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 a very preliminary shot. It is to consider whether there is the possibility of constitutional changes."

Mr Sinclair said that a new opinion poll might be carried out to determine how people living on the islands feel about the issue.

He added: "I don't have any preconceptions about where it might lead. My motion was accepted without anyone speaking against it and we are a council of independent councillors."

Steven Heddle, the council’s leader, previously supported Scottish independence and his wife was a parliamentary candidate for the SNP.

A separate opinion poll published today found Scots are overwhelmingly opposed to holding another independence referendum this year.

The BMG poll for the Herald newspaper found that, when those who are unsure are excluded, 61.5 per cent were against holding a fresh vote in 2017, compared to 38.5 per cent who would support it.