Returning autonomy to the isles would provide an opportunity to “strengthen” the economy and boost vital local services, Shetland’s MP said.
This comes as prime minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham gets ready to move into No 10 after promising to give greater powers to local authorities and devolved nations.
Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael urged Mr Burnham to stop talking, and deliver, if he wanted to establish a “fairer devolution settlement”.
Last month Mr Burnham won the Makerfield by-election and stood to become the Labour Party leader after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation.
In the speech announcing his candidacy at the end of June, Mr Burnham said: “The days of Whitehall fighting the devolved power into the regions and nations are over for good.”
He is now expected to become prime minister on Monday after no one challenged his candidacy to replace Sir Keir.
Mr Carmichael told The Shetland Times that devolution was “never supposed to start and end in Edinburgh.”
“Clearly we need to see powers returned to the isles and more of a say over the things that really matter to us here – the question is about how we get there,” Mr Carmichael said.
“If Andy Burnham looks to work collaboratively across the United Kingdom to deliver a fairer devolution settlement then there should be a ready ear for it.”
However, he warned it will be a “failure at best”, if Mr Burnham runs a top-down operation that “we have seen many times over the years from both London and Edinburgh.”
“It would be ironic if communities in England found themselves with greater local control while the SNP continue to hoard power in Edinburgh,” Mr Carmichael said.
He added: “Returning autonomy to the isles would be a chance to strengthen our economy and deliver services that work for our communities – what is needed now is not more words but action.”
Shetland Islands Council political leader Emma Macdonald said the SIC “looked forward” to engagement with both the UK and Scottish governments.
It had already been in discussions with both London and Edinburgh-based governments about “investment and topics that are critical for Shetland’s future success,” Mrs Macdonald said
“With the recent election of a new Scottish parliament – and soon also a new prime minister in Downing Street – we’re looking at what might be our key targets for future discussions,” the North Mainland councillor said.
“Given how much Shetland contributes to the UK and Scotland, we look forward to our continued engagement with Westminster and Holyrood.”
Mrs Macdonald referenced ongoing work on inter-island connectivity, which could hypothetically lead the SIC to seek government support for tunnels to Yell and Unst.
Tunnels in the isles would begin to help the outer isles counteract depopulation, and spur growth.
Yesterday (Friday), Mr Burnham became leader of the Labour Party.
During his speech, he said he had a “plan” to allow communities to make those decisions for themselves by taking power from Whitehall-based government departments.
“Kids shouldn’t have to leave those places, those proud places, to get on in life,” Mr Burnham said.
