Shetland Times poll: Would you support a moratorium on new salmon farms around Shetland? Yes: 71% No: 29% Period: 13-21 February 2026 Sample size: 138 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

Liberal Democrat landslide in *checks notes* Zetland, Redcar & Cleveland

Our Archivists just came across a 1798 map of the centre of Kirkwall #Orkney, created for a legal dispute over some ground. It's very exciting because it's one of the earliest detailed maps of Kirkwall we've seen. Read all about it on our Archive Blog: orkneyarchive.blogspot.com/2026/02/kirk...

Faroe, Spyr poll: Do you think there should be fewer municipalities in the Faroes than today? Yes: 68% No: 20% Fieldwork: February 2026

Faroe, Spyr poll: Do you think the time is right to review the position of Faroe Islands in the Commonwealth? Yes: 61% No: 39% Fieldwork: 3 February 2026

Faroe, Spyr poll: Support for greater autonomy by party (vs independence and status quo): Self-Government Party: 82% Progress: 61% Centre Party: 61% Social Democratic Party: 56% People's Party: 47% Union Party: 33% Republic: 26% Fieldwork: 3 February 2026

Faroe, Spyr poll: Support for independence by party (vs greater autonomy and status quo): Republic: 72% Progress: 32% People's Party: 16% Centre Party: 8% Social Democratic Party: 5% Union Party: 1% Self-Government Party: 0% Fieldwork: 3 February 2026

Faroe, Spyr poll: What position do you think the Faroe Islands should have in the commonwealth? Greater autonomy: 42% The same position as now: 34% Independent country: 20% Fieldwork: 3 February 2026

Faroe: the conservative People's Party has surged to 34% in the polling average. That is the highest level at which any party has polled in recent years. The governing coalition of the centre-left Social Democratic Party, left-wing Republic and liberal Progress has fallen to just 38% in the average

Government coalition: 33% (-19) Opposition: 67% (+19) +/- vs. 2022 election

Faroe Islands, Spyr poll: Parliament election A (~EPP): 37% (+4) B (~RE): 22% (+3) E (~LEFT): 17% (-1) C (S&D): 12% (-3) H (~RE): 5% (+1) F (~RE): 4% (-4) D (~RE): 3% +/- vs. 3 November 2025 Fieldwork: 03 February 2026 Sample size: 500 ➤ europeelects.eu/faroe-islands

Faroe, Spyr poll: Should we start looking for oil and gas in the Faroese subsoil? Yes: 58% No: 22% Support by party (dks removed): People's Party: 90% Progress: 88% Self-Government Party: 85% Union Party: 79% Centre Party: 72% Republic: 58% Social Democratic Party: 48% Fieldwork: February 2026

All projections agree that the Liberal Democrats would safely hold Orkney and Shetland's Westminster constituency were an election to be held today, with Reform UK and the SNP competing for second place.

Shetland Times poll: Would you welcome a permanent military presence being reinstated in Shetland? Yes: 85% No: 15% Period: 6-14 February 2026 Sample size: 61 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

Shetland Times poll: Would you support a ban on under-16s using social media? Yes: 73% No: 27% Period: 31 January - 7 February 2026 Sample size: 51 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

Yesterday, Shetland Islands Council flew the Progress Pride flag over Lerwick Town Hall "to mark Pride History Month, celebrating the achievements and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community". Source: Shetland Islands Council

The latest projections for Orkney and Shetland's Westminster constituency suggest that the Liberal Democrats maintain a decisive lead, while the SNP and Reform UK fight for second place. Note: these projections all apply Scottish-level polling onto Shetland, rather than directly poll Shetlanders.

After coming first in Shetland's regional list vote for the first time in 2021, the SNP have slipped back into second place in the Shetland Elects indicative projections. The Liberal Democrats remain in the lead, while Reform UK have risen to third place.

Shetland Elects *indicative* Scottish Parliament regional list projection, January 2026: Liberal Democrat: 31% (+1) Scottish National Party: 24% (+1) Reform UK: 19% (-1) Green: 12% (-5) Labour: 7% (+1) Conservative: 4% (+1) Alba: 2% (+1) Sovereignty: 1% (+1) +/- vs. December 2025

Shetland Times poll: Should alcohol be banned from the lifeline ferry service? Yes: 25% No: 75% Period: 24-31 January 2026 Sample size: 448 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

Jim Wallace, the inaugural Deputy First Minister of Scotland (1999-2005), Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats (1992 - 2005), MP for Orkney & Shetland (1983-2001), MSP for Orkney (1999-2007) & Moderator of the Church of Scotland (2021-22), among many other achievements, has died at the age of 71

Some election commentary on this year's Up Helly Aa bill...

Shetland Times poll: Should thousands of pounds of public money be spent on lighting up the Clickimin Broch? Yes: 55% No: 45% Period: 16-24 January 2026 Sample size: 49 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

Average gross weekly income, 2025: Shetland: £863.60 Edinburgh: £819.80 Orkney: £786.00 Western Isles: £780.30 Scotland: £775.60 Great Britain: £766.60

Interestingly, gross weekly income in Shetland has been a lot "spikier" than in Scotland and Great Britain, but has nevertheless generally been a bit higher than the national averages. (Source: ONS)

How have Shetland Elects' indicative projections for Shetland's Scottish Parliament constituency changed over time? With the caveat that the projections apply national polling onto Shetland's constituency, they show a strengthening position for the Liberal Democrats, mainly due to the SNP's decline.

To show Shetland's Scottish Parliament constituency projections another way

The latest updates to national projections for Shetland's Scottish Parliament constituency all show the Liberal Democrats with a strong lead over the other parties. They also agree that the SNP and Reform UK are locked in a fight for second place, with the Greens comfortably in fourth place.

Shetland Times poll: Do you think mobile connectivity has improved in Lerwick town centre? Yes: 0% No: 100% Period: 10-17 January 2026 Sample size: 35 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

Orkney and Shetland Westminster constituency: Electoral Calculus/Find Out Now projection, 1-8 December 2025 Liberal Democrat: 56% (+1) Scottish National Party: 18% (+1) Reform UK: 13% (+5) Green: 11% (+1) Conservative: 2% (-1) Labour: 0% (-7) +/- vs 2024 election

The Scottish Greens have confirmed Alex Armitage as their Shetland candidate in May's Scottish Parliament election. This will be the first time the party has contested the constituency in a general election. Armitage previously contested the Westminster constituency in 2024, coming third with 9.9%.

Shetland Times poll: Will 2026 be a good year for Shetland? Yes: 40% No: 60% Period: 2-10 January 2026 Sample size: 35 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

To present Shetland's Scottish Parliament projections in another way...

There are now (to my knowledge) three constituency-level projections for May's Scottish Parliament election. Although they each apply national polling to the constituencies, and thereby do not include any direct polls of Shetlanders, they all project a safe win for the Liberal Democrats in May.

The Guardian has a good summary of the campaigns and debates around building tunnels in Shetland and the Western Isles www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Orkney and Shetland Westminster constituency, More in Common MRP projection: Liberal Democrat: 56% (+15) Reform UK: 18% (-13) Scottish National Party: 14% Green: 8% (+6) Conservative: 1% (-1) Labour: 0% (-7) +/- vs. 8 August - 15 September 2025 Fieldwork: 27 November - 16 December 2025

Shetland Times poll: Will the £2 fare cap make you more likely to travel by bus? Yes: 47% No: 53% Period: 27 December 2025 - 2 January 2026 Sample size: 49 (Note: unweighted, unscientific poll)

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)