Editing Shetland (section)

== Politics ==
Shetland is represented in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] as part of the [[Orkney and Shetland (UK Parliament constituency)|Orkney and Shetland]] [[United Kingdom constituencies|constituency]], which elects one [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP). As of May 2023, and since [[2001 UK general election|2001]], the MP is [[Alistair Carmichael]], a Liberal Democrat.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.alistaircarmichael.co.uk/biography |title=About |date= |work=Alistair Carmichael |access-date=21 January 2021 |quote= |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118175446/https://www.alistaircarmichael.co.uk/biography |url-status=live }}</ref> This seat has been held by the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] or their predecessors the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] since [[1950 UK general election|1950]], longer than any other seat in the United Kingdom.<ref>[http://www.alistaircarmichael.org.uk/ "Alistair Carmichael: MP for Orkney and Shetland"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613181311/http://www.alistaircarmichael.org.uk/ |date=13 June 2011 }}, alistaircarmichael.org.uk, Retrieved 8 September 2009 {{full citation needed|date=July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090115044042/http://www.alba.org.uk/scot99constit/h05.html "Candidates and Constituency Assessments"]}}, alba.org.uk, "The almanac of Scottish elections and politics", Retrieved 9 February 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.snptacticalvoting.com/2009/10/untouchable-orkney-shetland-isles.html "The Untouchable Orkney & Shetland Isles "] (1 October 2009) www.snptacticalvoting.com Retrieved 9 February 2010 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716100518/http://www.snptacticalvoting.com/2009/10/untouchable-orkney-shetland-isles.html|date=16 July 2011}}</ref>

In the [[Scottish Parliament]] the [[Shetland (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Shetland]] constituency elects one [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]] (MSP) by the [[plurality voting system|first past the post]] system. [[Tavish Scott]] of the [[Scottish Liberal Democrats]] had held the seat since the creation of the [[Scottish Parliament]] in 1999.<ref>[http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/tavish_scott/ "Tavish Scott MSP"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060228030216/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/tavish_scott/ |date=28 February 2006 }}, Scottish Parliament, Retrieved 20 March 2011</ref> [[Beatrice Wishart]] MSP, also of the [[Scottish Liberal Democrats]], was elected to replace Tavish Scott in August 2019.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fraser|first1=Gemma|url=https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,lib-dems-win-shetland-byelection_10743.htm|website=holyrood.com|title=Lib Dems win Shetland by-election|date=4 October 2019|access-date=17 November 2019|archive-date=17 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117234045/https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,lib-dems-win-shetland-byelection_10743.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Shetland is also within the [[Highlands and Islands (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Highlands and Islands]] [[scottish Parliament constituencies and regions|electoral region]] which elects seven MSPs.

The political composition of the Shetland Islands Council is 21 [[Independent politician|Independents]] and 1 [[Scottish National Party]].<ref>{{cite web|title=About your councillors|url=https://www.shetland.gov.uk/about_your_councillors/|publisher=Shetland Islands Council|access-date=8 January 2018|archive-date=9 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109180850/https://www.shetland.gov.uk/about_your_councillors/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Wir Shetland]] movement was set up in 2015 to campaign for greater autonomy.<ref>[https://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/shetland-islands-toy-with-idea-of-post-brexit-independence/ Shetland Islands toy with idea of post-Brexit independence] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222054130/https://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/shetland-islands-toy-with-idea-of-post-brexit-independence/ |date=22 February 2017 }}, [[EurActiv]], 16 February 2017</ref> In September 2020, the Shetland Islands Council voted 18–2 to explore replacing the council with a new system of government which controls a fairer share of the islands revenue streams and has a greater influence over their own affairs, which could include very lucrative oil fields and fishing waters.<ref name="Shetland News">{{cite web|last1=Cope|first1=Chris|title=Self-determination motion a "first small step towards a brighter future"|url=https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2020/09/10/self-determination-motion-a-first-small-step-towards-a-brighter-future/|website=shetnews.co.uk|date=10 September 2020|publisher=Shetland News|access-date=11 September 2020|archive-date=11 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911062941/https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2020/09/10/self-determination-motion-a-first-small-step-towards-a-brighter-future/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2022, as part of the [[Levelling up policy of the Boris Johnson government#White paper|Levelling Up White Paper]], an "Island Forum" was proposed, which would allow local policymakers and residents in Shetland to work alongside their counterparts in [[Orkney]], the [[Outer Hebrides|Western Isles]], [[Anglesey]] and the [[Isle of Wight]] on common issues, such as broadband connectivity, and provide a platform for them to communicate directly with the government on the challenges island communities face in terms of levelling up.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2022/02/03/new-islands-forum-should-not-just-be-box-ticking-exercise/|title=New islands forum should not be 'box ticking exercise'|last=Cope|first=Chris|date=3 February 2021|work=[[The Shetland News]]|accessdate=17 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2022/11-february/news/uk/gove-announces-levelling-up-forum-for-islands|title=Gove announces Levelling-up forum for islands|last=Paveley|first=Rebecca|date=11 February 2021|work=[[Church Times]]|accessdate=17 February 2022}}</ref>