Shetland Liberal Democrats select Emma Macdonald as candidate for Scottish Parliament election

Shetland Liberal Democrats have today announced that Emma Macdonald will represent the party at the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election.

The contest follows current Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Beatrice Wishart's announcement that she will not seek re-election and will step down next year after almost seven years in the role.

Emma Macdonald has lived in Shetland most of her life after moving over as a child. Emma now lives in Voe and is married with two children and a grandson. In recent years she has owned and operated Emma-Louise’s The Coffee Shop and worked in social care.

She first joined Shetland Islands Council in 2017 as member for Shetland North, becoming deputy leader a year later. During her first term as a councillor Emma also chaired the Integration Joint Board. In 2022 she was re-elected and appointed Leader, also taking on membership of the Health Board for the Council.

In 2024, she won LGIU’s Cllr Award for Leader of the Year. During her time on the council she has worked on a number of key issues including funding for ferries, making the case for fixed links, reliable broadband and the challenges facing the community over the higher cost of living.

Emma Macdonald said:

“I would like to thank local party members for selecting me to be their candidate for the Scottish Parliament election. I would also like to wish Moraig well and offer my commiserations, but I know she will continue to deliver for Shetland in her role in the council.

“In my time as council leader, people have seen that I can make a real difference. As your prospective next MSP, I want to ensure that Shetland is at the front of the queue and I will be a strong voice standing up for the issues that matter the most, like replacing the Gilbert Bain hospital and delivering on the promise of fixed links.

“Delivering tunnels for Shetland is, ultimately, about future-proofing our island population. Transport connectivity is central to creating sustainable islands which provide good homes and good jobs for our people, and which can reverse decades of depopulation.

“I hope that you will lend me your vote in next year’s election and look forward to speaking to as many of you as possible on the campaign trail.”

Alistair Christie-Henry, chairman of the committee who oversaw the candidate selection process, said:

"The local party members have made their choice and we will all now work hard to ensure that Shetland returns a Liberal Democrat representative to the Scottish Parliament so Shetland can continue to benefit from hard working and effective representation in Holyrood.”

Theo Smith, Chair of Shetland Liberal Democrats said:

 “My congratulations to Emma on her selection as Liberal Democrat candidate for Shetland at next year's Scottish Parliamentary elections and commiserations to Moraig Lyall. I was particularly pleased to see a contest between two very able applicants’’.

“I first met Emma when she was elected to Shetland Islands Council in 2017, and I had the pleasure of serving with her during that term where she became deputy leader of the Council. She went on to become Council leader in her following term and now her knowledge and experience of local and national government will hold her in good stead as our candidate at next year's election.

“Emma cares a great deal about Shetland and has demonstrated her passion and commitment over her years on the Council which will be of great benefit to her going forward for national election. Shetland Liberal Democrats have never taken this seat for granted and will now begin working to make sure Emma is elected Shetland's MSP in May 2026”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“I have always admired the dedication and ferocity with which Jim Wallace, Alistair Carmichael, Tavish Scott and Beatrice Wishart fought for the best interests of their communities and it is clear that Emma Macdonald is cut from the same cloth.

“As leader of Shetland Islands Council, Emma knows exactly what public service means. As soon as I met her I knew she had so much to offer to the Scottish Parliament.

“This will be a straight fight between the SNP and the Liberal Democrats. I would urge voters to back a candidate who will be Shetland’s voice in Parliament, not another nationalist backbencher who will make excuses for out of touch ministers in Edinburgh.”

Beatrice Wishart MSP said:

“I was honoured to be the first woman to be elected as Shetland’s parliamentarian. From speaking with Emma, I know that she is just as passionate as I have been about raising the issues that matter to people in Shetland whether ferries and transport connectivity including the benefits that tunnels can bring, a new hospital or support for our agriculture and fishing sectors.

“I got to know Emma, firstly, when we both joined Shetland Women’s Aid at the same time as trustees, and then when we became councillors in 2017. I know she will be a hard-working and approachable local representative and I am looking forward to campaigning with her over the next ten months.”

Alistair Carmichael MP said:

“This has been an excellent contest and Emma is a worthy winner.

“As a party we have never taken the support of the people of Shetland for granted and we will certainly not start to do that now. We will be campaigning fiercely to get Emma elected at next year’s election.”