Prospectus dilemma 17/6/14
Sir,
When, under the banner “Our Islands, Our Future”, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar embarked with the Orkney and Shetland Isles councils on a mission to seek a new constitutional status for the island authorities, it was an opportunistic move, taking advantage of the general climate of openness to change arising from the impending referendum on Scottish independence.
It was hardly surprising that the Scottish Government responded in kind to this initiative, following its own opportunistic tactics in presenting an offer which is contingent on independence being obtained. To this extent the prospectus launched by Alex Salmond in Kirkwall on Monday can be seen as an unsurprising inducement to vote “Yes” in the referendum.
However, the cynicism with which Salmond has taken full credit for the initiative on behalf of the SNP/Scottish government/”Yes” campaign is breathtaking, even using it as a rod to beat the “Better Together” side for not being anywhere near this level in their thinking about the islands.
The truth is that none of this would have happened without the energy and persistence of the island councils. And it would be very surprising if the councils had not been in productive negotiation with the other Scottish political parties and with the national UK government on similar provisions to those in the prospectus.
It was very telling that in a Radio Orkney interview on Tuesday Salmond ducked the question as to whether the prospectus would have been on offer had it not been for the independence referendum. He again failed to acknowledge the role of the councils and reverted to his claim that independence is essential for the Prospectus proposals to be delivered.
Certainly some of the proposals will fall within the gift of the Scottish government only if independence is gained, since they are currently the subject of powers reserved to the UK government, such as management of the Crown Estate. However, many of the “island proofing” proposals could be implemented within current devolution arrangements, some even without new legislation.
For those who would like to see more autonomy for the Western Isles within the United Kingdom this will pose a bit of a dilemma. The Orkney Manifesto Group wholeheartedly welcomes the provisions proposed in the prospectus but hopes and believes that these will be achieved without the need for Scottish independence.
It is widely acknowledged that failure of the bid for Scottish independence is likely to have constitutional ramifications as great as a vote in favour. The major political parties are all expressing willingness to accord greater devolution to Scotland and there will be opportunity, we believe, to press the case for the adoption of the provisions of the prospectus whatever the outcome of the referendum.
After all, if these ideas make sense, why should they depend on Scottish independence?
Councillor Alistair Gordon, West Mainland
Rachel King
Councillor John Richards, Kirkwall West & Orphir
Councillor Bill Stout, Kirkwall East
Orkney Manifesto Group
Sycamore
Main Street
Kirkwall