Scotlands independence referendum is a welcome opportunity to push for concessions but it has also caused disquiet on the Isle of Lewis (above) and the rest of the Western Isles. Photograph: Cathal McNaughton\/Reuters <\/p>\n
Local Free Church of Scotland minister Iver Martin, who intends to vote No on September 18th: If its a 52\/48 split, or something like that, then there will be residual bitterness if Yes is beaten. For some people it has become quite an obsession. There will be an agitation for some time to come. Photograph: Mark Hennessy <\/p>\n
Scottish National Party minister Alistair Allan and Cllr John McKeever in the Yes Scotland offices in Stornoway on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Photograph: Mark Hennessy <\/p>\n
Place names on the Isle of Lewis in Outer Hebrides reflect a shared past over centuries between Gallic-speaking Scots, Norse and latecomers from the south. Each evokes weather forecasts of old on crackling Radio 4 signals: Arnol, Ballantrushal, Barvas, Shawbost, Dalbeg and Branahuie, Newmarket, and Plasterfield. <\/p>\n
Today, much of the conversation on Lewis is filled with talk of independence. Last week, 250 neighbours gathered in Stornoway, the capital, for a debate hosted by the local Gazette newspaper. Ninety-nine voted Yes; ninety-nine voted No. Five were undecided, and the rest did not bother to vote, says one local. <\/p>\n
For many in Lewis and the other islands in the Western Isles, along with Orkney and Shetland, the referendum has offered the chance to press for devolution not just from London but from Edinburgh. <\/p>\n
But the trend has, if anything, gone the other way under the Scottish National Party. European Union funds are now distributed by Edinburgh rather than Inverness. Fire brigades and ambulance services have merged. And the merger of Scotlands police forces has been deeply unpopular in the Highlands and Islands particularly the decision by Chief Constable Stephen House to routinely have armed police on the streets. <\/p>\n
Last year, Scotlands islands which are all remote, although Shetland is blessed with oil riches produced a report, Our Islands, Our Future, which pressed for extra powers. <\/p>\n
In June, the Scottish government offered the islands control of all income from leasing the seabed for wind farms, piers, etc money that currently goes to the crown estate. <\/p>\n
The Edinburgh government has pledged that control of planning out to 12 nautical miles would be devolved to local partnerships, with the island councils playing a role. <\/p>\n
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Remote chance of more power for Scotlands islands<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Scotlands independence referendum is a welcome opportunity to push for concessions but it has also caused disquiet on the Isle of Lewis (above) and the rest of the Western Isles. Photograph: Cathal McNaughton\/Reuters Local Free Church of Scotland minister Iver Martin, who intends to vote No on September 18th: If its a 52\/48 split, or something like that, then there will be residual bitterness if Yes is beaten. Continue reading