Shetland Movement facts for kids

The Shetland Movement was a group in Shetland that wanted the islands to have more control over their own rules. It started in 1978. They hoped for a special Shetland Assembly, like a local parliament. This group wanted the Assembly to make some laws and manage local taxes. Important people from Shetland were part of it, like author John Graham and council leader Edward Thomason.

History of the Shetland Movement

How the Movement Began

The Shetland Movement did not start as a political party right away. It began as a group that pushed for ideas. In the 1982 local elections for the Shetland Islands Council, the movement supported candidates who believed in more self-rule for Shetland. These candidates won most of the council seats!

Running in Elections

In the 1986 council election, the Shetland Movement decided to run their own candidates for the first time. They won 13.7% of the votes and five seats. This was a good start for them.

The Shetland Movement even decided to run in the 1987 UK general election. This was for the Orkney and Shetland constituency, which is the area that elects one person to the UK Parliament. They teamed up with a similar group from Orkney. Their candidate, John Goodlad, got 14.5% of the votes.

Working for Scottish Self-Rule

In 1989, the Shetland Movement took part in the Scottish Constitutional Convention. This was a meeting where different groups worked together. They helped create a plan for Scottish devolution. Devolution meant that Scotland would get more power to make its own decisions, which happened in 1999.

Later Years and End

In the 1990 council election, the Shetland Movement gained more seats, reaching six. They kept this number in 1994. However, this was the highest point for the movement in elections. After 1994, the group stopped being active. They did not run in any more local or general elections.

In 2015, a new group called Wir Shetland was formed. This group also wanted more self-government for the islands. They even compared themselves to the original Shetland Movement.

Electoral Success

The Shetland Movement took part in several important elections.

UK General Elections

The movement ran a candidate in the 1987 UK general election for the Orkney and Shetland area. Their candidate, John Goodlad, received 3,095 votes, which was 14.5% of all votes. He came in fourth place.

Shetland Islands Council Elections

The Shetland Movement also ran candidates in local elections for the Shetland Islands Council.

• In the 1986 election, they won 13.6% of the votes and five seats on the council.
• In the 1990 election, their support grew significantly. They received 31.4% of the votes and won seven seats.
• In the 1994 election, their vote share went down to 9.0%, and they won six seats.