BristolUK

Seeing as how it's England that wants to leave Europe with Scotland (and Wales?) wanting to remain, maybe it's England who should vote for independence from the former UK.

That way membership of the EU remains unchanged in terms of that bit across the channel and north sea, with England forming a new nation.

Shard

Indeed ! In effect this why Sturgeon is wanting a Scottish decision prior to a UK withdrawal.

Pizzawheel

Might be a simple tactic to make it a more reasonable ask the second time. When the timing will undoubtedly be better.

Bizarrely Wales voted to remain, despite being the one region that had done the best out of EU membership. NI was in favour of remaining but I think their future is with Ireland, once the memories fade.

I read a similar thesis to this years ago, based on the home nations constantly wanting independence, that England should secede from the union and let Scotland/ Wales/ NI sort their own stuff out. That got me thinking (as a Londoner) what would happen if London seceded from the union and did a Singapore. I have mixed feelings about that being mooted in the long Brexit debate, but at least my London citizenship should be assured.

Teaandtoday5

Having spent years in a strongly pro SNP region of Scotland I would say that Nicola Sturgeon needs to think again if she doesn't realise that a good proportion of her most ardent supporters were also strongly for Brexit.

Shard

The two speed Europe idea is quite interesting. With Scotland, NI and London being remain leaning, and other EU nations having their own qualms about the project, perhaps once the French and German elections are out of the way, the idea might start gaining some momentum.

Shard

From the unscientific news interviews, that does seem to be the case.

You would think there are some stats out by now breaking down the allegiances.

Pizzawheel

I always thought 2-speed europe was more to do with the industrialist north vs the agrarian south. It's problematic because no one knows which way France blows and the line seems to run through the middle of Italy.

But there's now doubt a weakness of the EU is the North-South divide (as opposed to the East-West one)

Almost Canadian

What if people on one side of a street voted to remain, but those on the other voted to leave. Should only one side of the street have to leave?

MarkG

I'm guessing they won't be impressed when they discover that the England-less UK still has to keep sending billions of pounds to Brussels every month.

Scotland staying in the EU while England leaves is simply not going to happen. If Scotland wants to be part of it, they'll have to leave the UK and line up to join with the rest.

Shard

Not necessarily. It would depend on budgets. TBD.

Not necessarily. If a week in politics is a long time, imagine 2 years. Imagine 5-10, which is how long full Brexit is going to take. Again, TBD.

MarkG

Brexit can't take 10 years, because the EU will be history by then.

chawkins99

The end is nigh

MarkG

To be fair, Scotland will eventually be independent, but it'll either be because the English no longer care about keeping it, or decide to kick them out of the UK. At which point, the SNP politicos will be too busy fighting off the Glaswegian hordes trying to conquer Edinburgh and nick all their stuff to spend much time celebrating.

BristolUK

That would depend on how those around the corner felt and which side the shops were on.

Pizzawheel

I thought it was billions of pounds per day, all of which could be invested in genuine British war veteran kittens pensions instead.

Wales is the curious case, as they were a have not and got more than they gave, but still voted out.