Also in the news / Burra nursery UHA, food supply bill, charitable trustees and more…
CHILDREN at the Burra Early Years nursery have been getting into the Up Helly Aa spirit.
The photo above, sent in by Burra Early years, shows a peerie galley burning by the water as Shetland comes to the end of this year’s Up Helly Aa season.
NORTHERN Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has introduced a bill calling for fairer prices for farmers and UK food producers in parliament.
The Food Supply Chain Fairness bill has cross-party support from representatives from the Conservative, Labour, SNP and Plaid Cymru parties.
He introduced the bill, which has been developed alongside farming and land unions, in parliament on Wednesday.
Carmichael, who is chair of the environment, food and rural affairs select committee, said he was “absolutely delighted” to bring the bill forward.
“This is about supporting local farmers but it is also ultimately about supporting UK consumers too,” he said.
“The supermarkets have taken advantage of their market dominance for too long, and that is not working for anyone but them.
“If we want strong and vibrant rural communities in this country then we need a fair deal and fair prices for farmers and food producers.”
CARMICHAEL has also criticised controversial moves by the Labour government to cut welfare spending by up to £5 billion.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the measures this week, which aim to reduce annual spending on the welfare system through tougher restrictions on access to disability and other support payments.
Politicians, including from within the Labour party, have been critical of the cuts, which they say will disproportionately affect disabled people.
Orkney and Shetland’s MP said the UK Government should “get serious about fixing health and social care and the mess that is the Department for Work and Pensions” instead.
“It is all very well talking about restricting eligibility for welfare but we all know that DWP is pretty poor at fairly applying the rules that are already in place, let alone new ones,” he added.
“It is disappointing to see both our governments’ lack of urgency in fixing the real roots of the problem in health and social care.
“Until that changes, no meaningful drop in the welfare bill will arrive, and the misery that people are suffering will continue.”
SHETLAND Charitable Trust (SCT) is on the lookout for two new trustees to help in its mission to improve the quality of life in the isles.
The pair will join the board of 12 volunteers who shape the strategic direction of the trust and oversee its reserves of almost £500 million which are invested to benefit future generations.
Trustees serve two four-year terms and attend four formal trust meetings a year as well as contributing to specialist committees.
Ryan Leith, who chairs SCT’s audit and governance committee, said: “I’ve been a trustee for the past five years. It’s a very interesting role, supporting a wide range of local charities and finding out about their activities in the community.”
Application packs for prospective trustees are available from the trust’s website www.shetlandcharitabletrust.co.uk or by telephone on 01595 744 994.
To learn more about the role, contact SCT chief executive Dr Ann Black at ann.black@shetlandcharitabletrust.co.uk.
ELECTORS who have previously voted by post at UK Parliamentary elections are being asked to reapply if they want to keep their postal vote.
The Elections Act 2022 brought changes to the administration of postal voting, requiring a reapplication to be made every three years for all postal votes in place for UK Parliamentary elections.
It does not affect Scottish Parliamentary or local council elections.
People who need to reapply will have recently received letters from the electoral registration officer.
Depute Orkney and Shetland electoral registration officer Ian Leslie said: “We are writing to UK Parliamentary postal voters to give them early opportunity to make new applications for their postal votes, ahead of January 2026.
“This gives all electors plenty of time to make new applications for UK Parliamentary postal votes which can now be made online and details are included in the letter.
“The option to complete a paper application remains available to electors who may not have the facility to apply online or may not wish to do so.”
ACCLAIMED fiddle and guitar duo Laura Wilkie and Ian Carr will be performing a concert in Shetland at the end of this month.
The pair will perform at Mareel on Saturday 29 March, with support from local harmony group Black Shed Green.
The show is presented by local promoters Ragged Wood in association with Shetland Arts, with Laura and Ian travelling north the day after a show at Edinburgh’s Queens Hall before embarking on a UK-wide tour in April.
Last year Laura, who has toured the world and performed in Shetland with various groups and artists, released her own project Vent.
She is part of Kinnaris Quintet, who headlined Mareel at Hogmanay in 2019, as well as playing with Ross Ainslie, Salsa Celtica, Niteworks and Siobhan Miller.
Laura has also appeared in the islands with jazz/funk outfit Fat Suit, and has played, written and arranged with acts including Shooglenifty, Man of the Minch, Rachel Sermanni, Elephant Sessions and the GRIT Orchestra.
Ian, meanwhile, is a talented guitarist and producer who has worked extensively with acts including Kate Rusby, Eddi Reader, Kris Drever and Heidi Talbot.
Opening act Black Shed Green features singer Lauren White alongside three members of Americana favourites Kansa (Norma, Adrian and Robert Wishart).
Tickets to see Laura Wilkie and Ian Carr are available from Shetland Arts.
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