The resident of a small island off the coast of Scotland has declared its independence from the United Kingdom. Stuart Hill, the owner of the island, wants it to be a crown dependency, similar to the Channel Islands.

According to a statement on his Web site, Hill, who owns Forvik, a 2.5-acre island in the Shetland Islands, declared that he no longer recognized the authority of the British government or the European Union.

Hill, 65, landed on the small island in 2001 when his boat capsized there during an attempt to circumnavigate Britain. As the island's sole resident, he lives in a tent and runs a Web site for the island.

Hill writes about the history of the island and how that relates to his claims of crown dependency. "By declaring Forvik a crown dependency, I am simply re-establishing the correct legal relationship between this part of Shetland and the crown," he wrote on the site.

Following the declaration, Hill offered his services to the Queen while recognizing her as the head of state. He also invited others to join him on his lonely little island.

"Further, I also invite anyone from any country in the world, who supports these aims, namely to become free of liars, thieves and tyrants in government, to become a citizen of Forvik."