Update on Brexit
Now that we have a
government preparing for a no deal Brexit it is perhaps appropriate to make
some predictions of how this will affect United Kingdom.
It would seem almost
certain that Scotland would decide to become independent of England and to
remain in the European Union - with or without the approval of the Westminster
Parliament. This would leave a hard border between England and Scotland for which
absolutely no provision is being considered.
It is almost as likely
that the Northern Irish would also leave the United Kingdom. They would have
the option of joining the Irish Republic to form a united Ireland or to form a
new union with the Scots. I would hesitate to predict which they would choose.
The Welsh would probably
also wish to stay within the EU and decide either for independence on their own
or perhaps also form a union of the Scots
This would leave England
isolated and almost certainly severely economically and politically damaged. I
would guess that within a few years they would apply to re-join the European
Union - but that would not recreate the United Kingdom.
Is this what was voted for
in the 2016 referendum? I think not.