The debate over whether Orkney should remain part of Scotland has heated up in the last few days.
Orkney’s council leader James Stockan put forward a motion which says it is time for the islands to consider other forms of governance.
This could possibly be along the lines of crown dependencies such as Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man, or could revive historic links with Norway.
But the UK Government rejected suggestions that the islands could loosen ties with the United Kingdom on Monday.
The islands have some high-profile politicians, with Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael having previously served as Scotland Secretary and Kirkwall-native Neil Gray becoming Cabinet Secretary for the Wellbeing Economy earlier this year.
Stockan’s motion will be considered by Orkney Islands Council on Tuesday.
The council leader’s motion does not commit the council to any of these options and the officials’ report notes that any constitutional change would likely require a combination of petitions, referenda and legislation at Holyrood and Westminster.
Stockan said he felt Orkney is being “failed dreadfully” by Governments in both Edinburgh and London.
Funding is less per head than Shetland and the Western Isles receive, he said.
Orkney was under Norwegian and Danish control until 1472 when the islands were given to Scotland as part of Margaret of Denmark’s wedding dowry to King James III of Scotland.
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