Britain's Orkney Islands, an archipelago about 10 miles off the north coast of Scotland, is considering 'alternative forms of governance' which could include becoming part of Norway, its council leader said on Monday.
A memorial to Lord Kitchener, who died when the HMS Hampshire hit a German mine on June 5, 1916, is seen at Marwick Head on the Orkney Islands, Scotland May 3, 2014. Picture taken May 3, 2014. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis/File Photo
Orkney's historic Nordic connections give it options, Stockan believes. The islands were part of Norway for about 500 years until 1472 and he says Orcadians regularly ask him for a return to that country given the shared cultural affinity. Stockan has proposed a motion for the council to "explore options for alternative models of governance that provide greater fiscal security and economic opportunity". Councillors will decide whether to back it or not on Tuesday.
From the late 1970s, large volumes of Britain's North Sea oil have been processed on Orkney, but the island has not seen sufficient benefits, Stockan said. With new opportunities from offshore wind farms, he wants the islands to see a greater return.
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