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| Orkney council to look at proposals to become territory of Norway | Orkney council to look at proposals to become territory of Norway |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A previous vote in 2017 did not back full independence for Orkney | A previous vote in 2017 did not back full independence for Orkney |
| The Orkney Islands could change their status in the UK or even become a self-governing territory of Norway under new proposals. | The Orkney Islands could change their status in the UK or even become a self-governing territory of Norway under new proposals. |
| A motion will go before the council next week to investigate "alternative forms of governance". | A motion will go before the council next week to investigate "alternative forms of governance". |
| Council leader James Stockan said Orkney does not get fair funding with its current relationship within the UK. | Council leader James Stockan said Orkney does not get fair funding with its current relationship within the UK. |
| He wants to look at Crown Dependencies like the Channel Islands and overseas territories like the Falkland Islands. | He wants to look at Crown Dependencies like the Channel Islands and overseas territories like the Falkland Islands. |
| He suggested another possible future could be like the Faroe Islands - which is a self-governing territory of Denmark. | He suggested another possible future could be like the Faroe Islands - which is a self-governing territory of Denmark. |
| Councillor Stockan told BBC Radio Scotland there were many areas where Orkney was being "failed dreadfully" by both the UK and Scottish governments. | Councillor Stockan told BBC Radio Scotland there were many areas where Orkney was being "failed dreadfully" by both the UK and Scottish governments. |
| Orkney steps up calls for more autonomy | Orkney steps up calls for more autonomy |
| Read more stories from North East Scotland, Orkney and Shetland | Read more stories from North East Scotland, Orkney and Shetland |
| He said: "We are really struggling at the moment, we have to replace the whole ferry fleet which is older than the CalMac fleet. | He said: "We are really struggling at the moment, we have to replace the whole ferry fleet which is older than the CalMac fleet. |
| "We are denied the things that other areas get like RET (Road Equivalent Tariff) for ferry fares. | "We are denied the things that other areas get like RET (Road Equivalent Tariff) for ferry fares. |
| "And the funding we get from the Scottish government is significantly less per head than Shetland and the Western Isles to run the same services - we can't go on as we are." | "And the funding we get from the Scottish government is significantly less per head than Shetland and the Western Isles to run the same services - we can't go on as we are." |
| Council leader James Stockan says Orkney does not get fair funding within the UK | Council leader James Stockan says Orkney does not get fair funding within the UK |
| Mr Stockan said an in-depth study of the finances had never been carried out. | Mr Stockan said an in-depth study of the finances had never been carried out. |
| "We know that we have contributed for the last 40 years through north sea oil, and the dividend we get back isn't sufficient to keep us going," he said. | "We know that we have contributed for the last 40 years through north sea oil, and the dividend we get back isn't sufficient to keep us going," he said. |
| "We've got a unique opportunity right at the heart of all the wind projects round our waters." | "We've got a unique opportunity right at the heart of all the wind projects round our waters." |
| Mr Stockan is urging councillors to back his idea to find new ways for Orkney to get greater financial security and economic opportunities for Orcadians. | Mr Stockan is urging councillors to back his idea to find new ways for Orkney to get greater financial security and economic opportunities for Orcadians. |
| Orkney Islands Council previously voted in 2017 to look at whether the islands could have greater autonomy. | Orkney Islands Council previously voted in 2017 to look at whether the islands could have greater autonomy. |
| While they wanted to have a "stronger voice", they did not back full independence for Orkney. | While they wanted to have a "stronger voice", they did not back full independence for Orkney. |
| Mr Stockan's motion also cites British Crown Dependencies Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man as potential models to follow. | Mr Stockan's motion also cites British Crown Dependencies Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man as potential models to follow. |
| Orkney was held under Norwegian and Danish control until 1472 | Orkney was held under Norwegian and Danish control until 1472 |
| But he warns that a large amount of staff resource would be needed to investigate the options and consult the public. | But he warns that a large amount of staff resource would be needed to investigate the options and consult the public. |
| "The council will decide whether it supports this motion and from there we will take our time, because we don't want to do this emotionally," he said. | "The council will decide whether it supports this motion and from there we will take our time, because we don't want to do this emotionally," he said. |
| "We want to look at all the practical implications and then we'll evaluate the results. | "We want to look at all the practical implications and then we'll evaluate the results. |
| "We are looking for the very best position for future generations and our place in the world. | "We are looking for the very best position for future generations and our place in the world. |
| Mr Stockan also suggests that the council should investigate how Orkney could secure a "Nordic connection" with Denmark. Norway or Iceland. | Mr Stockan also suggests that the council should investigate how Orkney could secure a "Nordic connection" with Denmark. Norway or Iceland. |
| 'Deep cultural relationship' | 'Deep cultural relationship' |
| Orkney was previously held under Norwegian and Danish control until it became part of Scotland in 1472. | Orkney was previously held under Norwegian and Danish control until it became part of Scotland in 1472. |
| The islands were used as security for the wedding dowry of Margaret of Denmark, the future wife of King James III of Scotland. | The islands were used as security for the wedding dowry of Margaret of Denmark, the future wife of King James III of Scotland. |
| Mr Stockan said: "We were part of the Norse kingdom for much longer than we were part of the United Kingdom. | Mr Stockan said: "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, | "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 hug affinity and a huge deep cultural relationship there. This is exactly the moment to explore what is possible." | "There is a hug affinity and a huge deep cultural relationship there. This is exactly the moment to explore what is possible." |
| The UK government said it was providing £2.2bn to level up UK communities, including £50m to grow the economies of Scotland's Islands - including Orkney. | The UK government said it was providing £2.2bn to level up UK communities, including £50m to grow the economies of Scotland's Islands - including Orkney. |
| A spokesperson said: "We will always be stronger together as one United Kingdom, and we have no plans to change the devolution settlement." | A spokesperson said: "We will always be stronger together as one United Kingdom, and we have no plans to change the devolution settlement." |
| The Scottish government said in 2023-24 Orkney Islands Council would receive £89.7m to fund services, with an extra £4.6m from an increase in council tax by 10%. | |
| A Scottish government spokesperson said it was "committed to supporting island communities". | A Scottish government spokesperson said it was "committed to supporting island communities". |
| The motion will be discussed by Orkney Islands Council on Tuesday. | The motion will be discussed by Orkney Islands Council on Tuesday. |
| Additional reporting provided by Andrew Stewart at the Local Democracy Reporting Service. | Additional reporting provided by Andrew Stewart at the Local Democracy Reporting Service. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Orkney Islands Council | Orkney Islands Council |
| Orkney | Orkney |
| Norway | Norway |