First Brexit, Now Orxit? Politicians On Scotland’s Orkney Islands Vote To Explore More Autonomy

Photo Credit:  AP Photo/Naomi Koppel, File. Retrieved from mymotherlode.com

Officials on the Orkney Islands, a corner of Scotland with Viking roots and an independent spirit, seized a moment in the global spotlight and voted to explore ways of seeking more autonomy — or even independence — from neglectful U.K. governments.

Journalists from across Britain and around the world tuned in remotely as Orkney Islands Council voted to study “alternative models of governance” for the archipelago, which has a population of 22,000.

The proposal from council leader James Stockan grabbed international headlines with its mention of potentially restoring Orkney’s “Nordic connections.” Orkney was under Norwegian and Danish control for centuries until 1472 when the islands were taken by the Scottish crown as part of Margaret of Denmark’s wedding dowry to King James III of Scotland.