Telegraph: Orkney Islands may secede from Britain and become part of Norway
The Orkney Islands, located in Scotland, will consider leaving Britain and becoming a territory of Norway, as they do not receive fair funding from the British government and have deeper ties with Norway, the Telegraph newspaper writes, citing the leader of the Orkney Islands Council.
The Orkney Islands, home to 22,500 people, are located in northeastern Scotland – on the border of the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean – and are geographically closer to Oslo than to London. Until 1472, when they became part of Scotland by royal marriage treaty, the islands were under the control of Norway and Denmark for hundreds of years.
“The per capita funding we receive from the Scottish government is far less than that of the Shetland Islands and the Western Isles … we can’t go on like this,” the newspaper quotes Orkney Islands Council leader James Stokan as saying.
At the same time, according to Stokan, the Orkney Islands have been part of the “Scandinavian kingdom” for much longer than they have been part of Great Britain, and there is “a great closeness and deep cultural connection” between the inhabitants of the islands and the population of Norway.
It is noted that a proposal to consider “alternative forms of government” is due to be submitted to the Orkney Islands council as early as Tuesday. If it is accepted, the council will look closely at possible changes. It is noted that if the islands want to change their status or even leave Britain, it may be necessary to hold a referendum and negotiate with the British and Scottish governments.
1,838 total views, 2 views today
