The Disunited Kingdom

[Seabag]

Ideology here has driven a wedge between us as a country, from which we?re going to suffer for generations. It?s pretty shocking to consider, but consider it we must. And seeing as we?re going further down a path of near biblical political stoniness, and the union is fracturing, I wonder what we might call what?s left of us as a country.

We can?t blame Scotland for wanting to be independent, or for Ireland to be reunited. Both will end up back in the E.U at some time in the future. What?s left will shrink into further devolution and Wales will probably be next.

So much like a relocation of a football club, a name change and rebrand gives fresh hopes to some. Think how in 2004 M.K Dons were once merely Wimbledon F.C. From the ashes a Phoenix can rise.

Or how Skoda drivers alway tell you ?essentially it?s a V.W or an Audi under the bonnet!?

I?m sure with a new name, we can fudge the past and eventually forget what the UK once meant.

We live in hope.

[Seabag]

Tongue in cheek we could go for

E.U

England United. But it stinks of xenophobia and nationalism. And it?s not true, as we?re way off being united.

[JohnL]

The Government must recognise both Ireland and Scotland will leave the UK - it's only a matter of time and on which UK Prime Ministers watch it happens.

They must be preparing so I'll go for the Wangland before Wales leaves.

[SpringTime]

Cornwall might also drop off. And then maybe Spalding and Swaffham.

Perhaps all of England will fall away from London, leaving the area inside the M25 as a kind of walled-off citadel ruling over our future island without any postive connection or mutual exchange. Or has that already happened?

[Seabag]

I?m thinking Isle of Wight becomes our version of Monaco

[KidKruger]

Seabag Wrote:

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> I?m thinking Isle of Wight becomes our version of

> Monaco

That's cool cos I have land down there !

[KidKruger]

Seabag Wrote:

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> what we might call what?s left of us as a

> country.

"Shithole".

[malumbu]

I've got a passport to Pimlico. Ruritania would be a good name for the rump of England that remains (goes nicely with Rule Britannia), or otherwise Duchy of Grand Fenwick.

[maxxi]

Speaking as a Mercian things were never the same after Offa. We never recognised Alfred The Git or any of the Viking pretenders and we are patiently waiting for a long lost King buried under some forsaken mound near the M45 (legend has it) to rise again and take us forward with an economy based around solid basket weaving and coracle technology.

[legalalien]

The Seven Kingdoms, surely? Cornwall joins with Wales on this model. Or too GoT?

[Seabag]

legalalien Wrote:

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> The Seven Kingdoms, surely? Cornwall joins with

> Wales on this model. Or too GoT?

Just a small point, but do you actually need Kings or Queens for these Kingdoms/Queendoms ?

[TheCat]

I believe the correct terminology these days it 'Theydom' so as to be inclusive of all royals

[maxxi]

TheCat Wrote:

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> I believe the correct terminology these days it

> 'Theydom' so as to be inclusive of all royals

Been down that road... Macbeth was the They(n) of Glamis and Cawdor and... unless Duncan's horses have started eating each other again?

[Seabag]

Lucky Scotland, Boris Johnson is going to visit

It?s a bit rich him going to sell the Union project when he?s done so much to f*ck it up. The ?will of the people? of Scotland was 62% voted to remain in the E.U. and if anything we know about this government, they?re very very respectful of the will of the people. But like Trump thought America needed ?more Trump? it seems Bodge Job Johnson thinks Scotland needs more Boris.

Good luck Scotland. Kick his fatuous arse.

https://apple.news/ADRw-M-rmRxqrP2qYFORYNg

[JohnL]

I saw Gove defending his visit this morning.

Sky Niall asked him "Do we all look the same to you" :)

[JohnL]

LOL and he's immediately attacked on twitter

It is so obvious who controls these bot networks on social media when you look at what riles them.

[TheCat]

Was interested to see the progression of opinion polling on Scottish independence...found a great table on this Wikipedia link showing the progression of opinion polls since the last referendum in 2014....

Interesting that opinion had been solidly against independence (apart from a shortlived month long flip immediately post the Brexit referendum) until it the 'no' lead started slipping in late 2019, before strongly flipping to 'yes' from mid-2020....

So I guess leaving the EU has clearly played its part in Scottish opinion, with the opinion polls sliding once it was clear boris got his Withdrawal Agreement...but interesting that the prospect of leaving the EU hadnt consistently flipped opinion between 2016-2019...seems like a big factor might just be dislike of Boris's govt (since 2019 election) and perhaps its the handling of COVID is the straw that broke the camels back....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_on_Scottish_independence

[JohnL]

There is a feeling it's an English Nationalist government among many - no real evidence for that offhand - just the way the government comes across.

[Seabag]

Some things don?t travel well. Like Trump, Johnson trails the whiff of nativist populism with him. His agenda (whatever Gove says otherwise) becomes more transparent away from its base camp.

And the Scottish mistrust of Johnson and his government is palpable.

Still, I?m sure all the NHS COVID front liners will be super happy he?s travelling all the way up there to say ?thanks?.

[TheCat]

If we all conclude that its mistrust of Boris and Co thats a big driver of pro-independence sentiment, then one would have to caution the Scottish against reacting too much to the government of the day.

One probably shouldn't make a 'once in a generation' decision because you dislike someone who is highly unlikely to not be in power in 3-4 years (Im aware thats of course not the only reason)

[DuncanW]

As you say, it's not the only reason. And far from it.

[diable rouge]

Seeing polls saying 60+% of Tory voters were prepared for the break-up of the Union if it meant delivering Brexit, didn't go down well...

[zerkalo]

This, exactly. People will need to own the consequences of their decisions.

diable rouge Wrote:

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> Seeing polls saying 60+% of Tory voters were

> prepared for the break-up of the Union if it meant

> delivering Brexit, didn't go down well...

[KidKruger]

I think the Brexit vote just highlighted to the Scots that their vote as a 'Country' was irrelevant to Westminster, who treated Scotland like a big county on the matter. Scotland wanted to stay in the EU and have been forced out. They have no sovereignty they probably feel.

Who wouldn't want out of UK after that (with option to go back into EU, or at least try) ?

TheCat Wrote:

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> If we all conclude that its mistrust of Boris and

> Co thats a big driver of pro-independence

> sentiment, then one would have to caution the

> Scottish against reacting too much to the

> government of the day.

>

> One probably shouldn't make a 'once in a

> generation' decision because you dislike someone

> who is highly unlikely to not be in power in 3-4

> years (Im aware thats of course not the only

> reason)

[diable rouge]

KidKruger Wrote:

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> They have no sovereignty they probably feel.

One of the problems that the Pro-Union side has, is that some of the 'benefits' of leaving the EU that were trumpeted by Johnson/Vote Leave, can also be thrown back at them by the Indies...