Dissolution of the United Kingdom

[JunkBondTrader]

Right, this one's mainly aimed at the British VT users, but Americans/Canadians/Irish/Aus/whatever are more than welcome to contribute to this too, of course.

I don't really have much of an opinion on this but I'd love to hear what other VT users think about it since it's becoming more and more of a heated issue. Do you think Wales/Scotland should secede from the union and become independent states? I for one, as someone who identifies not as English but as British am generally inclined to favour a union with greater representation for all of the home countries, but at the end of the day, we're all alone on this god forsaken rock. To quote the song "Why can't we be friends?"

By the way, I've intentionally left Northern Ireland out of this poll since, in my humble opinion, that's a different issue altogether. I'm completely neutral as far as NI is concerned.

[embers]

Does it really matter? I really don't see the reason are getting worked up about independence. In the end yes you ARE on the same island.

[nick]

Mainland Britain is small compared to many countries, it seems stupid to break it up into smaller chunks. Wales probably couldnt survive as an independant country, Scotland may be able to because of North Sea oil, but I dont really understand the need for it. As an Englishman I dont feel the need to be English as opposed to British. We dont choose our country's history, we dont have to be proud of it, or not all of it. But we should live in the present.

[JunkBondTrader]

Does it really matter? I really don't see the reason are getting worked up about independence. In the end yes you ARE on the same island.

I agree with you but we both live in England. I think for the Scots and the Welsh it's a much more serious matter since England has usually been in the commanding role for most of the UK's history.

I'm very interested in hearing what Welsh/Scottish members think about the whole thing. I know there's a few on VT. :P

As an Englishman I dont feel the need to be English as opposed to British.

I don't quite understand what you're saying here. Are you saying that you're English but don't identify as such?

EDIT: Wait, sorry, I understand what you mean exactly and happen to agree with you. But as I said, for the other home countries, it's a very different issue.

[scuba steve]

Well if i'm not good enough for your list then screw you :P

[PJay]

We have a bunch of different histories crammed into our tiny island. I can totally understand why the scots want to be separate. Afaik they were here first and the rest of us invaded at various times and pushed them up north. Actually to be fair, the scots should probably run the whole place.

[JunkBondTrader]

We have a bunch of different histories crammed into our tiny island. I can totally understand why the scots want to be separate. Afaik they were here first and the rest of us invaded at various times and pushed them up north. Actually to be fair, the scots should probably run the whole place.

They weren't exactly "here first" as you put it. People have lived in both halves of the island for quite some time. I see what you're saying and understand completely, but why should anyone run it alone? Why can't we respect our individual cultures and histories whilst staying in a unified state, and, you know, just get along with eath other?

[scuba steve]

I origionally voted for the system to remain unchanged but i'm starting to think that a Federal system would be more beneficial since only the English may vote for the "leader" of the UK.

[The Dark Lord]

I'm Scottish and I hate the devolved government. It's full of 2nd rate politicians who are incapable of standing up for Scotland's interest, although I credit the First Minister (Alex Salmond) who is an able politician but he is set to lose the next election to a complete nobody! Also Scotland is very left wing meaning a right wing voter like me is never represented in Parliament as everyone hates the Tories. Devolved government hasn't improved Scotland and Scotland couldn't survive long term on their own.

[Minimoose]

All I'm gonna say is look at the University situation...it's fucking stupid, if you want to be united together then make it the same!


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[Azunite]

I'm Scottish and I hate the devolved government. It's full of 2nd rate politicians who are incapable of standing up for Scotland's interest, although I credit the First Minister (Alex Salmond) who is an able politician but he is set to lose the next election to a complete nobody! Also Scotland is very left wing meaning a right wing voter like me is never represented in Parliament as everyone hates the Tories. Devolved government hasn't improved Scotland and Scotland couldn't survive long term on their own.

I was going to mention a good old Scot here who said that it would be bad for Scotland to become an independent state. And there e posted.

Although I am not British ( or Scottish, Welsh whatsoever ) and I don't follow UK's politics, I'd still say that dissolving a thousand year's union is a bad idea. Not only because nobody knows how to stand on it's own properly, because they need each other. One that is not produced in England, is produced in Scotland, for example and in order for UK to survive England would need Scotland's stuff, or Wales would need N.Ireland's stuff. It is a system that worket quite good so far and it is a bad idea to end it.
I haven't heard anyone (besides Irish) who complain about UK's system. Everybody has enough freedom ( as far as I know )

[Tristin.]

I class myself as british, always have always will. With regards to scotland, their reason for hating the english and wanting independance, is the fact that many english are very ignorant. They believe the sun shines from their (censored) and that everybody loves them. They do not understand scotland, so shall always recieve hatred from them. In television, marketing campaignes etc scotland is often left out.

As for scotland being independant, it could never be so, the north sea oil and gas will be gone in the next 100 years from there how coudl it survive? it would have to become neutral, much like switzerland due to its population. It could remain part of the commonwealth, but even then it could struggle to survive. it has been part of Britain too long.

In the end, iam british, i go to a british school in scotland. If the english refer to scotland as say it is still in the UK, i dont think so much hatred would be sent below the boarder.

[steve1234]

Traditionally, Scottish and Welsh people don't like being part of Britain. This is mostly just a sterotype, but behind every stereotype there is a little bit truth. I think most Welsh and Scottish people don't really care, but there are a few who dislike Britain and its politics (don't blame them lol, although its not that bad). Even Cornwall wants to be a seperate country, but that seems even more unlikely seeing as they are just a county, not a country.
I don't think seperating the Britian would be a good idea. It might not be so good for relations, and would divide us up even more (i.e. just like N.Ireland and Ireland, although probably won't be that bad!)

[Donkey]

Instead of why not separate, why separate anyway?

[scuba steve]

In my opinion if the British Empire hadn't been so racist towards the Irish and they had of stayed in the Union the old Kingdom of Ireland would be a much better place today.

[The Dark Lord]

With regards to scotland, their reason for hating the english and wanting independance, is the fact that many english are very ignorant. They believe the sun shines from their (censored) and that everybody loves them. They do not understand scotland, so shall always recieve hatred from them. In television, marketing campaignes etc scotland is often left out. .

If you think Scottish people want independence because of weather reports and television ads then you've got an even lower opinion of scottish people than I have

As for scotland being independant, it could never be so, the north sea oil and gas will be gone in the next 100 years from there how coudl it survive? it would have to become neutral, much like switzerland due to its population. It could remain part of the commonwealth, but even then it could struggle to survive.

This I agree with

Traditionally, Scottish and Welsh people don't like being part of Britain. This is mostly just a sterotype, but behind every stereotype there is a little bit truth.

How do explain the opinion polls which show a majority want to remain within the union?

[goat]

Hmm, This reminds me of a trip to Canada I went on. I was talking to a local, but can't recall about what when a man on the bus made some sort of comment(I didn't actually hear what he said) and the woman I was speaking with laughed and explained to me that he felt Canada should still be under British rule! I decided not to tell him my family name Richard-pronounced Reeshard, or that I was of Cajun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cajun)decent, but what's a little Le Grand Dérangement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Upheaval). among friends.