Orkney council chiefs have denied they want to join Norway as a debate rages over the island’s future within Scotland and the UK.

Councillors, who voted on Tuesday to explore “alternative forms of governance”, said the northern isles had been “treated despicably” by governments in London and Edinburgh.

Local officials will now prepare a report on options for how its communities are operated in the future, including looking at the “Nordic connections” of the archipelago and crown dependencies such as Jersey and Guernsey.

Downing Street has already rejected the idea Orkney could loosen ties with the UK.

Councillor Owen Tierney told the meeting: “I really do think we have been treated despicably.

“I have been a councillor now for 11 years and I have seen it all. It has been disappointment after disappointment”.

Orkney was under Norwegian and Danish control until 1472 when the islands were given to Scotland as part of Margaret of Denmark’s wedding dowry to King James III of Scotland.

Man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after two-year-old boy hit by train in Glasgow

Pedestrian, 83, dies after being struck by articulated lorry in Lanark

Traffic restrictions put in place on B8008 Morar to Arisaig road in the Scottish Highlands

The report seen by councillors on Tuesday also mentions the Faroe Islands – a self-governing territory of Denmark in the North Sea.

Read more:
Orkney begins community testing programme for cancer gene link

Leader James Stockan claims his area receives less funding per head from government than fellow island authorities in Shetland and the Western Isles.

He said: “We have been held down, and what I would say is we all know most of what I could say with regard to the discrimination that we’ve had against this community from governments in the funding settlement we have.”

“This is not about us joining Norway”, he continued.

It is not the first time Orkney has demanded more control over its own affairs, particularly in the wake of Brexit.

In 2017, councillors back calls to consider “whether the people of Orkney could exercise self-determination if faced with further national or international constitutional changes”.

On Monday, Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf told reporters: “We will continue to work closely with Orkney [Islands] Council.

“I want more autonomy for our island communities and that is why I am prepared to look at the idea of a single island’s authority model for the likes of Orkney.”

On Monday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told journalists there is “no mechanism for the conferral of crown dependency or overseas territory status on any part of the UK”, adding: “Fundamentally, we are stronger as one United Kingdom, we have no plans to change that.”

Sky News has approached the Scottish government for comment.

Related posts:

May tells PM to level with the public as she slams ‘incomprehensible’ travel restrictions Hospital waiting lists could reach 13 million in coming months, health secretary warns Foreign Office relaxes COVID travel advice for UK travellers to 51 countries MPs who break rules on second jobs ‘should be punished’ – Johnson Downing Street partygate scandal is trivial ‘fluff’, says Rees-Mogg Voters fed up of hearing how I ‘stuffed up’ PM says as he plays down by-election defeats Sunak’s premiership is about to start for real – he faces a huge week at home and abroad Announce resignation plan or face vote of no confidence, SNP’s chief executive told The downfall of the SNP’s power couple in less than 150 days Sturgeon says leadership contest has been ‘less than edifying’ and urges candidates to ‘protect ingredients of success’ SNP treasurer Colin Beattie arrested Why it’s likely police will want to interview Nicola Sturgeon in SNP finances probe