This document summarizes the annual general meeting of Wir Shetland, a group advocating for greater autonomy for Shetland. It introduces the acting chair and committee members and provides an overview of the group's purpose, growth in membership, endorsement of a political candidate, and operating procedures. It then outlines the group's proposed policies on various issues if Shetland were to achieve autonomy, including finance, government structure, fisheries, health care, education, and defense. It concludes by discussing the group's plans to further its advocacy in the upcoming year.

1. Wir Shetland AGM
2nd
Nov 2016

2. 2
Who Is Wir Shetland?
● A group of Shetland residents and “expats” committed to
improving Shetland’s 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.

3. 3
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

4. 4
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

5. 5
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 referendum
● Better 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.

6. 6
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

7. 7
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 Isles”
Calls 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.

8. 8
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 shows
● Late start & lack of help
● Poster campaigns

9. 9
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.

10. 10
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.

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4/29/16 5/29/16 6/29/16 7/29/16 8/29/16 9/29/16 10/29/16
1040
1050
1060
1070
1080
1090
1100
1110
Wir Shetland Page Likes
Our biggest single recruitment boost?

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4/29/16 5/29/16 6/29/16 7/29/16 8/29/16 9/29/16 10/29/16
1040
1050
1060
1070
1080
1090
1100
1110
Wir Shetland Page Likes
Page Likes
Post approval
system
Political
Saturation
Brexit
campaign
Scottish
Elections

13. 13
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

14. 14
Political Approach
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Orkney and Shetland Voting history since 1960
Liberal SNP Conservative / Unionist Labour
Ukip Scottish Socialist Shetland Movement Green

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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.

16. 16
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.

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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.

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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.

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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 GP’s 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

25. 25
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.

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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.

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The way ahead
● 2017 Council Elections
● Further Recruiting
● Bolts & Street – Christmas Shopping
● Home events -
● System to promote posts from Facebook Members page to
the public page
● Committee bandwidth
● Spokes People?