Orkney Islanders Consider Rejoining Norway After Centuries

Officials on Scotland's Orkney Islands are considering the possibility of rejoining Norway, the country that gave them away as a royal wedding dowry over 550 years ago, due to feeling ignored by distant politicians in Edinburgh and London. The Orkney Islands Council will debate alternative models of governance, exploring their Nordic connections. While Orkney has prospered economically in recent years, it receives less support from the Scottish government compared to other island communities. Any constitutional change would require petitions, referendums, and legislation by both the Scottish and UK governments, which are currently at odds over Scottish independence. The British government has dismissed the idea of Orkney forging new links with Norway, emphasizing the strength of the United Kingdom.