Surprised by Carmichael (Ian MacKenzie Telfer)

Because of cost of living factors rural poverty can be more pronounced than urban poverty. It is often hidden, as people in our countryside tend to cover up their social deprivation with stoic forbearance.

Despite lucrative returns from the oil and fishing industries which some groups in the community benefit from, nevertheless, there are many people in Shetland who strive to exist below the poverty line.

As an ordnance surveyor, who worked in every part of Shetland, being based at Lerwick, Boddam, North Roe, Brae, Vidlin and Unst, I can write authoritatively on the socio-economic structure of these islands.

With this backdrop, I was astonished that Alastair Carmichael, MP and Better Together campaigner, voted for the iniquitous bedroom tax.

I have no doubt that in an independent Scotland we would have a more caring society and I am surprised that Mr Carmichael, an islander himself, has opted to support the Westminster Tory-led regime’s punitive tax without any thought for his more deprived constituents.

Ian MacKenzie Telfer

6 Ben Bhraggie Drive

 Golspie

Sutherland