Orkney wants more autonomy within the UK

Are we heading for an "Orcxit"? The Orkney Islands, a small British archipelago north of Scotland, populated by 20,000 subjects of Her Majesty wants to examine other forms of governance and why not independence.

The town of Kirkwall in the Orkney archipelago in northern Scotland, in 2015. © Pixabay

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Orkney Local Council President James Stockan has tabled a motion to consider "alternative models of governance" to better leverage its economic strengths, including tourism and energy. In Tuesday's vote, 15 lawmakers voted in favor of the motion, and six against.

Dependent on the regional government of Edinburgh, the Orkney Islands plan to cut ties with Scotland. What's next? This is what the consultation must determine: either direct management of London, or become a self-governing "Crown Dependency", such as the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey.

The other hypothesis would be to return to the tutelage of Norway, which owned Orkney until 1472 – although the president of the local council admits that this possibility is the least realistic. Then controlled by the King of Norway, he returned to Scotland along with the Shetland Islands, as part of the dowry upon his daughter's marriage to a Scottish king.

During a civil debate on Tuesday broadcast live on the internet, an elected official, David Dawson, warned against "the bizarre fantasy of becoming an autonomous territory under the bosom of Norway". But James Stockan assured that his motion "was not intended to join Norway".

A long reflection

The consultation is expected to last several years, notes our correspondent in London, Emeline Vin. But it is in fact mainly a signal sent both to Edinburgh and London. The archipelago, located off the north-east coast of Scotland, has long felt neglected and considers itself to suffer from a chronic lack of investment, despite their consequent needs as an island community. The archipelago council gives the example of the ferry fleet, which people depend on to go to work, study or shop. It was necessary to replace the ten ships without financial support.

According to James Stockan, Orkney receives less money per capita than the neighbouring Shetland Islands or other islands on the Scottish coast. "We had promise after promise (from the British and Scottish governments). None have materialized," said Duncan Tullock, another local elected official.

The Scottish government has indicated that it is ready to discuss with the archipelago, to "reform" the relationship. These separatist tendencies in Orkney are expressed at a time when the Scottish National Party (SNP), in power in Edinburgh, is also trying to break away from the United Kingdom.

(

And with AFP)

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