Nicola Sturgeon in Orkney
by Unknown - 09:29 on 30 August 2014
Watch Nicola Sturgeon's Q&A in Kirkwall on YouTube:
Around 300 folk turned out at the Orkney Theatre on Thursday evening to hear Nicola Sturgeon set out her case for Scottish independence and answer some very detailed and probing questions from undecided voters – a number of whom Yes Orkney has already learned have decided since the event to vote Yes.
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, who had visited businesses and spoken to folk on the streets of Kirkwall earlier in the day, as well as attending an Afternoon Tea aimed at undecided women, didn’t put a foot wrong as she first set out the reasons that Scotland should be independent and then dealt with questions ranging from the currency to Feed-In Tariffs, schools to the health service, and from immigration to EU membership.
Introduced to the Orkney audience by Highlands and Islands MSP Mike MacKenzie, Nicola gave an energetic and assured performance that had everyone’s attention. While Nicola and her entourage had flown down from an equally successful day in Shetland on Wednesday, the fact that she had travelled north by NorthLink ferry and held an onboard Q&A for ‘floating voters’ had already caught the media’s attention, and a number of prominent Orkney folk declaring for Yes during Nicola’s visit to the county only added to the buzz as her Northern Isles tour continued.
We now know that OIC Convener Steven Heddle, Vice Convener Jim Foubister, and NHS Orkney chairman John Ross Scott, a former Liberal Democrat council leader in the Borders, will be voting Yes, joining former St Magnus Cathedral minister Ron Ferguson, who had nailed his colours to the good ship Yes in a full page advert from Christians for Independence in last week’s Sunday Herald. Another local minister, Graeme Brown, is also a Christians for Independence member.
By the time Nicola Sturgeon left the theatre, having posed for a photo with some of the Yes Orkney organisers and supporters, there were many more signatures on the big Yes sign in the foyer and plenty of literature, stickers, badges and posters went home with folk.
The day had begun with a trip to Sheila Fleet’s workshop in Tankerness, and after meetings with the local media there was time for a visit to St Magnus Cathedral before we headed along to Cafélolz@21 in Albert Street, where she chatted to folk over soup and bannocks followed by coffee and cakes.
A quick nip in past Kirsteen Stewart’s shop and then down the lane to see Duncan MacLean at Kirkness & Gorie, and it was time to head to the St Magnus Centre for the Afternoon Tea for women.
Nicola spent time talking with small groups and individuals while a delicious spread of cakes was provided along with tea and coffee. The women who were from all age groups and walks of life got the chance to question the Deputy First Minister at first hand, with questions and discussions ranging over the needs of carers, academic research funding, RET, Gaelic and local dialects, centralisation of the police force, the Serco ferry contract and the mismatch in Scottish Government funding between the three islands councils.
Nicola presented her view on why she believed a Yes vote was best for Scotland, citing that independence was what everyone aspired to in their personal lives and that it was also a normal aspiration for a nation. The two hours sped by and everyone could have stayed longer for more debate, but left having enjoyed a good discussion and visibly uplifted by the calibre of the event. There was no argy-barging, finger pointing or shouting, with Nicola able and willing to answer everyone’s queries, openly and honestly. Towards the end of the afternoon the group were joined by some young people from KGS who added their perspective to the discussion too.
Everyone agreed it was an excellent format and a good way to ensure politicians hear what people on the ground are concerned and care about.
All in all a very successful day of campaigning, chatting and meeting folk – despite the damp conditions – and Nicola left Orkney on Friday afternoon, after another walk around the town centre (some actual shopping included this time) where she again took time to stop and speak to folk.
Without being able to speak for everyone, it would be safe to say that Nicola left Yes Orkney campaigners suitably fired up for the final days of the campaign to secure independence for Scotland, while having given undecided voters (and maybe even some folk that thought they might vote No) plenty of information and reasoned arguments to vote Yes.
RL
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