have come off. They have repeatedly forced the Council into unsustainable budgetary positions by refusing to provide Fair Ferry Funding (remember this was promised years ago as another vote winning tactic). Why on earth anyone would believe these new promises about free foot passenger travel on our beleaguered internal ferry service is beyond me given they are not even funding the current service as they should be. 

​There is also zero commitment on when, if and how our ageing fleet and infrastructure will be replaced. The importance of these internal links to the Isles, and Shetland, cannot be overstated. Unfortunately, it appears easily ignored from Edinburgh. 

​I wish there was a pro-Shetland party pushing for autonomy, greater control of our resources and an end to living at the whim of some out of touch career politician sitting in Westminster or Holyrood who often wouldn't even manage point to Shetland on a map. 


... that turned in to a bit of a rant   

I am stunned regarding the timing here. The SNP secretary for transport has just issued a statement saying that he considers Tom Wills' proposal for ferry fares very reasonable and he looks forward to discussing with him.
 
Isn't that amazing? He is ready to discuss this and plan a way forward with Tom even before the vote has taken place. Has he just read Tom's leaflet?
 
I wonder how much discussion has taken place here regarding timing of press releases here.
 
My! My! This is really well planned isn't it? 

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.

The sheer unadulterated desperation here Capeesh is displayed quite openly by the SNP. How much has this campaign cost now? Front page stuff! First page in the Times list of candidates. Full back page of the Times. Carloads of people shipped in to shower us with pamphlets. Huge numbers of lamp posts festooned with plastic, reminding us to vote the right way or else. Vans plastered with SNP imagery. Another visit coming from the desperate first minister. Deputies and other minions having been already.
 
Nicola needs to help her constituents in Govan, they have been ignored for year on year. Of course there's no money there, Nicola and the SNP want Shetland at any cost, never mind the poor and deprived in Govan. They could have made good use of the fortune spent on the SNP campaign here.

No, the SNP are supposed say. "We care about Shetland's needs and want to ensure Shetland is treated fairly and equitably with the whole of Scotland. We recommend Shetland votes for Wills, who, as an SNP MSP, we believe would be best suited to help the SNP government deliver on these aspirations".
 
Unfortunately the rhetoric we're hearing from them, comes off sounding like, "Vote for Wills, and the SNP government will listen to you, but vote in any of the rest and the SNP government will ignore you exist". A pretty hollow 'threat' though all in all, as although they're *promising* to 'listen', they're not promising to act, let alone deliver anything.

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.

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.

There's a difference here Capeesh with the "manifesto" and the way it is articulated. There's none so blind as those who don't wish to see.

I see George is wondering if Boris could find Shetland on a map. Whatever your personal views on Boris and the bumbling effect, the fact is Boris is a very well educated individual, journalist and author. I don't think he would have any problem pinpointing Shetland on a map.
 
On the other hand, I seem to recall that precious few in Edinburgh, Glasgow or anywhere on the mainland had the faintest idea where Shetland was till the oil came in. 
 
"Hey Jimmy! there's money to be made way up north noo, they've struck oil somewhere cawed the Shetlands. Let's get oot a this misery, there's nae money doon here!."
 
They want Shetland now they know where it is, and they want what they can get out of it.

Couldn’t agree more, and I was delighted to see that the candidates had condemned the act of vandalism. Who ever did this and whatever their motives or political persuasion, should be ashamed, but a big round of applause and respect for the volunteers who stood and cleaned it off in quick time.

SNPs Derek Mackay made the following comments according to the article on Shetland News.
 
 
“Asked if Shetland could expect the full £7.9 million Shetland Islands Council has asked for should islanders vote for the SNP candidate, Mackay said he was not prepared to set out Scotland’s budget in this interview.
 
But he added: “Do I think that Shetland’s hand will be strengthened by the election of Tom Wills? Yes I do. And do I believe there will be further progress on the internal ferries issue with Tom Wills as MSP? Yes I do.”
 
This again smacks of you have to be part of our club or your getting nowt. I see these type of remarks as nothing other than a firm of blackmail and bullying islanders into voting for them. They should be ashamed of themselves.

I remember it well, but that democracy, Shetland would be no better under an independent Scotland, they will also strip us bare.

SNPs Derek Mackay made the following comments according to the article on Shetland News.
 
 
“Asked if Shetland could expect the full £7.9 million Shetland Islands Council has asked for should islanders vote for the SNP candidate, Mackay said he was not prepared to set out Scotland’s budget in this interview.
 
But he added: “Do I think that Shetland’s hand will be strengthened by the election of Tom Wills? Yes I do. And do I believe there will be further progress on the internal ferries issue with Tom Wills as MSP? Yes I do.”
 
This again smacks of you have to be part of our club or your getting nowt. I see these type of remarks as nothing other than a firm of blackmail and bullying islanders into voting for them. They should be ashamed of themselves.

I remember it well, but that democracy, Shetland would be no better under an independent Scotland, they will also strip us bare.