Should the Orkney islands go back to Norway?

[purplepoppy]

The resident of the Orkney islands off northeast Scotland are a grumbling. Some there want to break off from the UK and return to being a Norwegian Island.

Orkney was previously held under Norwegian and Danish control until it became part of Scotland in 1472. The islands were used as security for the wedding dowry of Margaret of Denmark, the future wife of King James III of Scotland.

Many there consider themselves culturally closer to Norway referring to themselves as Orcadians rather than Scottish, but unsurprisingly the proposed breakaway from the UK is to do with them not getting a fair share of the money pot.

So should Orkney be returned to Norway?

Yes return them to their Viking brothers.

No keep them under British rule

[Avicenna]

I'd suggest first having a referendum among Orkney Islands residents, and if the result is for reversion to Norway, then the entire UK and Norway should separately vote on the issue assuming that the Orkneys leaving the UK and joining Norway doesn't violate either of those countries' laws.

[DarkLegacy]

It would violate the laws

[Avicenna]

@DarkLegacy: Then it's a moot suggestion

[DarkLegacy]

There is too much grumbling going on these days, trust the obvious 'Yanks' that commenting answering this by saying they should go back to the Vikings. No they should not, they actually have no say and certainly no 'Yank' has any say.

[Anonymous]

Should be up to the people but the Scots were there before the Norse invaded.

[goaded]

I'm sure they'll all enjoy learning Norwegian.

[CaptainSmartass]

It's not that hard, actually.

[goaded]

@CaptainSmartass Smartass!

[Red_Arrow]

Depends. Will it be hard to move them back to Norway?

[AviatorTom]

Let Orkney become independent... and join the EU.

[DarkLegacy]

Jog on, there is no need for an American to comment, the Orkney islands belong to us and will stay ours

[AngryCarl2]

If they hold a referendum (at their own expense) and vote to ORXIT I would respect their wishes. Whether Norway would take them back is another matter.

[DarkLegacy]

Are you from the UK, only the UK can decide this and chiefly the government

[AngryCarl2]

@DarkLegacy Why should the whole of the UK decide the future of the inhabitants of one small island with tenuous connections to the mainland? I'm English by the way so I can understand why they might want to leave the Union.

[DarkLegacy]

Because the land belongs to the UK, this such typical millennial thinking.

[AngryCarl2]

@DarkLegacy No, the land is part of the UK. The land belongs to the islanders.

[DarkLegacy]

@AngryCarl2 All land is owed by the UK, which is why they can put in place compulsorily purchase orders and evict people from the homes and land.

[OddBeMe]

Mmm…Brexit or EU?

I think they’d pick EU just for trade.

[exitseven]

Maybe President Trump will trade them for Peurto Rico and they can be part of the USA

[zagor]

What language do they currently speak? Norwegian can be tough to learn.

[purplepoppy]

They speak a mix of scots and norn (a type of old norse) plus English www.northlinkferries.co.uk/.../

[CaptainSmartass]

I'd say there should be a referendum on it. I'd also involve Shetland, because they're even closer to Norway.

Simples...

[DarkLegacy]

Im glad that there won't be one

[CaptainSmartass]

@DarkLegacy Yeah, it would just rile people up. The UK doesn't have a good track record with referendums, or accepting the results thereof...

[Anonymous]

Would anyone notice?

[KostasKouvalis]

No. Absolutely not