Orkney councillors back plan to explore alternative forms of governance

Councillors vote for motion asking officers to compile report on future of how islands are run

Orkney council is to investigate winning greater independence, including possible deals with Nordic nations, after accusing Scottish ministers of consistently neglecting the islands.

Councillors voted by a large majority on Tuesday to look at a range of options to increase their autonomy and funding, alleging that Orkney had been unjustifiably deprived of hundreds of millions of pounds by ministers in Edinburgh.