Now Orkney wants to split from Scotland

THE Orkney Islands should consider splitting from Scotland and forming a coalition with Norway or Denmark, the islands’ council leader has said.

Councillor James Stockan said he wanted a public debate about the breakaway moves as soon as possible.

It comes after Shetland Islands agreed to begin exploring options for achieving political and fiscal devolution.

Mr Stockan, independent leader of Orkney Islands Council, said he did not want the proposals to ‘become something that is polarising for the community’. But he told The Orcadian newspaper: ‘I would like to see us having a debate when people have all the information before them.

‘We don’t want to go on an emotional rollercoaster because they don’t like something. I would like us to ask the community: “Which two or three options would you like us to explore?”.’ Mr Stockan explained that in 2017 Orkney councillors passed a motion allowing them to explore options for selfdetermination. But the vote came with the caveat that any such decision on the future of the islands would only be taken in the event of a major constitutional change.

The councillor, from Stromness, added: ‘Scottish islands have the least autonomy of any islands in Europe, and it’s becoming more so. A lot of people speak about going back to Norway, well that’s a possibility – or Denmark, that’s a possibility.’

But another independent councillor, John Ross Scott, representing Kirkwall East, called for caution. He said: ‘The case needs to be built up over years. Then, and only then, can it be used as a bargaining chip with any future Scottish Government.’

Earlier this month Steven Coutts, leader of SIC, vowed to begin ‘negotiations’ to get devolved power after the local authority voted to break away from Scotland.

He said the decision had been driven by concern the islands were losing out because of centralisation of power in Edinburgh.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We are not aware of any suggestion from elected councillors that Orkney should become independent from the UK.

‘In 2018 we passed the Islands Act – a historic piece of legislation which hands more power to our island communities.’

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