No hidden agendas (Billy Fox)
I fully agree with Mr Jamieson when he points out the dangers of single issue candidates standing for election (“Complete sham”, Readers’ Views, 4th April). I also agree with him regarding Mr Hannah’s comments, which although well intentioned were ill-judged and incorrect.
There is no doubt the Viking Energy windfarm is the final straw that has prompted me to stand for the Scottish Parliament, but having lived and worked all my life in Shetland my concerns on island issues are much broader.
How we move forward on energy requirements for Shetland and all the issues Mr Jamieson mentions, education, health, social care, jobs, addiction are important to me. My concerns also relate to fishing, crofting, aquaculture, transport and the full gamut of the Shetland economy.
I cannot lay claim to any political pedigree but looking at some politicians these days that may not be a bad thing. What I will guarantee if elected is to work hard and without compromise for the good of Shetland. That will be the case whether or not the VE windfarm goes ahead. Encouragingly, I already have several pro-windfarm acquaintances saying they will consider voting for me, it is up to me to confirm their support between now and polling day.
If I were elected I can assure everyone in Shetland that I would offer full representation to him or her – no hidden agendas. My views would not be hidden, neither would my constituents’ concerns be compromised.
The Liberal Democrats sit nationally as one of the most discredited parties of all time. To conform to such a party line while purporting to do what is best for Shetland is doing real harm to Scotland and us. The recent North Sea oil tax hike is just the latest blunder limply defended by our sitting parliamentarians.
I would only ask that the Shetland public give me opportunity to lay out my stall over the next few weeks and pass judgement on 5th May. I believe folk in Shetland are weary and looking for change. The entrenched Lib/Dem position in Shetland is what is the truly negative issue. The SNP has sat in government for the last four years and could not care less about Shetland because it is such a strong Lib/Dem seat. That is really unhealthy for Shetland. If I rock the boat enough this time perhaps some of the main parties will see merit in putting up more credible candidates in future.
I ask folk to look at www.billyfox.co.uk and they will see that I hold a broad range of views. I would also like to leave you with the following:
“The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism – ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power.” Franklin D Roosevelt, message to Congress on curbing monopolies, 29th April, 1938.
Billy Fox
Independent candidate,
Scottish Parliament.
Brennek
Quarff.
D A Thomson
Looks like that at the end of the day it’ll be a hung parliament (not high enough for some perhaps) so this could be the best time for Shetland to have an independent voice that will be taken notice of. For once Shetland has got a candidate in Billy Fox that will not be afraid to speak up for Shetland and Shetlanders whatever their views.
S Thomson
I believe that for Shetland to have an independent candidate would not be so good even in a hung parliament. Just because the Liberals in Westminister got together with the Tories, Does not mean our MSPS will do the same they cannot be held accountable. Tavish has done very well representing Shetland so far. I personally do not believe Mr Fox would be a good candidate due to his obsession about the windfarm. As I believe he would end up devoting all his time and energy into stopping that.
Billy Fox
Not true S Thomson, and if you support the wind farm I would make that representation on your behalf.
Billy Fox
Shetland Independent candidate
Scottish Parliament
Brennek
Quarff
Shetland
ZE2 9EY
Rachael Smith
I fully disagree with what S Thomson has said. Mr Scott has countlessly refused to represent the people of Shetland and their views, instead sitting on the fence. Mr Fox will make a better candidate and representative for the Shetland people.
John Wylie
I would fully endorse Billy’s campaign to represent Shetland in the Scottish Parliament as an independant candidate.
I have known and worked with him for over 20 years and have always found him to take the balanced view, whilst keeping the interests of Shetland, the people, the environment and the local economy as priority.
I believe that it is time for a fresh look at what we do and why we do it.
ian tinkler
I have never known Mr. Scott to take a firm stand on any environmental issue during all his time as MP, MSP. Not a single original idea of any sort, just a wet, washy washy career politician prostituting himself to public opinion however misinformed or ignorant. Shetland needs far better, someone with guts and courage to take a stand and represent the true interests of Shetlanders, Not Tavish whom represents no one but himself, his career and the next election result
Colin Hunter
Independant candidates are all very well but have no overall clout due to not having a party behind them. I have no doubt that Billy Fox would do his best to represent the people of Shetland if he was elected. However, what would happen if there was a Shetland wide referendum on the windfarm which, as I suspect such a referendum would, came down on the side of the development of a windfarm. How would Mr Fox reconcile such an event with his own personal feelings on the subject? How would he feel having to promote the very project he has so vociferously opposed in the past? There have been criticisms of Tavish Scott in these pages for not pinning his colours to the mast, so to speak,but as he says, his personal beliefs are irrelevant when he is representing the majority in parliament. The whole project hangs on the provision of an interconnector cable, which, if you delve through distant memory was mooted years ago to allow Iceland to export cheap geothermal electricity to the UK via Shetland. That never came to pass and I won’t be holding my breath waiting for this one!
Gordon Harmer
Colin Tavish Scott may represent Shetland but when he votes on issues that affect us he will first and foremost follow the liberal party whip not what is best for us. Billy Fox I think would represent and vote on such things with Shetland and Shetlanders foremost in his mind. If there is a hung parliament Billy will be in a position to bargain with the strongest party and do deals that will be in our benefit and that will give him clout. Just look today the way Tavish is huffing and puffing about fuel prices because there is an election looming he should have had this sorted years ago.