Scotland's iconic Orkney Islands considering quitting Britain to become part of Norway

An iconic archipelago disconnected the northeast seashore of Scotland is looking astatine ways it mightiness divided disconnected from the U.K. and perchance go a self-governing territory of Norway.

Under caller proposals brought guardant by the section council, the Orkney Islands volition research "alternative forms of governance," including changing its ineligible presumption wrong Britain, arsenic it seeks to supply much economical opportunities for islanders.

One imaginable way being considered could spot the archipelago leverage its vigor accumulation capabilities — including an lipid terminal connected Flotta land and different renewable resources — to summation greater economical independence, according to assembly person James Stockan, who brought the motion.

Stockan said that nary thorough investigation of Orkney's contributions to the U.K. system had been carried retired and, arsenic such, the islands had been "failed dreadfully" by some the U.K. and Scottish governments and neglected of just funding.

"We cognize that we person contributed for the past 40 years done northbound oversea oil, and the dividend we get backmost isn't capable to support america going," helium told BBC Radio Scotland.

Under the U.K.'s devolved strategy of government, Orkney, 1 of 32 assembly areas successful Scotland, receives allotted backing from the Scottish government.

"We've got a unsocial accidental close astatine the bosom of each the upwind projects circular our waters," Stockan added.

Other imaginable options being discussed by councilors could spot Orkney unafraid a "Nordic connection" with Denmark, Norway oregon Iceland, oregon found a crown dependency operation similar that enjoyed by Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man, Stockan said.

Orkney was nether Norwegian and Danish regularisation until the precocious 15th century, erstwhile the islands were handed to Scotland arsenic information for the wedding dowry of Margaret of Denmark successful her matrimony to King James III of Scotland.

The islands are location to immoderate of the oldest and best-preserved Neolithic sites successful Europe, arsenic good arsenic stunning landscapes and a wealthiness of marine and avian wildlife.

"We were portion of the Norse kingdom for overmuch longer than we were portion of the United Kingdom," Stockan said. "On the thoroughfare successful Orkney radical travel up and accidental to maine erstwhile are we going to wage backmost the dowry, erstwhile are we going backmost to Norway."

"There is simply a immense affinity and a immense heavy taste narration there. This is precisely the infinitesimal to research what is possible," helium added.

A spokesperson for the U.K. authorities said successful a connection that it is providing £2.2 cardinal ($2.8 billion) to level up U.K. communities, including £50 cardinal to turn the economies of Scotland's Islands, including Orkney.

"We volition ever beryllium stronger unneurotic arsenic 1 United Kingdom, and we person nary plans to alteration the devolution settlement," the connection added.

Spokespersons for the Scottish and Norwegian governments did not instantly respond to CNBC's petition for comment.

The question volition beryllium discussed by assembly members connected Tuesday. If agreed upon, it would people conscionable the archetypal signifier successful apt lengthy and contentious talks with the U.K. and Scottish governments.

The treatment comes amid a wider statement astir the devolution of powerfulness successful the U.K., with different cities and counties including Manchester and Cornwall securing deals to summation greater autonomy and self-governance.

Orkney Islands Council previously voted successful 2017 for the islands to person a "stronger voice," though they stopped abbreviated of backing afloat independence.