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.[1]
The declaration was made in response to the Our Islands - Our Future campaign launched in June 2013,[2] in which the leaders of Scotland's island councilsShetland Islands Council, Orkney Islands Council, and Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: [[Comhairle nan Eilean Siar]]called for greater autonomy for the islands. The campaign was designed to capitalise on discussions raised by the 2014 Scottish independence referendum,[3] though the campaign itself is neutral on the topic of Scottish independence.[4]