Now that the UK has "brexited" from the EU, will Ireland and Scotland declare th

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   LoliHeyposted 8 years ago

   Now that the UK has "brexited" from the EU, will Ireland and Scotland declare their independence?
   
   Do you think those countries could try?

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   lions44posted 8 years ago

   Just to keep you from being bombarded by angry Irishmen...put 'Northern Ireland" instead of Ireland, because you will be accused of mixing up the Republic with its UK counterpart. 
   
   But to the question...I think we are getting too hysterical here.  Still believe this will take long enough for the UK to sign some sort of interim to remain in the EU.  Europe moves extraordinarily slow, and without the U.S. pushing them, they'll talk this to death.  In the end, I see them remaining in the EU.

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      Anca-Elenaposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      After so many years of constantly affirming that wants out of the EU, shouldn't England take responsibility of its choice?

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      alancaster149posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Now with 'Teflon Tony' banging his drum to bolster Persistent Remainers, they stand less chance of success. As it is Theresa May's told everyone there'll be NO second referendum (I know, it sound's like Maggie's 'No U-Turn'). Take the hint Tony.

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   Jamesm1968posted 8 years ago

   There is one problem surrounding the EU referendum vote.
   The rules surrounding the EU referendum state that 'If less than 75% of the eligable population cast their vote, then the minimum of 60% will be required for the result to be valid'.
   
   Anyway, it looks like Scotland and N. Ireland might wait a couple of years in order to have a referendum on their independance. This will give them a chance to see if things are better outside the EU.
   
   I work with a few people from Italy and they told me their country-folk are now pushing for an Italian EU referendum vote, so Britain may not be alone in exiting.

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      Greensleeves Hubsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Where did you hear these figures for percentage turnout and vote cast requirements? That isn't true in this referendum.
      
      N. Ireland do not want independence. The majority there are far more interested in maintaining union with the UK than the EU

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   bradmasterOCcalposted 8 years ago

   Scotland says they want to stay in the EU. I say that is a good thing, and true of N Ireland as well. There are a number of countries like France that are contemplating following Britain.

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      alancaster149posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Scotland couldn't go its own way. Separate application for EU membership wouldn't wear well with the French and Germans who'd see it as another 'Greece'. Edinburgh's assembly knows their economy couldn't stand outside the UK, Ulster wouldn't want to.

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   tamarawilhiteposted 8 years ago

   Northern Ireland and Scotland receive more in services than they pay in taxes.
   It would be tragi-comic if Scotland declared its independence from the UK in order to join the EU to keep up its welfare state.
   I don't think Northern Ireland would actually separate from the UK, because it doesn't have the industry / tax base to be its own nation and won't join with the rest of Ireland. And they don't want to lose the UK military bases there.

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   aguasilverposted 8 years ago

   N.I. folk have been killing each other for 100 years to remain in the UK, so I doubt they would be able to get a consensus on reunification with the South, but it may lead to more bloodshed.
   
   Scotland, or at least the Scottish people, do not want separation, they voted against it, and would flounder if they were independent, besides which the EU deal would need to be struck, and frankly they would not meet the entry requirements.
   
   There was no stipulation for a 75% turnout with 60% in favour in this referendum, there was for the Scottish one, but not for Brexit, probably because Cameroon thought the voters would stay in, not vote out.
   
   Just give it three months and see where we are, I suspect the markets will return to normal or get better, the pound will strengthen as people see the Euro drop (and it will drop, as more 'members' seek to escape) and GBP becomes a safe place to put cash.
   
   For those who want a second chance, tough, 17 million English people voted against their party lines, mainly because nobody trusts either party any more.
   
   I would welcome a General Election, let each candidate (whichever party they belong to) declare their position on Brexit, make a commitment to either be identified as REMAIN or LEAVE. and agree that if they subsequently voted or campaigned contrary to their stated allegiance, they stepped down and faced re-election.
   
   Then the people REALLY can vote on who keeps the UK IN or OUT of the EU, and there will be no conflict or contention as there currently is.
   BOTH main parties elected to take the REMAIN position, then 16+ million people voted to LEAVE, so the main parties can hardly be entrusted with handling the EXIT negotiations, that would be akin to allowing a reluctant spurned spouse to decide the divorce settlements.
   
   SO call a General Election and let's see who ends up empowered to carry out their voters wishes.
   
   Leave supporters get the chance to elect those who will represent them, Remain supporters get (in effect) a second chance to persuade those 52% of LEAVE supporters to change their minds.

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      alancaster149posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Looks like events bear you out, John. It's a 'balancing act', but France and Germany could expose themselves as bullies if they leaned too heavily on others who made overtures to vote 'leave'. Greece's best bet would be in returning to the Drachma.

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   alancaster149posted 8 years ago

   With Halloween on the doorstep scaremongers might as well resign themselves to knocking on doors. Traditional "Trick-or-Treaters" (not to be confused with "Tweeters") will find stiff competition for our handouts, handing over scaremongering leaflets by return to show how Britain will be swallowed up by a Black Hole if it steps outside the EU.
   Four months after 'that Referendum' things are picking up, but hark, the 'Remainers' still stab their newspapers where it says Theresa May's made a special deal on Nissan and everyone else will start to clamour for theirs.
   Stand back and let another party take care of the job Cameron, Osborne & Co botched. The FTSE has recovered, the £ won't be far behind. The 'outside world' wants to do business with Britain. That can't be bad for employment or the exchange rate. The 'have-nots' in the UK had been on the increase recently, persuaded by low wages offered in the wake of Eastern Europeans migrating here to tread the 'Yellow Brick Road'. Firms who've kept their workforce on 'Zero Hours' contracts - taking advantage of this influx - have been stamped on, take 'Uber' for example, the excuse being made that their employees were 'self employed and free to make their own arrangements'. We wouldn't have had that without the 'free movement of labour' aspired to by the EU.
   When PM Ted Heath shivvied the UK into the EU in 1972 he was given a nice big back-hander which he put towards his purchase of yacht 'Morning Cloud II' and then lost the plot the year after with "Who rules Britain?" Maybe we should have taken the cue and shunted the EU into the same political siding he found himself in? The European Free Tade Association, (EFTA) we were in until December 31st, 1971 still had some mileage, and we had trade around the Commonwealth etc. What was wrong with that?.

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      alancaster149posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Since I wrote this, the Austrian premier has said the UK 'must be punished' for wanting to leave the EU'.
      The British Army stopped the Russians from occupying half Austria in 1945, beyond Spielfeld Strass, the agreed limit. Does he even know that?

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   John Lenderyouposted 8 years ago

   Ireland has been fully independent since 1922...
   
   If you mean Northern Ireland, then no, for a large variety of reasons, mostly stemming from the fact that it only exists as the majority of its population demanded to remain a part of the UK during the Irish independence conflicts. I'm not sure if the EU referendum will change its position. Unlike Scotland, it has no major economic hubs and on a fiscal level I can't see any want or willpower towards independence from both Eire and Britain.

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