Some may recall a slightly tongue-in-cheek post by Socialist Courier on Shetland Independence.
It appears from this Guardian report that the possibility that Scottish independence may actually lead to demands for Shetland's independence from Scotland.
Tavish Scott, the MSP for Shetland, and a Liberal Democrat, explains "There is a strong feeling here. It's that there is an opportunity in this referendum for Shetland to get what it really wants, which is more control of its own affairs. The point is that Shetland doesn't want the centralisation of the SNP. Devolution did allow Scotland to go its own way and now it should let Shetland go its own way."
The editor of the Shetland Times, Paul Riddell, has even gone as far as to describe Shetland as "a bit like a little Cuba, a semi-socialist, semi-autonomous paradise!"
Socialist Courier hopes not too much like the Castro dictatorship but we understand the sentiment that he expresses.
There is an old adage of the islanders: "All the Shetland ever got from Scotland was dear meal and greedy ministers."
When nationalism is let out of Pandora's Box all kinds of unintended consequences can arise.
It appears from this Guardian report that the possibility that Scottish independence may actually lead to demands for Shetland's independence from Scotland.
Tavish Scott, the MSP for Shetland, and a Liberal Democrat, explains "There is a strong feeling here. It's that there is an opportunity in this referendum for Shetland to get what it really wants, which is more control of its own affairs. The point is that Shetland doesn't want the centralisation of the SNP. Devolution did allow Scotland to go its own way and now it should let Shetland go its own way."
The editor of the Shetland Times, Paul Riddell, has even gone as far as to describe Shetland as "a bit like a little Cuba, a semi-socialist, semi-autonomous paradise!"
Socialist Courier hopes not too much like the Castro dictatorship but we understand the sentiment that he expresses.
There is an old adage of the islanders: "All the Shetland ever got from Scotland was dear meal and greedy ministers."
When nationalism is let out of Pandora's Box all kinds of unintended consequences can arise.
Freedom for Castlemilk!!
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A pensioner fighting to establish his own sovereign state on a tiny speck of rock off Shetland was dealt a blow yesterday when a judge ruled his breakaway republic was historically and legally part of the UK.
Stuart Hill, of Forvik, is embroiled in a protracted battle to have the rocky outcrop declared an independent republic. He claims that the UK has no legal rights over Shetland and refuses to recognise the authority of state agencies including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and HM Revenue & Customs. In December last year, he appeared in Lerwick Sheriff Court charged with driving the van he calls his consular vehicle without tax, MOT or insurance. He was ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and given a six-month driving ban.
The judge pointed to two legal precedents proving that after 1468 the right of sovereignty over the islands belonged to the monarchs of Scotland and later the monarchs of the United Kingdom.
Lord Pentland said: “As to the historical background, it seems to me that it must now be regarded as settled in law that Shetland forms part of the United Kingdom and lies within the territorial jurisdiction of the Court of Session.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/odd/tiny-shetland-rock-is-not-a-breakaway-state-rules-judge-1-2397785
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