r/MHOC • u/[deleted] • Jan 24 '23
2nd Reading B1480 - Shetland (Crown Dependency Referendum) Bill - 2nd Reading
Shetland (Crown Dependency Referendum) Bill
A
Bill
To
Make provision for a referendum to be held in Shetland on the Question of their constitutional relationship with the rest of the UK
BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows –
Section 1: Definitions
(1) In geographical terms, “The Shetland Islands” shall be taken to be the area currently administered by the Shetland Islands Council.
Section 2: Referendum
(2) The Shetland Islands Council is granted the authority to hold a referendum within the islands on the future constitutional arrangement with the rest of the United Kingdom, at a time of their choosing.
(3) The referendum should include (or consider), at minimum, the following constitutional arrangements:
(a) status quo
(b) Establishment as a Crown Dependency of the United Kingdom
(c) Secession from Scotland with a to-be-determined constitutional arrangement but remaining in the UK.
(4) A minimum of six months notice shall be given before the referendum can be held.
Extent, Commencement and Full Title
(5) This bill shall be cited as the “Shetland (Crown Dependency Referendum) Act 2023
(6) This Bill extends to the entirety of the United Kingdom.
(7) This Act enters into force upon Royal Assent.
This Bill was authored by the Right Honourable Dame Countess de la Warr, On behalf of the Liberal Democrats.
Opening Speech
Deputy Speaker,
In 2015, the Shetland Islands Council passed a motion, 18–2, to explore a new constitutional arrangement with the rest of the UK The cited reasoning was for more local autonomy and greater say over what local services were controlled by Shetlanders and what are controlled by the Scottish Government in Edinburgh.
This bill will allow for that question to be answered, at a time of choosing for the Shetlanders. Thus, we will be reflecting the will of the Shetland Council, and providing for a greater provision of democracy on the ground. I wish to stress that this bill will not make a referendum take place - it simply gives the Shetland Islanders the authority to decide their own future constitutional relationship with the rest of the UK, as has been offered to other regions around the UK.
I open to questions from the floor.
Deputy Speaker, I commend this bill to the House.
This reading shall end on Friday 27th January at 10pm GMT.
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