Yes Shetland challenge to Scott – let's debate
Yes Shetland has welcomed what it called Tavish Scott's "belated" entry to the referendum campaign.
The group has issued a challenge to Shetland's MSP to debate the length of the isles with both sides making their case for the vote on 18th September.
Yes Shetland chairman Brian Nugent said: "To date Yes Shetland has held seven public meetings in the islands, in Scalloway, Burra, Sandwick, Brae, Bressay, Aith and Staneyhill.
"Yes Shetland has made a public commitment to holding meetings in all the islands and as many local areas as possible on the mainland.
"Mr Scott and Yes Shetland both want to make the positive case from our different viewpoints, so just let us know the day, date, time and venue and Yes Shetland will be there. Meetings with both sides will mean a real debate about our future.
"He talks about a brighter future, he might want to explain how that ties in with foodbank Britain. It is bad enough that there is the need for foodbanks but worse that there is no political will in Britain to do anything about the causes."
Mr Nugent said there was a "constant refrain" from the MSP about centralisation but when you looked further that was not the case.
He said: "Michael Keating, professor of politics at the University of Aberdeen and director of the ESRC Scottish Centre on Constitutional Change, pointed out at the SCCC meeting in the town hall that politicians always talk about centralisation in opposition but once in power quickly forget about the issue. Mr Scott was in the audience; he did not disagree.
"Mr Scott is right – independence is not like a general election. The current problem is that in Scotland at a general election, if you do not like your government then you can indeed vote, but then you have to hope that another bigger country, down the road, elects a new government that you can be comfortable with. It is time to elect our own governments."