Hello, a question from an American (USA) . . .?

Question

Every so often, we hear news reports of Scotland or Ireland wanting to break away and form an independent government . . . yesterday someone was questioning if Wales could govern independently . . . so how likely is any of this . . . and how serious is the "threat" being taken . . .? Again, I live in the U.S. and the reporting is vague . . . and mainly centers around Scotland . . . so what does the average person think about this? Thanks.

Answer 1

mostly media led and of course the ignorant love all the scare stories. doubt it will happen in my lifetime. England is in a mess with mass immigration etc, some there think if they go it alone everything will be as it was years ago. of course they ignore the fact most of their problems come from the EU. there are silly people in every country i guess.

Answer 2

The only feeling i have on this subject is:> when we have a census form to fill in in the UK i have to state [British]. i am English and if i wish to state this i have to look for [Other] in the nationalities column and then write English it is then acceptable

This makes me very angry indeed.

Answer 3

I wouldn't actually consider it a "threat" as such, but there has been a growth in support for a number of nationalist parties within the UK; such as the SNP in Scotland, Plaid Cymru in Wales and the BNP in England.

However, many of these extra votes have arisen as a protest against the New Labour government in areas that were traditionally Labour's heartland and from those who would never vote Conservative.

Despite this, the chances of a full breakaway from Great Britain are slim considering, for example, the Union of Scotland and England in 1707 was primarily to prevent Scotland from going bankrupt. Most Scots realise that becoming a full seperate state would leave them financially adrift for decades if not generations with possibly no chance of recovery. The financial traffic has been pretty much one way, hence the reason many in England are quite keen for Scotland to leave the Union (which would also result in all Scottish MP's in Parliament automatically having to resign - Gordon Brown included).

Ireland is a little different in that there is also the religious element involved. The Unionists in Ulster are at present the majority so the British government abides by their wishes. There is now (at last!) the power-sharing with Sinn Fein who obviously want a united Ireland but until they reach the majority vote in Ulster things will remain the same.

Btw, please ignore Ray.isBack [above] as he knows as much about the UK as the rest of us do about the dark side of the moon - at various points he has claimed to live in Thailand, Argentina, Hong Kong,the US and now Britain, depending on how he can fit an "answer" to the question just to throw some abuse at those of us in the UK. Sad really.

Answer 4

1. "Ireland" is already independent in the form of the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland is still in the union, but devolved government there is just beginning to restart (was suspended for many years)

2. Wales and Scotland already have devolved governments. They aren't independant, but do have some control over their own affairs. For example, in Wales, proscriptions are free, for everyone. In England, adults have to pay part of the cost.

3. Scotland is arguably subsidized by the rest of the UK. Although scots nationalists would say that this isn't true, because Scotland ought to get all the money from North Sea oil and gas, both of these resources will run dry in the not too distant future, making it a bad move, economically to try to withdraw from the Union.

4. Wales has a good many poor areas, especially the valleys in the south, and being in the UK is an economic advantage. the Welsh nationalist party doesn't do terribly well against the other major parties, even in the devolved government elections.

5. Even assuming Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland became even more autonmous they'd still be in the European Union. If independance were to happen it would be likely to happen by stages, with a lot of internal agreements between the new countries - equivalents of the Shaugin agreements in Europe to make crossing borders easier, and so on to lessen the detrimental impact of breaking away.

In any case I don't think it's likely to happen any time soon, certainly not in the case of Wales.

Remember that what we're taking about here is ultimately a democratic process rather than a threat of rebellion and break away. If it happens it'll be by referendums and votes, rather than revolution.

Answer 5

The answer depends on whether you're asking a Scot, Welsh or English. Scottish and Welsh nationalism is on the rise and one should not discount the strength of feeling in the autonomous regions of the UK. Yes, at the moment it seems unlikely, but such things can change very quickly. Just watch this space, as they say.

Answer 6

A good many English people would like to see Scotland and Wales get their independence as soon as possible!Why?It is considered that they are being kept afloat by the English taxpayer!

Wales and Scotland should get their independence providing they are responsible for their own Pensions,Benefits,NHS,Police!

When it comes to a vote!I hope every Welsh and Scotsman votes!Yes!for independence!So to give the English taxpayer a break!

Answer 7

Split opinion. Some people want us to be an independent nation, but others are fiercely against it,

Answer 8

It's a new and therefore interesting phenomenon to those unitiated, but there is a vocal minority in Scotland which purports to break away from the United Kingdom; but their chances of success in this endeavour are slim.

The chances in Wales are even slimmer.

Northern Ireland is a different issue.  I could see it ultimately joining the Republic at some point, though I'd be sorry to see it go.

Answer 9

No no one is breaking away and forming more governments, what it is is the Elite Globalists follow the same agenda that Hitler, everything is the same, Hitler planed to divide the UK into sectors (easier to handle), and that's just what the Elite are doing.  These are called Assemblies, we have Northern Ireland 'Assembly', The London 'Assembly', etc these are all unelected just like the EU Reps, there are eight assemblies so the Elite can step in any time and take over.  

Answer 10

how are you, Sometimes you just need to reevaluate the situation and go from there. .

Visit http://www.MeJab.com - A Place to Vent Anger

take care

Answer 11

Over here they know all about everything that takes place in the U S if it puts us in a bad lite all the better

Things are not good over here the Scots feel that the English has stolen their oil money the English feel that they have to support Scotland They both have become very anti America Many parts of London look as if it's a bar strip outside a military base

The anger is building here both toward each other and for some reason towards the U S of A

You may not believe this But they really want China to beat the U S at the Olympics

I'm a yank [American] and have lived here off and on for years But have find that anti Americanism on the street has really gotten out of hand

They pick this up from their very anti American BBC Just last week I hear that the British military was needed in our world to keep the yanks from killing the American Indian and that is why they fight on there side in both wars

You can't reason with them they want to believe this B/S

The movie 'sicko' was and still is big over here the DVD is always rented out

They well never tell you this but it is a mess over here

Answer 12

That would be interesting but from an economic standpoint I really dont think the world needs that at this time.  If it happens and the economies of multiple nations suffer I would blame the scotch and irish people.

Answer 13

Strange, but the English are the ones who would most like to see the Scots break away.

Answer 14

Ain't never going to happen, we are all linked financially and depend on each other for so much.

Answer 15

A fine illustration of the lack of education in the USA.

Ireland is a Republic and sovereign State and has beens so since around 1922.

Scotland has it's own Parliament which is currently led by a Nationalist party which is campaigning for total separation from the UK.