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Shetland Elects

@shetlandelects.bsky.social
218 followers 97 following 683 posts

Covering elections and public opinion in the Shetland islands (and sometimes elsewhere). Bar chart enthusiast.

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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 13h
Shetland Times poll: Should public bodies provide financial support to help new recruits relocate? Yes: 49% No: 51% Period: 25 September - 2 October 2026 Sample size: 57 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Orkney and Shetland (Westminster constituency), Find Out Now/Electoral Calculus MRP projection, 4-11 September 2026: Liberal Democrats: 57% (+2) Scottish National Party: 18% (+2) Green: 11% (-1) Reform UK: 9% (-2) Conservative: 2% (-1) Restore Britain: 2% (-1) Labour: 0% +/- vs. 23-30 June 2026
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Orkney and Shetland (Westminster constituency), More in Common MRP projection, 21 August - 21 September 2026: Liberal Democrats: 54% (+9) Scottish National Party: 20% (+2) Green: 9% (-7) Reform UK: 8% (-8) Labour: 6% (+4) Conservative: 2% (-1) Restore Britain: 2% (+2) +/- vs. 5-28 June 2026
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland (Liberal Democrat) has told Shetland News that he will likely contest the next UK general election. He has been Orkney and Shetland's MP since 2001, winning seven consecutive elections in that time. www.shetnews.co.uk/2026/09/27/l...
shetnews.co.uk
MP looking ahead to 2029 election as he moves into new office
LONG-serving Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has confirmed that it is “more likely than not” that his name would again be on the ballot paper for the...
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Shetland Times poll: Would a tourism tax damage local business? Yes: 34% No: 66% Period: 18-26 September 2026 Sample size: 44 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Orkney and Shetland (Westminster constituency), Survation MRP projection, 20 August - 4 September 2026: Liberal Democrats: 53% (+3) Scottish National Party: 25% (+3) Reform UK: 4% (-6) Labour: 4% (-4) Green: 3% (-3) Conservative: 2% (-1) +/- vs. 22-27 July 2026
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Europe Elects @europeelects.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Isle of Man (UK Crown Dependency), parliament election: for the first time since it began contesting elections in 2006, the Liberal Vannin Party (LVP-*) has failed to win any seats. The party's sole MP, Lawrie Hooper, finished fourth in the constituency of Ramsey with 9.2% of the vote.
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Europe Elects @europeelects.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Isle of Man (UK Crown Dependency), parliament election: the new parliament will have the lowest level of representation by political parties in decades. Only two MPs from political parties were elected - both members of the Manx Labour Party (MLP-*), which maintained its level of representation.
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Europe Elects @europeelects.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Isle of Man (UK Crown Dependency), parliament election: the incumbent Chief Minister (head of government), Alfred Cannan (Ind-*), has been re-elected in his constituency of Ayre and Michael. He finished in second place with 18.8% of the vote, securing the constituency's second seat.
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Europe Elects @europeelects.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Isle of Man (UK Crown Dependency), parliament election: Final result (seats won) Ind.-*: 22 (+1) MLP-*: 2 LVP-*: 0 (-1) CM-*: 0 (new) TIM-*: 0 (new) +/- vs. 2021 election Majority = 13 seats #IsleofManElection2026
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Europe Elects @europeelects.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Isle of Man (UK Crown Dependency), parliament election: Final result (vote share) Ind.-*: 89.4% (+3.1) MLP-*: 4.8% (-0.3) LVP-*: 2.8% (-2.5) CM-*: 2.6% (new) TIM-*: 0.3% (new) +/- vs. 2021 election #IsleofManElection2026
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Orkney and Shetland (Westminster constituency), YouGov MRP projection, 23 August - 18 September 2026: Liberal Democrats: 50% (+1) Reform UK: 17% (+1) Scottish National Party: 11% (-2) Green: 10% (-1) Labour: 5% (-1) Conservative: 5% (+1) Restore Britain: 2% (+2) +/- vs. 31 August-24 September 2025
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Shetland's constituency MSP, Hannah Mary Goodlad (SNP), won the "One to Watch" award at the annual Holyrood Magazine awards. Also in contention were Joe Fagan (South Scotland, Labour) and Jenny Young (Central Scotland and Lothians West, Labour).
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Heather Woodbridge (Independent), leader of Orkney Islands Council, has become Scotland's first council leader to take maternity leave, following the birth of her first child orcadian.co.uk/council-lead...
orcadian.co.uk
Council leader gives birth to first child - The Orcadian Online
Leader of Orkney Islands Council (OIC), Heather Woodbridge, has welcomed her first child, the local authority has announced. She is the first female council leader in Scotland to have a baby while in ...
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Shetland Times poll: Would you vote for Scottish independence? Yes: 46% No: 54% Period: 11-19 September 2026 Sample size: 637 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Shetland Times poll: Do you think the 'unitary authority' will improve services? Yes: 27% No: 73% Period: 4-13 September 2026 Sample size: 41 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Shetland Times poll: Would you support random drug testing of council staff? Yes: 52% No: 48% Period: 28 August - 6 September 2026 Sample size: 124 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
The Scottish Government's programme for government has pledged to reduce the number of health boards in Scotland from 14 to two and to continue exploration of the single authority model for islands, which could see island health boards merge with the islands councils.
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Nominations are currently open to run for the Scottish Youth Parliament. Open to young people aged 14-25, the deadline to stand to be a candidate is on 25 September. Full details here: www.shetland.gov.uk/news/article...
shetland.gov.uk
Young people sought for Scottish Youth Parliament – Shetland Islands Council
Young people in Shetland aged 14 to 25 are being invited to put themselves forward for election to the next term of the Scottish Youth Parliament.
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Salmon production by Scottish marine region, 2024 (tonnes): North Coast & West Highlands: 51,795 (-2,946) Shetland: 42,533 (-253) Outer Hebrides: 40,126 (+12,916) Argyll & Clyde: 35,151 (-760) Orkney: 22,395 (+11,321) +/- vs. 2015
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Europe Elects @europeelects.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Isle of Man (UK Crown Dependency) election, candidates by party: Ind.-*: 67 (+11) CM-*: 5 (new) LVP-*: 4 MLP-*: 4 (+1) TIM-*: 2 (new) IMGP-*: 0 (-2) +/- vs. 2021 election Seats up for election: 24 Election date: 24 September 2026
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Farmed salmon total harvest rate, 2022: Shetland: 66.5% (-11.9) Scotland: 61.8% (-5.1) +/- vs. 1991
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Annual salmon aquaculture production in Shetland as a proportion of the rest of Scotland: 1991: 26% 2001: 29% 2011: 22% 2021: 21% 2023: 22% 2024: 22%
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Europe Elects @europeelects.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Iceland: European Union membership negotiations referendum 🇮🇸 #Iceland Icelandic voters have rejected reopening EU accession negotiations. The final result: Yes: 47.17% No: 52.83% Explore: europeelects.eu/2026/08/28/e...
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Europe Elects @europeelects.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Iceland: European Union membership negotiations referendum today 🇮🇸 The latest Maskína poll, published and conducted yesterday, shows 50.4% in favour of resuming EU accession negotiations and 49.6% against (n = 3,274). Explore: europeelects.eu/2026/08/28/e...
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Europe Elects @europeelects.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Iceland: EU membership negotiations referendum 🇮🇸 Polls suggest that the race between 'Yes' and 'No' is too close to call. Explore: europeelects.eu/2026/08/28/election…
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Shetland Times poll: Should a sanctioned goose cull be introduced in Shetland? Yes: 74% No: 26% Period: 21-29 August 2026 Sample size: 91 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Salmon aquaculture employees in Shetland as a percentage of all Scottish employees: 1991: 31% 2001: 29% 2011: 26% 2021: 24% 2023: 27% 2024: 24%
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Number of people employed by salmon aquaculture in Shetland, 2024: Full-time: 262 (+60) Part-time: 5 (-97) +/- vs. 1991
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
There has been a steady decline in the number of shellfish businesses in Shetland in the past 25 years.
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Numbers of people employed in shellfish businesses in Shetland, 2024: Full-time: 60 (+39) Part-time: 20 (-17) Casual: 15 (-12)
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Producing shellfish sites in Scotland in 2024 by area (all species): Shetland: 106 Highland: 26 Strathclyde: 26 Western Isles: 18 Orkney: 2
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Shetland's mussel production as a percentage of all Scottish mussel production: 2015: 77% 2021: 83% 2023: 86% 2024: 89%
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Orkney and Shetland (Westminster constituency), Survation MRP projection: Liberal Democrats: 50% (-5) Scottish National Party: 22% (+5) Reform UK: 10% (+2) Labour: 8% Green: 6% (-4) Conservative: 3% +/- vs. 2024 election Fieldwork: 22-27 July 2026
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
The number of people employed in Shetland's fishing industry has been on a downward trend since 1971, despite a significant jump in the 1990s.
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Licensed vessels in Shetland by size, 2024: Under 10m: 218 (+188) 10-24m: 21 (-28) Over 24m: 23 (+13) +/- vs. 1991
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Licenced vessels by Shetland district, 2024: Lerwick/Bressay: 106 (+93) Whalsay: 42 (N/A) Scalloway/Burra/Trondra: 28 (-40) Central Mainland: 26 (+26) West Mainland: 24 (-6) South Mainland: 15 (+2) Yell/Fetlar/Unst: 12 (-17) Northmavine: 4 (-10) Out Skerries: 4 (N/A) +/- vs. 1971
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Shetland Times poll: Is there still a chance to save the Scalloway Swimming Pool? Yes: 61% No: 39% Period: 14-23 August 2026 Sample size: 97 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Fish landings in Shetland as a share of all landings in Scotland: 2011: 23% 2021: 17% 2024: 20%
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Fish landings in Shetland (tonnes), 2024: Mackerel: 35,027 (-9,109) Herring: 19,435 (+9,995) Whitefish: 17,370 (+3,890) Shellfish: 2,218 (+253) Other pelagic: 5 (-2,141) +/- vs. 2011
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Shetland's average weekly pay has mostly kept up with inflation since 2009, although it fell behind for a few years at the beginning of the decade.
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Average weekly pay (full-time and part-time), 2025: Shetland: £677 (+280) Eilean Siar: £644 (+249) Great Britain: £643 (+246) Scotland: £643 (+257) Highland: £612 (+254) Orkney: £585 (+227) +/- vs. 2009
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Average full-time weekly pay, 2025: Shetland: £863.60 (+318.40) Orkney: £786.00 (+358.60) Eilean Siar: £780.30 (+344.20) Scotland: £775.60 (+288.40) Highland: £775.10 (+317.10) Great Britain: £766.60 (+266.40) +/- vs. 2011
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SIBC @sibc.radio · 21/08/2026
The count of the ballot for the Lerwick business improvement district scheme was completed in the council chamber this morning. With a return rate of 56 per cent, over 81 per cent, voted in favour of continuing
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Gross domestic product per capita, 2023: Shetland: £40,844 (+8,321) United Kingdom: £39,845 (+13,574) Scotland: £37,192 (+12,479) +/- vs. 2011
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Shetland's gross domestic product has steadily increased over the past three decades, and has since recovered from the Covid-19 crash.
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Small business jobs as a share of private sector jobs, 2025: Shetland: 65.1% (+3.2) Island & remote rural areas: 61.5% (-0.9) Mainly rural areas: 49.6% (-0.7) Scotland: 36.1% (+0.9) Larger cities: 26.0% (+1.4) +/- vs. 2011
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
There has been a steady increase in the number of private sector businesses in Shetland in the past 15 years, though the level has plateaued in recent years.
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
The number of business births in Shetland is up on the 2010s, though has been slowly declining since 2022.
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Shetland Elects @shetlandelects.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Unemployment rates, 2025: Orkney: 5.4% (+2.4) Scotland: 3.7% (+0.5) Eilean Siar: 2.7% (+0.6) Shetland: 1.9% (+0.1) +/- vs. 2024
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