Shetland Elects *indicative* Scottish Parliament regional list projection, December 2025: Liberal Democrat: 30% (+3) Scottish National Party: 23% (-12) Reform UK: 20% (+19) Green: 17% (+7) Labour: 6% (-2) Conservative: 3% (-13) Alba: 1% Sovereignty: 0% +/- vs. 2021 election

Happy new year! 2026 looks set to be an exciting electoral year for Shetland, with the next Scottish Parliament election taking place on 7 May. Shetland Elects' final *indicative* projection for 2025 projects a relatively safe re-election for the Liberal Democrats in Shetland's constituency.

Brian Nugent has been announced as Sovereignty's candidate for the Shetland constituency in May's Scottish Parliament election. He will also contest the Highlands and Islands regional list. He previously stood for the constituency in 2021 for the Restore Scotland party, netting 0.8% of the vote.

Shetland Times poll: Has behaviour on buses worsened since the pandemic? Yes: 73% No: 27% Period: 29-27 December 2025 Sample size: 37 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

Faroe, Spyr poll: When should the tunnel to Suðuroy start being drilled? When Eysturoy and Sandoy tunnels are self-sustaining: 50% As soon as possible: 26% (+7) Never: 23% (-2) +/- vs. 3 November 2025 Fieldwork: 19 December 2025

Shetland South councillor Alex Armitage has confirmed that he is seeking selection to be the Scottish Green candidate for Shetland in May's Scottish Parliament election. He was the Green candidate in last year's UK Parliament election, coming third with 9.9% of the vote.

Shetland Times poll: Do you agree with the SIC's decision not to divest from Israel? Yes: 52% No: 48% Period: 12-20 December 2025 Sample size: 137 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

How has the Shetland Elects Westminster indicative projection changed throughout 2025? December 2025 projection: Liberal Democrat: 47% (-6) Scottish National Party: 18% Reform UK: 18% (+2) Green: 15% (+4) Labour: <1% Conservative: <1% (-~1) +/- vs. January 2025 projection

How has the Shetland Elects Holyrood indicative projection changed throughout 2025? December 2025 projection: Liberal Democrat: 45% (-3) Scottish National Party: 26% (-1) Reform UK: 17% (+4) Green: 10% (+1) Labour: <1% (-~1) Conservative: <1% +/- vs. January 2025 projection

The Scottish Greens have confirmed they will be contesting the Shetland constituency in next May's Scottish Parliament election. This will be the first time the Greens contest a full Holyrood election in the constituency. The party previously contested the 2019 by-election, achieving 1.6%.

Martin Joyce has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. He previously worked as Executive Director of Regeneration at Clyde Gateway and, prior to that, Head of Operations for the Western Isles Schools Project. www.cne-siar.gov.uk/news/2025/co...

Shetland (Scottish Parliament constituency), Shetland Elects December 2025 projection: Liberal Democrats: 48% (+1) Scottish National Party: 27% Reform UK: 16% (-1) Greens: 7% (+1) ... +/- vs. September 2025 projection Lib Dems almost certain to be re-elected if an election were to be held today

Shetland Times poll: Would you use a "lie-flat" pod? Yes: 45% No: 55% Period: 5-13 December 2025 Sample size: 84 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

The roundup of recent projections for Orkney and Shetland's Westminster constituency shows the Liberal Democrats maintaining a very safe lead, with Reform UK and the SNP battling for second place and the Greens in a clear fourth place. The Conservatives and Labour would have very little presence.

Former MSYP Bertie Summers has endorsed Emma Macdonald, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Shetland in next year's Scottish Parliament election. www.shetnews.co.uk/2025/12/08/l...

Electioneering for next May's Scottish Parliament election is already underway. For a sample of the campaign dynamics, there have been several letters to Shetland News in recent weeks providing support or opposition to the Liberal Democrats and SNP candidates www.shetnews.co.uk/category/opi...

The outgoing chief executive of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Malcolm Burr, has been granted the lifetime achievement award from the Scottish Public Service Awards 2025. www.cne-siar.gov.uk/news/2025/na...

There was a question about autonomy for Orkney and Shetland in last week's meeting of the Scottish Parliament's meeting of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, which heard evidence on mechanisms for a Scottish independence referendum. parliament.scot/chamber-and-...

Shetland Times poll: Would you be willing to pay parking charges to fund a traffic warden? Yes: 15% No: 85% Period: 28 November - 6 December 2025 Sample size: 115 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

Shetland Times poll: Would you welcome more NorthLink cabins if it meant they were smaller? Yes: 38% No: 62% Period: 22-29 November 2025 Sample size: 396 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

Orkney Islands Council is hosting an event marking its 50th anniversary (a topic I wrote my PhD on!). The event will be at St Magnus Cathedral and attended by the OIC Convener & Leader, former & current councillors, the Lord Lieutenant and former MP Jim Wallace. www.orkney.gov.uk/latest-news/...

Shetland Times poll: Would you welcome the return of traffic wardens? Yes: 63% No: 37% Period: 8-15 November 2025 Sample size: 98 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

Faroe Islands, Spyr poll: Parliament election A (~EPP): 33% (+2) B (~RE): 19% (-4) E (~LEFT): 18% (+1) C (S&D): 15% F (~RE): 8% (+1) H (~RE): 4% (-1) D (~RE): 3% (+1) +/- vs. 25 August 2025 Fieldwork: 03 November 2025 Sample size: 500 ➤ europeelects.eu/faroe-islands

Shetland Times poll: Are you climate concerned? Yes: 77% No: 23% Period: 1-9 November 2025 Sample size: 126 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

Nauru, constitutional referendum result: Yes: 44.7% No: 55.3% The amendment to increase the parliamentary term from 3 to 4 years has been rejected. A two-thirds majority was required to pass the amendment. ➤oceaniaelects.com/nauru #Nauru

Nauru, Final election result: Seat count Incumbent members (ind.): 16 New members (ind.): 3 +/- vs. Last election result Marcus Stephen and David Adeang were re-elected as speaker and president and Isabella Dageago elected as deputy speaker ➤oceaniaelects.com/nauru #Nauru

Shetland Times poll: Would you support the introduction of Graduated Driver Licensing? Yes: 39% No: 61% Period: 24 October - 1 November 2025 Sample size: 54 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

Shetland Times poll: Should Faroe end its tradition of hunting pilot whales? Yes: 55% No: 45% Period: 17-24 October 2025 Sample size: 224 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

An update on the debate over whether Shetland Islands Council is fulfilling its 2020 self-determination motion. (I also love seeing how normal it now is for Shetland's local media to publish quotations in Shaetlan, giving them equal status to English quotations) www.shetnews.co.uk/2025/10/22/e...

As in 2022, there will be no community council elections in Shetland this year due to a lack of nominations. Only one CC - Skerries - had been able to fill all its seats. Filled seats per community council: Bressay: 6/8 Burra & Trondra: 7/8 Delting: 8/12 Dunrossness: 7/12 Fetlar: 5/6 (1/2)

Shetland Times poll: Have we become less resilient to stormy weather? Yes: 76% No: 24% Period: 10-17 October 2025 Sample size: 248 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

Shetland (Scottish Parliament regional list vote), Shetland Elects September 2025 projection: Liberal Democrats: 33% (+3) Scottish National Party: 24% (+2) Reform UK: 17% Greens: 11% (-3) Labour: 7% (-5) Conservatives: 5% (+2) Alba: 3% (+1) +/- vs. August projection

Shetland (Scottish Parliament constituency), Shetland Elects September 2025 projection: Liberal Democrats: 47% (-1) Scottish National Party: 27% (+2) Reform UK: 17% (+2) Greens: 6% (-1) Alba: 1% Conservatives: <1% Labour: <1% (-~3) +/- vs. August 2025 projection

New Zealand, Preliminary results: Māori ward referendums, No. of councils voting Keep or Remove Remove: 24 Keep: 18 ➤ oceaniaelects.com/new-zealand

Shetland Times poll: Should Shetland Islands Council debate motions relating to international affairs? Yes: 19% No: 81% Period: 3-11 October 2025 Sample size: 344 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

New Zealand, Progress results: Wellington mayoral election Little (Labour-Centre-left): 56.9% (+56.9) Tiefenbacher (Ind.-*): 14.6% (+14.6) Chung (Ind.-*): 11.4% (-3.0) Baker (Ind.-*): 7.8% (+7.8) Calvert (Ind.-*): 5.2% (+5.2) ... +/- vs. 2022 result ➤ oceaniaelects.com/new-zealand

New Zealand, Progress results: Auckland mayoral election Brown (Ind.-*): 54.3% (+9.4) Leoni (Ind.-*): 20.9% (+20.9) Johnston (Ind.-*): 8.0% (+6.8) Stam (Ind.-*): 3.9% (+3.9) Alcock (Ind.-*): 3.3% (+2.0) ... +/- vs. 2022 result ➤ oceaniaelects.com/new-zealand

Heather Woodbridge (North Isles, Independent), the Leader of Orkney Islands Council, has taken on a second job - as the resident gravedigger of North Ronaldsay. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Shetland Times poll: Should it be easier for schools to exclude problem pupils? Yes: 81% No: 19% Period: 26 September - 4 October 2025 Sample size: 881 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

Subsea cable damage to Shetland has gone from happening every two years to happening every two months, apparently www.shetnews.co.uk/2025/10/03/i...

Orkney MSP and Scottish Parliament Deputy Presiding Officer, Liam McArthur (Liberal Democrat), has been named "MSP of the Year" in the Holyrood Magazine's annual awards. Last year, McArthur introduced the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament.

Orkney and Shetland Westminster constituency, More in Common MRP projection: Liberal Democrat: 41% (+3) Reform UK: 31% (+14) Scottish National Party: 14% (-5) Labour: 7% (+1) Conservative: 2% (-3) +/- vs. 13-30 June 2025 Fieldwork: 8 August - 15 September 2025

Shetland Times poll: Would you buy an electric vehicle? Yes: 25% No: 75% Period: 19-26 September 2025 Sample size: 683 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

Orkney and Shetland UK constituency, YouGov MRP projection: Liberal Democrat: 49% Reform UK: 16% Scottish National Party: 13% (-2) Green: 11% (+3) Labour: 6% (-1) Conservative: 4% (-1) +/- vs. 29 May - 18 June 2025 Fieldwork: 31 August - 24 September 2025

Malcolm Burr, Chief Executive of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Scotland's longest-serving council chief executive, has announced that he will be standing down after 20 years in the role. welovestornoway.com/index.php/ar...

Shetland News survey: Should more powers be handed over to Shetland? Yes: 65% No: 23% Not sure: 12% Period: 28 August - 12 September 2025 Sample size: over 360 (Note: unweighted, unscientific survey) More details: www.shetnews.co.uk/2025/09/16/m...

Ava Williamson and Beenie-Ann Wood have been elected as Shetland's next members of the Scottish Youth Parliament. They will represent Shetland until the next full Scottish Youth Parliament election next year. www.shetland.gov.uk/news/article...

John Erksine has been selected as Labour's candidate for Shetland in next year's Scottish Parliament election. He previously stood for election in the Highlands and Islands region in 2021. The other confirmed candidates are Hannah Mary Goodlad (SNP) and Emma Macdonald (Liberal Democrat).

Scottish Household Survey 2024: Percentage in Shetland sample (300) who agree that their council Treats people with dignity and respect: 79% (+13) Provides high quality services: 60% (-4) Does the best it can with the money available: 58% (+10) Lets them influence decisions: 21% (-3) +/- vs. 2023

Shetland Times poll: Do you welcome the council's plans to install more speed bumps in Lerwick? Yes: 7% No: 93% Period: 11-20 September 2025 Sample size: 1,735 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)