“Strong voice” from the islands in referendum debate

Scotland’s three islands councils — Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles — have laid out their vision for a stronger future following the Independence Referendum of 2014.

The three authorities say they are working closely together to identify shared opportunities and challenges and today launched their Our Islands — Our Future campaign.

The councils have published a joint mission statement setting out their intention to engage with political leaders and decision makers on either side of the independence debate.

Whatever the outcome of the referendum, the councils wish to see the special position and needs of the UK’s three largest island groups fully taken into account in the new constitutional arrangements for Scotland.

At a press conference delivered simultaneously from Kirkwall, Lerwick and Stornoway by video link this morning, the leaders of the three councils said they would be seeking additional powers and resources to give them a greater ability to shape the destinies of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.

These could include:

• Control of the sea bed around the islands, allowing revenues currently paid to the Crown Estate to be channelled into local needs.

• New grid connections to the Scottish mainland to allow world class wave, tidal and wind energy resources to generate maximum benefits for the islands.

• New fiscal arrangements to allow the islands to benefit more directly from the harvesting of local resources, including renewable energy and fisheries.

• Clear recognition of the status of the three island groups in a new Scottish Constitutional Settlement and within the European Governance Framework.