A GREEN Shetland councillor has said campaigning for a second independence referendum is “not a priority of his” despite backing the cause.
While Alex Armitage, who became a Shetland South councillor in the latest election, has conceded that now is the right time for a second vote, given the fallout from Brexit, he has said the issue is not at the top of his priorities.
He has admitted actively campaigning for a poll does not give him a “fire in his belly” and believes there are bigger issues facing the people of Shetland that he must put first.
It comes after Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie stood with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last month to launch the first in a series of papers on a fresh case for independence.
The Scottish Government is aiming to hold a second referendum on October 19 next year.
Armitage said: “I feel that it would be undemocratic not to have an independence referendum. I think there should definitely be one, that was what was put before the people of Scotland and I believe in democracy.
“I know people have their concerns about timing but I think that probably now is a good time.
"But in terms of campaigning and going door to door on the issue, that would not be a priority of mine.
"Although I now support independence, it's not something that drives my politics. We have lots of important local issues in Shetland such as climate change and troubles facing our marine ecology and local fishing industry.
"People are living in deepening fuel poverty, and issues such as these must take priority.
"I suppose for me personally, Scottish independence is not something which gives me a fire in my belly. It's not central to my politics. Independence is a means to an end, not an end in itself."
Armitage – who moved to Shetland from London 18 months ago and whose mother is a Shetlander – said if he had lived in Scotland in 2014 he would likely have voted to remain part of the UK, but his views have changed.
Back then he felt there was “hope” in Westminster politics as he thought the Labour Party seemed open to a “progressive” way forward.
He has since switched sides but is very aware there are Shetlanders who remain against independence, with many concerned matters will simply be centralised at Holyrood instead of Westminster.
And while he is fully behind leaving the UK, he feels "waving" Saltires will not be the way to persuade islanders over to Yes.
He said: “There are lots of people in Shetland who are strongly against independence and feel that centralisation at Holyrood would be no better than centralisation at Westminster.
"The Greens’ vision of independence, of devolving power down to the most local level, is in my view a much stronger argument for independence for Shetlanders than waving the Scottish flag.
"I would have voted No in 2014 but I have been persuaded that Scottish independence is now a sensible way forward. I think using a logical and rational approach to the benefits of independence would be the most effective campaigning strategy here in Shetland.
“I'd like to see powers devolved to Shetland and I'd argue for Faroese-style autonomy for Shetland.”
The Faroe Islands is part of Denmark but has been self-governing since 1948 and has an independent trade policy, as it is not part of the same customs area as Denmark.
Armitage said he made it clear to the Scottish Greens when he stood for election that independence was not a huge focus for him and this was accepted by the party.
He said: “I've always believed in the principle of self-determination. The people of Scotland should be able to decide what is best for them and now I’m one of those people.
"An important Green Principle is localism, the idea that decision-making should be done as locally as possible. Scottish people have their own unique needs and we feel this acutely in Shetland.
"I think the SNP and the Greens were clear in their manifesto they wanted an independence referendum and I think there's a good argument for it as we have left the EU and that's a significant difference to 2014. That point has been made clear by both parties and there is a narrow independence majority in parliament.
“When I stood for election I told the party [the Greens] I would vote for independence but it's not it's not a massive part of my politics and that's how the party works. We all agree on items of principle but we allow differences between members and we discuss issues and try and come to decisions based on open discussion."
