A fresh independence row is brewing in Scotland that, if successful, could spark an unexpected new alliance for the residents of the remote Orkney islands.
Orkney council leader James Stockan claims it is time for the islands to consider reviving its historic links with Norway and has put forward a motion for a vote on exploring leaving the United Kingdom.
Downing Street has already shut down suggestions the suggestions islands could loosen ties with Scotland and Westminster, with Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman telling reporters on Monday: “Fundamentally, we are stronger as one United Kingdom, we have no plans to change that. We’ve got no plans to change the devolution settlement.”
But “frustration” with years of underfunding has prompted a highly-publicised vote, a prominent councillor has claimed.
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Former Orkney Council deputy leader Leslie Manson explained that despite the island lobbying for many years, it had received a lack of response from both Holyrood and Westminster.
“We don’t vote for the Tories, so we are out of favour with Westminster. We don’t vote SNP, so we are out of favour with Holywood,” he told The Independent.
The “substantive” underfunding has equated to Scotland’s smallest council receiving hundreds of pounds less per person than other areas, the councillor for Kirkwall West and Orphir claimed.
This includes the nearby Western Isles and Shetland which get a “much better crack of the whip”, he said.
Orkney islands could switch alligence to Norway if a vote is passed
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And while the issues range far and wide, Mr Manson – who has an MBE for services to Scottish education and the community in Orkney – claimed issues around replacing the islands’ ageing ferries were the “straw that broke the camel’s back”.
He described the fleet, some of whose boats are 40 years old, as the “lifeblood” of remoter islands especially. But they are becoming increasingly unreliable, presenting issues for people who use them for everyday tasks like commuting.
This has prompted the council to appeal for help from the Scottish and UK governments to help with the more than £100 million required for a new fleet, Mr Manson said.
While there would be a cost with exploring leaving the UK to become Norwegian, he said it would be “peanuts” in comparison.
“There are a number of…
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