Hannah Mary Goodlad has pledged to put Shetland first after her recent ministerial appointment.
Shetland’s new MSP made the vow this morning in a social media post after First Minister John Swinney appointed her as public finance minister earlier this week.
“I now have two jobs,” she said.
“I continue first and foremost to be the MSP for Shetland, and at the same time I’m now the minister for public finance for Scotland.
“But what does that mean in practice?
“It means that I now have a national role to make sure that I make decisions on behalf of Scotland, but it also means that Shetland really has a seat at the table now – not just from advocacy perspective, but in a decision-making capability, and that’s really powerful for wir community.”
Debates have emerged around Ms Goodlad’s recent appointment and what it means for Shetland.
Many have expressed their joy and optimism for how such an influential role could benefit Shetland, providing islanders a central “seat at the table”.
However, some have shared their concerns that Shetland’s voice will be limited as Ms Goodlad’s position shifts her focus beyond the isles.
“I’m going to continue to be as accessible and available for you as possible,” she said, assuring her constituents.
“You’re my community and I’m your MSP – it’s my job to serve you, and I can’t wait to keep going.”