{{Short description|2013 Scottish Government announcement}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} The '''Lerwick Declaration''' refers to an announcement made by First Minister Alex Salmond on behalf of the Scottish Government on 25 July 2013, which revealed that a ministerial working group would examine the prospect of decentralising power to Shetland, Orkney, and the Western Isles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-23438879 |title=Scottish ministers to look into extra powers for isles |date=25 July 2013 |accessdate=8 January 2014 |work=BBC News Online }}</ref>
The declaration was made in response to the ''Our Islands - Our Future'' campaign launched in June 2013,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shetnews.co.uk/news/7136-isles-welcome-salmonds-lerwick-declaration |title=Isles welcome Salmond's 'Lerwick Declaration' |work=Shetland News |date=25 July 2013 |accessdate=8 June 2013 }}</ref> in which the leaders of Scotland's island councils{{mdash}}Shetland Islands Council, Orkney Islands Council, and {{lang|gd|Comhairle nan Eilean Siar}}{{mdash}}called for greater autonomy for the islands. The campaign was designed to capitalise on discussions raised by the 2014 Scottish independence referendum,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/bloggers/the-highland-line-the-lerwick-declaration-is-a-win-win-for-our-island-communities.1374839328 |title=The Highland Line: The Lerwick Declaration is a win-win for our island communities |date=26 July 2013 |accessdate=8 January 2014 |work=The Herald }}</ref> though the campaign itself is neutral on the topic of Scottish independence.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2013/07/25/snp-keen-on-greater-isles-autonomy-says-salmond-in-lerwick-declaration/ |title=SNP keen on greater isles autonomy, says First Minister in 'Lerwick Declaration' |date=25 July 2013 |accessdate=8 January 2014 |work=The Shetland Times }}</ref>
==See also== * Constitutional status of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Scottish Government Category:Devolution in the United Kingdom Category:Lerwick Category:Politics of Shetland Category:Politics of the Outer Hebrides Category:Politics of Orkney Category:21st century in Orkney Category:21st century in Shetland
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