SNP’s Shetland candidate Hannah Mary Goodlad secures support for NorthLink Ferries improvements for islanders at party conference in Aberdeen
Shetland’s SNP candidate has received backing from party colleagues to secure improvements to the “lifeline” ferry service.
Hannah Mary Goodlad’s motion for a “local quota” of cabins and vehicle spaces to be reserved on NorthLink ferries and for islanders to be exempt from seasonal fare increases was approved at the SNP’s conference in Aberdeen today (Monday).
Her work was celebrated by some locals, but criticised by political rivals as a “hollow promise” after years of SNP power.
Ms Goodlad said she made an “impassioned” speech to secure the motions, which came about following discussions on the campaign trail.
“Since I moved back home and announced that I will be standing for election to be Shetland’s MSP, I have been listening to what islanders have been telling me.
“NorthLink has come up time and time again.
“I asked people to share their experiences of our life line service and some of the stories I have heard of people having to sleep on the floor with young children because there are no cabins is simply dreadful.
“Several people have described this experience as little different to sleeping rough.’
‘“I shared some of these heart-breaking stories with conference today and I told conference that no islander should be priced out of visiting their family, travelling for work, or reaching vital healthcare. And no islander should have to sleep on a cold ferry floor to do it.’
‘“here is so much that needs to be addressed not least the need for more capacity on the route. My motion is however a start in making our life line service what it should be for islanders.’
“‘I have already discussed with NorthLink the practicalities of reserving cabin space and vehicle spaces for islanders, and I look forward to continuing these discussions with the Scottish government so that these changes can be introduced as soon as possible.”
John Erskine is running against Ms Goodlad as Labour’s candidate, and said that while islanders do “deserve a better deal from our lifeline ferry services” he was unimpressed by the SNP conference showing.
“After nearly 20 years in power, the SNP’s promises ring hollow. If they had any big ideas to improve lifeline services to the Northern Isles, they’d have done it by now,” he said, adding he planned to raise similar points at Scottish Labour’s conference next month.
"Next year’s election is about change. The choice is clear: more failure with John Swinney and his knackered SNP government, or a new direction with Scottish Labour.”