Shetland votes for Britain to stay in the EU
Adam Guest
Shetland has voted to remain in the European Union with 56.5 per cent of the vote.
A total of 12,231 ballot papers were counted with 6,907 votes in favour of staying in the EU, with 5,315 – 43.5 per cent in favour of leaving. The turnout was 70.4 per cent.
Earlier in the evening Orkney voted 63 per cent in favour of remaining.
Leave campaigner Brian Nugent said he was surprised by the result.
“I’m a bit surprised, I thought leave would win,” he said.
“However considering how it started in the ballot box sample it probably turned out a bit closer than it looked at one time.
“A huge percentage of people voted to leave in Whalsay and one or two other boxes.”
SNP member Robbie McGregor said he was delighted with the result.
“I believe this is a very positive result for Shetland,” he said.
“The consequences of leaving the European Union would [change] for our young people who have at the moment free travel without the encumbrance of visas.
“It is also the longest period of peace we have had in Europe.”
Mr McGregor was hopeful that Scotland at least was going to vote to stay in the EU.
Asked whether conflicting votes could spark another independence referendum he said:
“I believe the independence referendum is not something that’s on the agenda at this stage.
“I would expect that in the event of the UK voting to leave and Scotland voting to remain, I would expect Scottish government officials to immediately call negotiations with the EU for Scotland to remain part of the EU.
“There’s a precedence for this; and the references would be Greenland and Denmark.”
Brian Smith
Shetland has grown up since 1975 – mature result from Scotland and London.
Alvin Leong
Maybe Shetland can leave the UK with Scotland and join the EU. The EU can then give Shetland refugees in exchange for the fish.
ian_tinkler
Mature comment from Brian Smith, shame about UKIP’s “Bloody Nose” he so forecast. It appears more like the blow fell on Corbyn’s influence on the Labour vote. Spent force Labour, North and South of the border, pity.
Gordon Harmer
Where does Mr McGregor get that the UK voted to leave and Scotland voted to remain? This was a UK vote and Scotland voted to be part of the UK and the UK voted to leave the EU.
He is also wrong about another independence referendum not being on the agenda, Ms Sturgeon has confirmed it is firmly now on the table and the agenda.
“I believe this is a very positive result for Shetland,” he said, yes very positive, a Shetland out of the EU and out of the UK will be dragged down with Scotland. Even if Ms Sturgeon can negotiate a deal to keep Scotland in the EU (probably by offering 90% of our fish stocks as a sweetener) we will be forced to use the failing Euro, it will be hello Greece make room for us at the basket case end of the pile.
Alvin Leong
SNP will keep asking the question until they get the answer they want and then EU can take Shetland’s fish while Scotland take Shetland’s oil.