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whalsa

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Everything posted by whalsa

  1. To anyone not aware, the below event is taking place online tomorrow night. It is free to attend and has some interesting speakers! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reflections-on-self-determination-an-island-perspective-tickets-128641960567?aff=ebdssbeac
  2. Ian Scott had to resign because of what he said in a public meeting that was totally unrelated to the self determination debate. He repeatedly accused officers of lying to him which is an actual breach of the code of conduct. If what he was saying was correct that was NOT the proper channels to raise such a complaint, he should have known better. Stephen Leasks problem was that one of the (many) points he made was that we get more than enough funding from Holyrood - this is at direct odds with the Councils official position and undermines the argument for fair ferry funding, an untenable position for someone in a leadership role. Neither have resigned as Councillors. They are still free to make whatever points they want and represent their constituents views.
  3. Shetlands average earnings may be a bit higher than the national average (around 20% IIRC) but this is generally more than offset by our high cost of living - 20-60% higher than mainland Scotland depending on what part of Shetland you are in. I actually think Shetland is as close to a "classless" society as you get in the UK. In my experience, people don't tend to socialise along lines of wealth. I would not be surprised to walk in to a pub and see a millionaire having a pint with someone on minimum wage for example.
  4. whalsa

    SNP

    This is one clear reason why we need some form of self governance. Neither Westminster nor Holyrood understand or care about Shetland. Instead of wasting our energies arguing about who is worse we would be much better off running our own affairs and prioritising the things that matter to us.
  5. whalsa

    SNP

    Aware this is now well off topic but anyway; I think you are getting mixed up. The closest to the equator criteria, is for the big, geo-stationary orbit satellites and outer space missions that launch from the likes of French Guyana & Cape Canaveral. The market Unst is targeting is for smaller satellites into SSO (sun synchronous) and Polar orbits, which from my admittedly limited understanding, can be easier achieved from higher latitudes. These are not going to be giant rockets using highly toxic fuels, it is basically kerosene. The rockets will all launch north over the sea so will pose no danger to Sullom Voe, or Unst for that matter. Plenty of answers to be found here https://shetlandspacecentre.com/questions-and-answers/ The weather will be less of a problem than you suppose. Launches will take a matter of seconds and can presumably be done at any time of day or night.
  6. whalsa

    SNP

    You need a mandate. Until such time as you have some policies which can be taken seriously and some credible candidates to implement them you won't get it. Until then it's a pipe dream. Yes, of course you need a believably workable blueprint, folk capable of implementing it, and a mandate to do so. I was just pointing out that 'the powers to do it' is far from 'all we need'. A mandate can only be awarded at the ballot box, not from within the council chamber. Shetlanders have been voting for more of the same for the past three generations, you'll need some convincing arguments to make them change. The previous 'Wir shetland' debacle has set you, and Stuart Hill's cause back by perhaps another generation. But, nonetheless good luck to you, I'll be the first to offer congratulations if you can pull it off. By mandate, I meant passing the motion will give the SIC a mandate to open talks with central government. A public vote of some form would have to take place at some stage, whether that be via referendum or a scheduled election. I think much of the arguments in favour are clear and haven't changed. The practicalities and how achievable the concept is needs to be better displayed. We must all think bigger IMO. Self governing island groups are far from unusual, they exist both within this country and as part of others or independently all over the world.
  7. whalsa

    SNP

    O&G - yes, short to medium term. What do you mean though about other areas being more suitable for the space project? Unst was literally identified as the best site in the country. Do you mean nowhere in the UK is well suited, dont think that makes sense?
  8. whalsa

    SNP

    Agreed. However, you could have lower taxes on folks wages etc without necessarily having to allow the likes of offshore banking. Shetland has abundant natural resources (fishing grounds, aquaculture, oil & gas, renewables, natural beauty etc) as well as well established lucrative industries and the potential to develop new ones (e.g. the space sector). The right domestic policies could safeguard the old industries and build up the new.
  9. whalsa

    SNP

    All options should be investigated. With full fiscal autonomy, Shetland would control taxation yes. My first thoughts on that would be to lower income tax to combat the additional cost of living, fuel poverty etc rather than establish a tax haven. The points is the political and financial levers would exist locally to address the problems we face, develop new and existing industries and prevent decline and depopulation. Without said powers, I truly do fear for Shetlands future.
  10. whalsa

    SNP

    The key point for me is it is the choice of those territories to provide that service. I don't see Shetlanders wanting that model. Furthermore, we have far more primary industries here and potentially a far biggger EEZ to utilise than the Crown Dependencies. I don't believe Shetland would need to be a tax haven at all.
  11. whalsa

    SNP

    The mandate to achieve this "pipe dream" may not be as far away as some might believe.... https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2020/08/31/councillors-seek-to-explore-options-for-achieving-financial-and-political-self-determination-for-shetland/
  12. whalsa

    SNP

    In the 2010 Input/Output study the conclusion was Shetlands net exchequer balance (how much we pay vs how much we get back) was in the black to the tune of roughly £80M if I recall correctly. The SIC is currently awaiting delivery of an updated version of this. So the old argument that an independent Shetland could not survive without a large Goverment subsidie annually has been turned on its head we pay far more in than we get back to the tune of £80 Million pounds each year [probably a lot more now considering that figure is from 2010 ]. Correct. That is also excluding any oil and gas revenue. However, being fully "independent" would come with many other significant costs and difficulties. So much so that I would not see that as a realistic (or perhaps even desirable) first step. The journey to self governance should be a process rather than something that will occur overnight, but we will get nowhere unless we try.
  13. whalsa

    SNP

    In the 2010 Input/Output study the conclusion was Shetlands net exchequer balance (how much we pay vs how much we get back) was in the black to the tune of roughly £80M if I recall correctly. The SIC is currently awaiting delivery of an updated version of this.
  14. whalsa

    SNP

    What is YOUR suggestion then? What is abundantly clear is that Shetland is in an unsustainable position which shows no sign of getting any better. Which vital services would you cut or abolish altogether to bring SIC spending down to the paltry amount it gets from central government? What do you suggest we do with our ageing infrastructure? Despite years of pleading and empty promises, Holyrood is yet to commit to funding the revenue let alone the capital for these expensive but essential services. Given the track record of Holyrood, SNP or previous governments, I have zero confidence that powers or resources would be forthcoming under an independent Scotland either. Shetlands best chance at survival and prosperity is to negotiate a fairer share of the collossal amount of revenue that flows south annually and to be unshackled from the one size fits all policies dreamt up in Brussels, Westminster and Holyrood by people who more than likely will never set foot in these islands.
  15. whalsa

    SNP

    So no 200 mile economic exclusive zone for Shetland as a British Overseas Territory or Crown dependency then, the UK would never allow it, I'm very glad to get to the bottom of that very misleading "wir" Shetland claim. What? The BOTs control their full EEZs. For example, the Falkland Islands (with less than 3000 citizens) controls an EEZ of 212,693 square miles. A huge % of their GDP comes from selling fishing rights in this zone. This is based on UNCLOS, Shetland would be no different. I expect an autonomous Shetland would negotiate fisheries access and mineral revenues with the parent country.
  16. whalsa

    SNP

    The impression you give is that the UK appointed Governor runs all of the BOTs & Crown Dependencies by decree as would perhaps have been the case in the colonial era. this is simply not true in practice. We are getting bogged down in semantics here but; "UK legislation rarely extends to the Crown Dependencies and should not be extended without first consulting the Islands’ Authorities and obtaining their consent. In instances where it does extend, it may do so either by virtue of the Act itself or by Order in Council made with their agreement under an enabling provision contained in the Act which provides for it to be extended to the Crown Dependencies. An enabling provision for an Order in Council, known as a “permissive extent clause” (PEC), in a Bill could take the following form: “Her Majesty may by Order in Council provide for any of the provisions of this Act to extend, with or without modifications, to any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man”. For an Act to extend otherwise than by an Order in Council is now very unusual. Departments must consult the Crown Dependencies at the earliest opportunity in the event that extension is under consideration and a PEC should not be included in a Bill without the prior agreement of the Islands." So, in very exceptional circumstances the UK Government can impose legislation on the islands, i.e. they are not fully independent, which I don't recall anyone ever claiming anyway. I would far prefer Shetland to be in a situation where externally drafted legislation applying to us was a very rare exception rather than the norm! For anything short of full independence, Shetland will still have to answer to some higher power to some degree. Furthermore, as I mentioned previously, Shetland would not necessarily have to be a BOT or a Crown Dependency to remain part of the UK. Much of the work on this concept has already been done. In fact, the Council commissioned a report on this back in 1978. Much has changed since but many of the fundamentals remain the same. https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/313042948972?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=313042948972&targetid=938148485256&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9047006&poi=&campaignid=10199630638&mkgroupid=101938330797&rlsatarget=pla-938148485256&abcId=1145987&merchantid=118932102&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8Nmp0bHD6wIVmKztCh03LAHqEAQYAyABEgKFZ_D_BwE
  17. whalsa

    SNP

    Yes. IoM, Jersey and Guernsey are Crown Dependencies. I bet if you asked any of them, none of them would dream of voting to become a local authority and giving up their powers...
  18. whalsa

    SNP

    Your "common knowledge" is in fact, incorrect. Once upon a time, the Isle of Man was run in this manner but now the "Lieutenant Governor" is a ceremonial role and all domestic matters are handled locally. Indeed, the next Lieutenant Governor is due to be appointed by a local panel as opposed to the Crown as has been done previously. The UK government is responsible for defence and international matters. If you are going to criticise the concept, I think you should do some research into the difference between British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, as well as the varying constitutions and levels of self governance held by each. Furthermore, those are but two existing constitutional models (with variances across the individual territories). There is no reason why Shetland would have to copy any of them, we could adopt "The Shetland Model" which could be set up in a way that suits both ourselves and the UK. The only factual thing you said is we are not Danish. We are Shetlanders and we have as much right to choose our own future as anyone else does.
  19. whalsa

    SNP

    The point of achieving home rule/self governance/autonomy (whatever you want to call it) for Shetland is not about arguing who is worse, Holyrood or Westminster. It is about obtaining the necessary financial and political freedoms to largely manage our own affairs, making the regular circuses and partisan political games at those two Parliaments of much less relevance to us. We have the resources and the people needed to make Shetland prosperous. All we need is the powers to do it.
  20. whalsa

    SNP

    Shetland is being poorly served by these distant, near dictatorial Governments. It is long overdue that we should have some form of autonomy, regardless of what happens with IndyRef2. We have a unique position and unique needs. A myriad of thriving island groups (e.g. Faroe, Isle of Man, Falkland Isls, Aland) all have one thing in common - meaningful self governance. Let the Scots and English bicker away for centuries as far as I am concerned, just get us out of it and let us focus on bettering things on our shores.
  21. Political movements without active supporters don't make an impact.You are waiting for your cause to have leader that isn't an embarrassment, But you cant rally round the idea alone because of guilt by association with people generate bad publicity for the cause? A tree with shallow roots can be pushed over more easily than one with deep roots If the risk an idiot becoming the posterboy of your movement is enough to stop it from happening what chance does it have? if there was a larger pool of people who gave a turd you might find a normal person to fill that role. Not hard to guess your position by the tone of your post. You seem to think you know a lot about my thoughts and intentions around this issue but I can tell you, you couldn't be wider of the mark. Plenty of people "give a turd" and there is more than one way to skin a cat as the saying goes.
  22. As said by Colin and probably many other times on this thread, right message wrong man as far as Stuart Hill is concerned. As a big believer in autonomy for Shetland I honestly feel his efforts do more harm than good. If we ever do achieve autonomy it will largely be in spite of him rather than because of him. In my view, meaningful autonomy is not only desirable for Shetland it is absolutely essential if we are to protect our way of life. Anything else and we will be condemned to a state of managing decline as oil revenues dwindle, with the outlying communities being the first to wither and die.
  23. Yes the problem I have always said with Mr Hill is that it is the right message but the wrong man delivering it. His antics have only managed to portray him as a nutter in the eyes of most Shetlanders, thereby taking away from his own cause. I hadn't seen this particular piece before, very interesting. The historical argument is relevant whether people like it or not but even without it there would still be a case to be made for autonomy. I hope this election has opened peoples eyes a bit. A common complaint is that all the candidates arguments boiled down to the same thing, beg Holyrood for more money for XY & Z. The votes Ryan Thomson achieved shows that you don't have to be part of a major party to make headway. Perhaps in the future people would be more open to a local party which can offer a truly alternative choice and set of ambitions than just going cap in hand to uncaring bureaucrats and ministers in Edinburgh.
  24. Arguably you don't NEED permission, although realistically some form of agreement would have to be reached with Westminster and probably Holyrood. However, all peoples have the right to self-determination, it is in the UN Charter. ​A good chance for Shetland would be in the event of Scottish independence, both sides would want to hold on to Shetland so a forward looking Council/Party could negotiate an autonomy deal with either side. All that is needed is the public and political will to exert our rights and use our unique position.
  25. I reckon were it not for the people tactically voting Lib Dem Ryan could have been right up there, from the conversations I have had I have gotten this impression anyway. One complaint I have heard is that all the main candidates basically seemed to be after the same thing, begging Holyrood for more money. In this context, it would be interesting to see how a pro-autonomy, Shetland based party with a good candidate would do. Offering something truly alternative from the Unionist vs Nationalist guff which has come to typify Scottish politics.
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