Election thanks (Billy Fox)

May I congratulate Tavish Scott on securing a fourth term of office for the Shetland constituency. Congratulations also to SNP candidate Jean Urquhart, elected to represent Shetland in Holyrood as one of our seven Highlands and Islands list MSPs. Please do not forget they are there!

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who assisted and supported me during the Scottish election campaign. The many emails and messages of encouragement received personally and through the media were greatly appreciated.

Thanks also to Radio Shetland, Shetland News, The Shetland Times and Shetland Islands Broadcasting Company (SIBC). Their coverage of press releases and election news was fair minded and professionally done. Also to Returning Officer Jan Riise and his election team for keeping a novice on the right track, and for organising such a smooth operation.

Not least I would like to thank the 2,845 folk who registered a vote of confidence in me, a result that I believe indicates a beginning for change in Northern Isles politics; reflected also in the strong independent and SNP showing in Orkney.

My one disappointment was not to see a larger turnout. The right to vote is a precious thing, with that in mind I would like to offer some food for thought and borrow a slogan from our own Scottish Youth Parliament’s recent voting campaign: “Don’t expect change, without action.”

Billy Fox
Brennek,
Quarff.