UK’s Orkney Islands to explore 'alternative forms' of governance

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Officials of the UK’s Orkney Islands have backed a plan to explore options for "greater autonomy."

Members of the Orkney Islands Council held a meeting Tuesday and voted 15-6 in favor of a motion listing options for ‘alternative forms’ of governance of the islands, including returning to their Scandic roots with Norway and becoming a crown dependency.

They also agreed that there should be a revival of a consultative group on constitutional reform for the islands, and council officers have been asked to submit a report to Orkney's chief executive.

"Governments have failed us," said council leader James Stockan during the meeting, which came after complaints that the islands had been discriminated against and underfunded by both the UK and Scottish governments.

"The motion has got every option in it so it can be explored. Nothing is off the table. If the motion had come forward without every option on the table, what kind of motion would that have been?" he said.

A remote archipelago in the North Sea off Scotland’s northeast coast, Orkney was under Norwegian control until 1472, when it was handed over to Scotland.

"I say it’s time for the government to take us seriously, and I say it’s time for us to look at all the options we’ve got," he added.

The British government has dismissed the plan, saying there is no legal or constitutional route for an existing part of the UK to become a crown dependency.