Orkney Islands to explore 'Nordic connections' amid growing frustration with UK governance

Orkney Islands Council is set to explore its “Nordic connections” amid growing frustration with Westminster and Holyrood.

The council is set to discuss alternative forms of governance which could see the islands’ legal status change.

Council leader James Stockan has put forward a motion which says it is time for Orkney to consider other forms of governance which could provide more economic opportunity.

The motion suggests this could include looking at crown dependencies such as Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.

But Downing Street rejected suggestions Orkney could cut its ties with the UK.

“Nordic connections” had also been also suggested, with a report going before a council meeting this week mentioning the Faroe Islands – a self-governing territory of Denmark in the North Sea.

The council leader’s motion does not commit the council to any of these options and the officials’ report notes that any constitutional change would likely require a combination of petitions, referenda and legislation at Holyrood and Westminster.

But No 10 shut down the options, with the Prime Minister’s official spokesman telling reporters: “First and foremost, there is no mechanism for the conferral of crown dependency or overseas territory status on any part of the UK.

“But fundamentally, we are stronger as one United Kingdom, we have no plans to change that.”

The spokesman added: “We’ve got no plans to change the devolution settlement.”

Orkney was already being supported with £50 million through the islands growth deal, Downing Street said.

Mr Stockan told the BBC he felt that Orkney is being “failed dreadfully” by governments in both Edinburgh and London.

Funding is less per head than Shetland and the Western Isles receive, he said.

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.

Mr Stockan told the BBC: “We were part of the Norse kingdom for much longer than we were part of the United Kingdom.

“On the street in Orkney, people come up and say to me when are we going to pay back the dowry, when are we going back to Norway.

“There is a huge affinity and a huge deep cultural relationship there. This is exactly the moment to explore what is possible.”

The Scottish Lib Dem MSP for Orkney, Liam McArthur, said he supported empowering island communities but warned there are dangers in “putting up barriers”.

He said: “I am due to meet local councillors on Monday and will be interested to learn more about what is envisaged.

“There were similar proposals considered by OIC around the time of the last independence referendum and I am keen to understand how these would differ.

“Locally, I think islanders will also want to be reassured that this exercise won’t result in council resources being taken away from the day-to-day running of services at a time when these are under real pressure.”

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