The village of Stromness in the Scottish Orkneys. The iconic archipelago is considering leaving the UK and joining Norway.
Nicola Colombo | Istock | Getty Images
The iconic archipelago off Scotland’s north-east coast is pondering the way it could secede from the UK and potentially turn into an autonomous territory of Norway.
Under recent proposals recommend by the local council, Orkney will explore “alternative types of governance”, including changing its legal status in the UK because it seeks to supply more economic opportunities to islanders.
One in all the routes into account could see the archipelago harness its power generation capabilities – including the Flotta Island oil terminal and other renewable resources – for greater economic independence, based on council leader James Stockan, who submitted the application.
Stockan said there had not been an intensive evaluation of Orkney’s contribution to the British economy and as such the islands had “done terribly” by each the UK and Scottish governments and fair funding had been neglected.
“We all know we now have been contributing to North Sea oil for the last 40 years and the dividend we receive will not be enough to sustain us,” he told BBC Radio Scotland.
Under the UK’s devolved system of presidency, Orkney, one among Scotland’s 32 municipal areas, receives funding from the Scottish Government.
“We now have a novel opportunity at the heart of all wind projects around our waters,” added Stockan.
Norse Kingdom
Stockan said other potential options being discussed by councilors could give Orkney a “Nordic connection” to Denmark, Norway or Iceland, or establish a crown dependency structure akin to that enjoyed by Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.
Orkney was under Norwegian and Danish rule until the late fifteenth century, when the islands got to Scotland as security for Margaret of Denmark’s wedding dowry in her marriage to King James III of Scotland.
The islands are home to a few of Europe’s oldest and best-preserved Neolithic sites, in addition to stunning scenery and an abundance of marine and birdlife.
Ring of Brodgar, a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site The heart of Neolithic Orkney. This neolithic henge monument and stone circle is one among Orkney’s essential attractions.
Reda&co | Universal Image Group | Getty Images
“We have been a part of the Norse realm for for much longer than we have been a part of Britain,” Stockan said. “On the street in Orkney, people come as much as me and say when we are going to give back our dowry after we return to Norway.”
“There is a big kinship there and an enormous deep cultural connection. Now’s the time to explore what’s possible.”
A UK government spokesman said in a press release it was providing £2.2bn ($2.8bn) to level up British communities, including £50m to develop the economies of the Scottish islands, including Orkney.
“We’ll at all times be stronger together as one United Kingdom and we now have no plans to vary the devolution agreement,” the statement added.
Spokesmen for the Scottish and Norwegian governments didn’t immediately reply to CNBC’s request for comment.
Councilors will debate the proposal on Tuesday. If agreed, it will be only the first stage of what are more likely to be lengthy and contentious talks with the UK and Scottish governments.
The discussion is a component of a broader debate about the transfer of power in the UK, including other cities and counties Manchester AND Cornwall securing contracts for greater autonomy and self-government.
Orkney Islands Council previously voted in 2017 for the islands to have a “stronger voice”, though refraining from supporting full independence.