The Declaration Of Independence (1287)

The 150 islands of the Outer Hebrides form a geographically and socially distinct archepelego which lies 40 miles off the north west coast of Scotland. The main island of Lewis & Harris is the third largest of the British Isles, behind the islands of Great Britain and Ireland.

Eleven Hebridean islands are populated: Lewis & Harris, North Uist, South Uist, Benbecula, Barra, Scalpay, Great Bernera, Grimsay, Berneray, Eriskay, Vatersay, Baleshore, Grimsay SE Benbecula, and Flodaigh.

The land mass of the archepelego is circa 1185 square miles (3000 square kilometres) and the distance from the most northernly point, the Butt of Lewis, to the southern tip of Mingulay is circa 125 miles (200 kilometres).

The population of the Outer Hebrides as per the most recent census is 26,502. 19,918 live on Lewis & Harris, with circa 8,000 of them living in Stornoway, the capital of the Outer Hebrides.

The Hebrides previously had a much larger population. The Highland Clearances of the 19th Century resulted in thousands of displaced islanders emigrating to the "new world", and many people of Hebridean descent are found in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. Even after the clearances, the population of Lewis alone was in excess of 50,000 in the early years of the 20th Century.

The 20th Century was a century of progressive population decline. Many Hebrideans perished in the two world wars, traditional industries including fishing and tweed production declined, and more and more young people obtained qualifications that could not be used on the islands. By the end of the 20th Century, farming had substantially declined and the islands were no longer self sufficient in foodstuffs.

It is predicted that independence will result in a doubling of the population within five years and a total population of over 100,000 within 15 years.

There are currently twenty-nine independent member states of the United Nations that have a smaller land mass than the Outer Hebrides. These are listed in Appendix 1.

There are sixteen UN member states with populations of under 100,000. These are listed in Appendix 2.

Based on land mass, current population and predicted population levels, there is no logistical reason why the Outer Hebrides would not be a viable independent state.

Stornoway is a world away from the British capital in London. Travelling overland to Stornoway from London involves a journey of 650 miles to the port of Ullapool, then a near three-hour ferry crossing. Stornoway is further from London than, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Vienna, and is less accessible to the London traveller than any Western European capital city.

Until 1266, the Outer Hebrides, then known as the Southern Islands, belonged to Norway and formed part of the Kingdom of Mann. The word "hebrides" is a Norse word meaning "islands at the edge of the sea". The islands were ceded to Scotland under the Treaty of Perth, which followed the Battle of Largs.

The Hebrides has its own distinct culture and language. 59% of the population are Gaelic speakers and it has little cultural affinity with either its rulers in the south east of England or its other, newer rulers in Edinburgh.

In a referendum carried out in the Outer Hebrides by the Electoral Reform Society, the matter was put to the electorate in the following way:

The Outer Hebrides should declare independence from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and become an independent state.

The options given were "Agree" and "Disagree".

It was determined, prior to the referendum, that a matter of this magnitude would not be pursued unless it had the overwhelming and unequivocal support of the Hebridean population.

It was therefore determined that if less than 75% of the electorate participated in the referendum, or if less than 75% of those voting agreed with the proposal, then the proposal would fall.

Methods of reflecting the wider views of emigrant Hebrideans, many of whom might wish to return, were carefully considered. However it was determined that it would be unduly difficult to properly identify and contact every person who might be considered a "Hebridean". That would in turn make it problematical to identify the number that equated to 75% of the electorate. Instead, through the Stornoway Gazette and all the national Scottish daily newspapers, the internet, and TV coverage, emigrant Hebrideans were invited to contact the office of the returning officer and express an opinion, which would not affect the vote, but would provide a means of garnering wider opinion.

The result of the referendum was as follows:

Out of a total electorate of 19,255, 17,522 votes were cast. This represents 91% of the total electorate.

Of those voting, 16,296 agreed with the proposal. This represents 93% of those voting.

The figure of 16,296 represents 84.6% of the total electorate. Many of those who did not vote were too infirm to do so; and a number of incomers to the island abstained on the basis that it should be left to native islanders and long term residents to determine a matter of such importance.

The overwhelming majority of the population of the Outer Hebrides is supportive of the proposal as set out in the referendum.

The result of the informal poll of emigrant Hebrideans, which has no legal standing, was that 96% of correspondents were in favour of independence.

The referendum came about because of decades of neglect by successive British governments. Per capita, the islands sacrificed more lives in two world wars than anywhere else in the United Kingdom. Their reward has been a lack of any meaningful investment, the decline of traditional industries and progressive population decline. Nothing has been done to address these issues, and nothing will be done until Hebrideans take matters into their own hands. It has long been evident that there are no votes in Hebridean investment, therefore it does not happen.

Even something as basic as a Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) on ferry services, which would allow Hebridean-based businesses to be more competitive and which would significantly boost the tourist trade, has been muted for more than 30 years and is still merely being talked about. And while the talking goes on, Hebrideans pay more fuel tax than anyone else in the UK, whilst having not a single dual carriageway on the islands, farless a motorway. This situation is highlighted here because it is symptomatic of everything that has been wrong with the relationship between Hebrideans and their rulers.

Whilst the UK has failed to invest in the Hebrides, its government has been prepared to sacrifice large areas of Lewis in particular to a massive wind farm which will, if built, scar the landscape of the West Side of Lewis forever. Whether this proposal was simply to allow the UK government to pay lip service to green energy initiatives; or whether it was the thin end of a wedge that would have ended up with one or more nuclear power stations in the Hebrides which could use the wind farm link to the national grid, is a matter of conjecture. But if the latter was the long term objective, it might explain why investment was never made to reverse the depopulation that has blighted the islands for several generations.

I, as the Convenor of Comhairle Nan Eilann Siar, on behalf of the people of the Outer Hebrides, hereby officially petition HM Government to grant independence to the Outer Hebrides 12 months to the day from this declaration; such time period being specified to enable such matters that will require to be undertaken in granting such request to be carried out properly but expeditiously. This will include the election of a Hebridean government that power shall be transferred to on the due date.