Orkney and Shetland Movement facts for kids

The Orkney and Shetland Movement was a special team-up of two political groups: the Orkney Movement and the Shetland Movement. They joined forces for the 1987 general election in the United Kingdom. Their main goal was to get more control and self-rule for the Orkney and Shetland islands.

These two groups chose John Goodlad to be their candidate. He was well-known as the secretary of the Shetland Fishermen's Association. They wanted him to represent the Orkney and Shetland area in the UK Parliament. The Scottish National Party, another political group, even agreed not to put forward their own candidate to help the Orkney and Shetland Movement.

What Was the Movement About?

The Orkney and Shetland Movement was all about giving the islands of Orkney and Shetland more power to make their own decisions. This idea is called autonomy. It means having a certain level of self-government, like managing local laws and services, instead of everything being decided by the main government far away.

Why Did They Want Autonomy?

People in Orkney and Shetland felt that decisions made in London or even Edinburgh didn't always fit their unique island needs. They believed that local people understood their islands best. Having more autonomy would mean they could create rules and plans that truly helped their communities.

Election Results

In the 1987 election, John Goodlad, the candidate for the Orkney and Shetland Movement, received 3,095 votes. This was about 14.5% of all the votes in that area. Even though he came in fourth place, just behind the Labour Party, it was a very good result. At that time, it was the best performance for a candidate who wasn't from one of the four biggest political parties in Scotland.

Working for Scottish Devolution

Later, in 1989, the Orkney and Shetland Movement took part in something called the Scottish Constitutional Convention. This was a big meeting where different groups worked together to plan how Scotland could get more self-rule. Their ideas helped create the framework for what is now known as Scottish devolution. This is when Scotland gained its own parliament in 1999, allowing it to make many of its own laws.

What is Devolution?

Devolution is when a central government gives some of its powers to a regional or local government. For Scotland, this meant setting up the Scottish Parliament. This parliament can make decisions on things like education, health, and justice within Scotland, while the UK Parliament still handles bigger issues like defense and foreign policy.

Inspired by Other Islands

The Orkney and Shetland Movement looked at other islands around the world for ideas. They were inspired by places like the Isle of Man and the Faroe Islands. The Isle of Man is a self-governing island in the Irish Sea. The Faroe Islands are also self-governing, even though they are part of Denmark. These places showed that it was possible for small island communities to have a lot of control over their own affairs.