WirShetland

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Wir Shetland AGM
2nd Nov 2016

Who Is Wir Shetland?

A group of Shetland residents and expats committed to improving Shetlands future.

PURPOSE/MISSION: To protect the long term interests of Shetlanders by achieving self-governing autonomy, in line with the democratic wishes of Shetland residents.

Launched 14th October 2015, currently 418 members.

Who Is Wir Shetland?

James Titcomb - Acting Chair

Kathy Greaves - Secretary

Andrea Manson Treasurer

Duncan Simpson Membership Secretary

Committee Members Ali Inkster, Gary Smith

Co-Opted Members - Paul Bird, Ivor Arthur, Melvyn Burrows, Ian Tinkler

A diverse range of backgrounds with a single unifying policy of achieving the best possible constitutional position for Shetland

What is Wir Shetland?

Multi-party campaign group

Members of all parties welcome to join

Aim achieve British Overseas Territory, or similar, status for Shetland

Approach initially by engaging with parties and candidates for parliamentary and council seats to establish what progress, if any, can be made that way

Registering as a party and fielding our own candidates will be considered if necessary

Why would they let us go?

UN right to self determination

Scottish independence precedent 50% + 1 is enough to secure independence.

In the case of a second Scottish referendumBetter to negotiate with Shetland.

Will lose all access to an independent Scotland.

Negotiate position over EEZ we demand it all, but could share access.

Defense.

The Past Year

Launched 14th Oct 2015

Initial recruitment conducted on Street and in Bolts

Quickly reached 350 members before Christmas

After meeting with him, the committee decided to endorse Tavish Scott for the Scottish Parliament elections

John Tulloch stood down as Chair immediately following the Scottish Parliament elections

Brexit

Tavish Scott Endorsement Why?

Only two candidates with a realistic chance

SNP history indicates they would be a poor outcome for Shetland

Tavish Scott authored a Plan for the IslesCalls for the islands to determine their own future in the event of a second indyref.

Our cross-party purpose is to win Shetland autonomy and it is logical and 'commonsensible' to support the candidate who is most likely to help us towards our prime objective. We believed that candidate was Tavish Scott.

The Past Year

As acting chair my aim has been to be a safe pair of hands and get to this AGM as soon as possible

Reduce controversy

Controls placed on Wir Shetland posts

Recruitment at Summer showsLate start & lack of help

Poster campaigns

Committee Operating Procedure

The day to day business of the committee is managed through three main resources. The Wir Shetland Committee facebook group. This is a closed group accessible only by committee members.

A facebook live chat group also only accessible to committee members.

Face to face formal committee meetings as mandated by the constitution.

Prior to any action being taken by the committee a consensus view must be sought. No action is conducted without a majority of the committee being in agreement.Agreement may be signified by comments below posts on the facebook group.

Thumbs up signs on the chat group.

More formal facebook polls conducted on the committee group.

Committee Operating Procedure

Posts to the Wir Shetland public facebook post must first obtain the agreement of at least one other committee member. Posts will be held if only one committee member disagrees with the post for any reason. A held post may only be published if the majority of the committee agree to its posting.

The constitution empowers the committee to run Wir Shetland as they see fit. Any consultation with the membership is done on a best endeavour basis and is not binding on the decision of the committee.

These operating procedures may be changed only with the agreement of the majority of the committee.

Our biggest single recruitment boost?

Page Likes

Post approval system

Political Saturation

Brexit campaign

Scottish Elections

Political Approach - Policies

Aim Draw up a set of policies the majority of the Shetland public can understand and support

Inform Show that an Autonomous Shetland can be successful

Detail Minimal We are a cross party organisation with diverse views and little resources

Form basis of new poster and leaflet campaign

Political Approach

Policies - Finance

The SIC document Shetland Input-Output Study/Regional Accounts 2010-11 states that the Shetland Regional gross domestic product was 485 million, and that the trade balance was 131 million. in 2010-11 Shetland generated a positive exchequer balance of 82 million.

In 2015 the Shetland fishing fleet caught 86.4 million worth of fish while an estimated total of 300 million was taken from Shetland waters. Under independence the Shetland fishing industry could be contributing a further 213 Million to the Shetland economy.

The UK average tax revenue as a percentage of GDP is 39%. Based on the 2010-2011 GDP of 485 million, an autonomous Shetland would raise in the order of 189 million in tax. When additional GDP from an expanded fishing fleet and the taxation that would be applied to workers on offshore installations within our EEZ, it is clear that an independent Shetland is financially viable.

Policies - Structure

The process of transitioning from being a part of the UK to an autonomous region with our own government will not happen overnight.

An interim assembly will be required in order to draw up a constitution.

The constitution will have to be ratified by referendum and only then will the first government be elected. Wir Shetland believe that BOT status is more desirable than full independence. Under BOT status the Queen would remain head of state and would appoint a governor, mainly for ceremonial purposes.

The current SIC structure would form the core of the new government executive, but democratic oversight and control will be enhanced by the existing departments reporting directly to ministers. Each department will have a minister appointed and the minister will have direct management authority over the departments.

Policies - Agriculture

The current level of EU subsidy for agriculture in Shetland is at a level to be practically maintained by an autonomous Shetland, and even expanded.

There is currently limited access to markets for agricultural production in Shetland, developing transport links directly to Norway and/or Denmark will bring additional markets for Shetland products.

Wherever possible encouragement should be offered to develop value added products based on native Shetland produce.

For exports to the EU, Shetland should be operated as a single producing region with tagging and tracking of livestock only required at export.

Policies Fisheries

Wir Shetland aim to build biologically and economically sustainable fisheries, while optimising the socio-economic benefits for Shetland, overall.

Fish stocks in Shetland waters are the property of the Shetland people.

Condition and quantity of stocks shall be monitored through close cooperation between fishermen and the Scalloway fisheries college.

Fish stocks will be managed not through the discredited and wasteful quota system but through a regulation of effort and technical measures.

Policies - Health

Wir Shetland believes in a healthcare system that is universal and free at the point of use.

There are a number of ways that an autonomous Shetland could deliver such a service.

Most importantly we would be free from the restrictions of the NHS, able to negotiate pay and conditions that will attract the necessary GPs Dentists, and Nurses that Shetland is currently so short of.

More advanced services could be bought in from Scotland, Norway, Denmark or England allowing Shetland to obtain the best value care possible for our residents.

Policies - Education

Wir Shetland believe that the high quality of primary education offered by the town and rural schools is one of Shetlands key assets. The teaching of mixed age classes leads to children who are able to care for their peers which overall contributes to the well-being of society as a whole. As such Wir Shetland is opposed to all and any school closures.

An autonomous Shetland will require an expanded workforce and as such will need even more school places. The recent trend of declining population will be reversed and where possible schools that have recently been closed should be assessed for re-opening.

By working in partnership with local industry appropriate courses and apprenticeships will be provided through the local colleges.

University education will be subsidised through grant funding with students encouraged to study at universities in all our neighbouring countries.

Policies Arts and Culture

Our unique heritage, wildlife and environment add greatly to the quality of life for the people of Shetland, they are key to our tourism business.

As with agriculture, the Arts should be nurtured and encouraged in ways that contribute to the overall good of Shetland.

Policies - Immigration

Wir Shetland believe an autonomous Shetland will be an attractive place to live and work. In 2015 Shetland was listed as the 10th (of 170) most prosperous region of the UK. Add to that the expanded economic benefits that will come from control of our own EEZ and it is likely we will see a high demand for immigration.

Wir Shetland have never viewed immigration control as a means to restrict overall numbers, but as a means to target immigration to the people who we need in order to benefit our economy the most. From doctors and dentists to catering staff, Shetland needs foreign workers, and will be likely to need even more when autonomous.

Immigrants will be selected based on how well their skills match the local demand. After 5 years residency with full employment they will qualify to apply for citizenship.

Policies Law & Order

Shetland like most British Overseas Territories is too small to demand a permanent high court. Serious crime is unusual and as such Shetland is likely to require assistance from the rest of the UK in order to deal with the most serious crimes.

As with the NHS, services may be purchased from the rest of the UK or Scandinavia on a best value basis, but emphasis should be on rehabilitation and education along the Scandinavian model rather than the traditional UK punishment regime.

The Norwegian prison island of Bastoey has a reoffending rate of 16% compared to 33% (2012-13) for Scotland as a whole.

Policies - Transport

External

The existing ferry link to Aberdeen and Orkney is a lifeline service and as such should be affordable for all.

The concept of opening the route to competition should be investigated, and additional air and sea routes to our Scandinavian neighbours must be added in order to foster tourism links and open new markets to the east for Lamb, Fish, and Knitwear.

Policies - Transport

Internal

The current high quality of existing roads must be maintained and extended.

The Norwegian example has shown that fixed links are the most economical model in the long term. Wherever the geological conditions allow fixed links should be offered to the islands.

Fixed links will be subject to referenda in the affected communities.

Rock removed during the construction of tunnels should be used to extend harbour and marina facilities in the affected islands.

Policies - Defense

In light of recent unwelcome developments in NATOs relationship with Russia, Shetland lies at a strategic position for the UK.

As a BOT we would expect protection by the UK armed forces in return for access to the early warning radar at Saxa Vord.

In the event of Scotland achieving independence, Shetland would become even more strategically important for the rest of the UK.

Wir Shetland believe any expansion of UK defense activities in Shetland should be ratified by local referendum.

The way ahead

2017 Council Elections

Further RecruitingBolts & Street Christmas Shopping

Home events -

System to promote posts from Facebook Members page to the public page

Committee bandwidthSpokes People?

Orkney and Shetland Voting history since 1960LiberalSNPConservative / UnionistLabourUkipScottish SocialistShetland MovementGreen

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2016 AGM