Why doesn't England just leave the UK?

camf

Before the Scottish referendum, we were told that if Scotland left the UK, it would immediately no longer be part of the EU... bumped! Ejected! So why doesn't England (and Wales?) just jump ship? Then according to the 'facts' Scotland were given prior to the referendum, England could then be immediately out of Europe, leaving Scotland and NI (who both had majorities wishing to remain in Europe), happily remaining in the UK's place. Even better for England... they get rid of Scotland AND the EU in one move. Wouldn't that work out for perfectly for all you Brexiters?

Yeah... I know. But still...

joeyowen

Why stick us Welsh with the English by default?

Nothing against England of course

camf

I was just going by the referendum results. You'd all be welcome to come up here... plenty space.

joeyowen

woo!

RocknRollDave

camf said:

 Then according to the 'facts' Scotland were given prior to the referendum, England could then be immediately out of Europe, leaving Scotland and NI happily remaining in the UK's place.

I thought the EU made it clear before both referenda that Scotland's place in the EU as an independent country was not guaranteed? There are a number of EU member countries who have a vested interest in that NOT happening, e.g. Spain who do not want to encourage Catalan independance.

camf

But that's the point... Scotland wouldn't be leaving. It would be England that leaves the UK and thereby also leaving the EU... with pretty much immediate effect. In theory, and I don't think anyone really sees it as a likely outcome, Scotland and NI would remain as the UK... business as usual... while England goes off on its merry way. Happy days?

Sambostar

Wales would leave too.  England and Wales.

axisus

I think that we should just pull up the anchor and float further away from Europe. They'll soon forget us one we are out of sight.

RocknRollDave

Oh I see! Gotcha! Interesting thought...not sure how it could work in practice, but would definitely be interesting to see if England-and-Wales could make it on their own as an independent country (or pair of countries, I should say)...no Commonwealth, no previously plundered countries, just England. And Wales.

camf

Yep, I can't see how it could possibly go wrong.

Fretwired

There's a big problem with this .. can anybody see it?

speshul91

Fretwired said:

There's a big problem with this .. can anybody see it?

We get stuck with Wales?

Fretwired

speshul91 said:

Fretwired said:

There's a big problem with this .. can anybody see it?

We get stuck with Wales?

We could form a new country called Wagland .... footballers wives would be happy.

No that's not it ..... something that happened yesterday might give you a clue .. :-)

Sambostar

I know

Drew_TNBD

RocknRollDave said:

Oh I see! Gotcha! Interesting thought...not sure how it could work in practice, but would definitely be interesting to see if England-and-Wales could make it on their own as an independent country (or pair of countries, I should say)...no Commonwealth, no previously plundered countries, just England. And Wales.

Er.. do you know anything about history?

Yes England could make it on their own. Obviously.

Myranda

Would we keep the pound? Would the other three members of the UK lose the NHS, the pound, centralised government the Bank of England, legal system, etc. and be fine with that? Seems to me that England leaving the UK overnight would create a legal challenge that would mean we would get super sued... like hundreds of billions in damages

Sambostar

We have a plentiful supply of trees, crops, stock, fertile soil, coal, iron, tin, copper, uranium, turnips, a favourable climate and a history of international trading.  What else is there?  This is why we had a head start in globalisation and had the best navy in the world, because as a country we are provided for and we didn't rely on cheese farming.  Of course England would make it on it's own.  We wouldn't have started the Empire in the first place if we didn't have these things.

HAL9000

Fretwired said:

speshul91 said:

Fretwired said:

There's a big problem with this .. can anybody see it?

We get stuck with Wales?

We could form a new country called Wagland .... 

Nah, how about...

Former Union of Celtic Kingdoms?

impmann

"So who is the Peoples Front of Judea?"

"He's over there."

ICBM

I proposed exactly that shortly after the referendum .

UKSNIG.

The United Kingdom Of Scotland, Northern Ireland And Gibraltar.

camf

^^^ A prophet has arisen... let him lead us to freedom!