ORKNEY Islands Council does not do party politics, or not very enthusiastically.

There was not a single councillor elected on a party ticket last time, and that could continue despite the six new multi-member wards returning 21 councillors. Even the Liberal Democrats, who have been returning a Liberal or LibDem in every parliamentary election since 1950, are not keen to field candidates.

The big issue on Orkney recently has been the lack of money for adequate care for the elderly. It came to a head last year when a pensioner went to the mainland for residential care because there were no beds on the islands. The council wants a 40-bed facility, but blames underfunding from the Scottish Executive.

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