Yahoo Finance Scotland: Yes Vote Gaining Ground On Islands
Despite being relatively small and far away from high-profile referendum campaigns on mainland Scotland, islands such as the Shetlands and Orkney are said to be major battlegrounds in the independence referendum.
The Shetland Islands lie 100 miles from the mainland and are closer to Norway than Edinburgh.
Despite its geography, Shetland has proven to be very pro-Union in the past. In 1979 islanders overwhelmingly rejected devolution.
However, it seems the 22,000-strong population is experiencing a shift away from the UK and both sides have noticed it.
Gordon Harmer who runs the Better Together Facebook page says he has been surprised by the change.
"I used to think, because of our outlook and prosperity here that this referendum would be a comprehensive 'no' vote but things have changed," he said.
"We'll still win but instead of 80/20, it could be more like 60/40."
Local journalist Rosalind Griffiths thinks it could be even closer. "It might be 50/50. We've got a very Liberal electorate and that usually means we are very pro-Union but something's changed."
The 100 or so islands of Shetland, where road signs warn of 'Otters Crossing', were part of Norway for 500 years until being handed to the Scots in 1469 as a dowry for Princess Margrethe, who married King James III of Scotland.
Referendum campaigning has been far more low-key than in mainland areas with very few posters in the main town of Lerwick.
Last week a small shop was opened by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who promised islanders they would prosper from a "second oil boom".
The £1,800 needed for the shop was raised through a crowd funding campaign. Yes Shetland campaigner Brian Nugent said the area was hostile initially.
"We didn't get a very good welcome at first and we couldn't find a shop keeper who would be willing to lease premises to us for the Yes HQ. Now (NYSE: DNOW - news) , though, I really think we might get a strong proportion of the vote," he said.
Shetland should be one of the first regions to declare their results next Friday at around 1.30am. There will be many people on the islands anxious to see what the future holds.
