Orkney is to consider leaving the UK and becoming a territory of Norway after islanders claimed they were sick of being mistreated by both Edinburgh and London.

A motion is to go before the Orkney Council on Tuesday, calling for an investigation of “alternative forms of government” which will include re-establishing historic “Nordic connections”.

The islands, which geographically are closer to Oslo than to London, were under Norwegian and Danish control for hundreds of years until 1472, when they became part of Scotland in a royal marriage pact.

James Stockan, the council leader, said the islands did not get their fair share of funding under current governance arrangements and was therefore entitled to consider alternative models.