By Daily Mail Reporter. Islanders on Orkney are considering their options after the Brexit vote - including breaking free from Scotland and the UK to become independent. Many residents have hoped for greater autonomy from the Scottish Government in the past, and were promised more powers in the event of Scottish independence. And now more than half of Orkney's councillors have forced a motion demanding an investigation into possible self-determination for the islands after Brexit.
Orkney islanders are considering breaking away from Scotland after councillors forced a motion demanding an investigation into possible self-determination.
The islanders overwhelmingly backed remaining in the UK and the European Union at both referendums in and A motion passed by 13 of Orkney Islands Council's 21 members has demanded the chief executive compile a report considering 'whether the people of Orkney could exercise self-determination if faced with further national or international constitutional changes, or indeed to decide if more autonomy might be beneficial for the wellbeing of Orkney.
The motion also says the report should look at what would be needed to 'consider such opportunities for greater autonomy or self-determination' with both the UK and Scottish Governments. Graham Sinclair, an independent councillor who drafted the motion, said: 'I think the islands are more significantly different - both historically and culturally - from the rest of the country.
It is to consider whether there is the possibility of constitutional changes. Mr Sinclair said that an opinion poll might be carried out to determine how people living on the islands feel about the issue. People marching with EU flags and pro-Europe slogans on placards during a March for Europe protest against the Brexit vote in London in September last year.
