Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Josquius]

I don't understand why people want to be in tinier and tinier, irrelevant nations.

I get it.
If we are talking about breaking off into some little island of sub 1 million and restricting your world to that then that's completely unappealing.
But within the auspices of the EU there's unity in disunity. You get to keep your access to the wider world whilst at the same time being in a country that better reflects your local needs.
Back in the last Scottish independence referendum I was against it. It didn't make sense at all, especially since it seemed likely to be leaving the UK and the EU.
Now, where the choice is being presented as one of England or Europe.... Where do I sign up?

[Maladict]

I don't understand why people want to be in tinier and tinier, irrelevant nations.

So why did you move?

[Zanza]

Last day to prolong the transition period expires today. That means there is no a final deadline for the UK to drop out of the single market. Had a good run for 45 years, but everything ends eventually. 

[garbon]

I don't understand why people want to be in tinier and tinier, irrelevant nations.

So why did you move?

Sorry want their countries to be smaller and smaller

[Sheilbh]

The Daily Star is still going after Cummings. He's become a standard comic character in their repertoire:

I don't understand why people want to be in tinier and tinier, irrelevant nations.

I think there's quite a lot of people who don't particularly care about relevance. I think it's in part what your imagined community is - where do you feel the sort pull of national identity is, where's your natural solidarity/sympathy extend to. I think in this case the countries have also diverged Scotland is backing the sort-of populist centrist SNP and England is moving conservative. Linked to that I think there's a point about democracy and being able to feel that you can influence your sort-of fate as a country (have control if you will).

And you know we see all of this on a daily basis the news barely ever covers anything about Scotland because Scotland's government is either treated as basically at the level of Hampshire County Council or they are treated as sort of this visiting foreign dignitary rather than a political participant. So you know the "national" news is very often English news - this used to drive people mad when I lived in Scotland.

Edit: Incidentally the mayor of Leicester has been photoed breaking lockdown, up a ladder with his lover/girlfriend (who he stayed with for four nights - I've no idea why he's up a ladder). I think this is the first lockdown breach by a prominent individual desperately needing a shag

[garbon]

It seems linked to pie in the sky thinking that we will always be at peace / that there aren't advantages to being a citizen of a stronger country vs. a weaker one that can be preyed upon.

[The Brain]

It seems linked to pie in the sky thinking that we will always be at peace / that there aren't advantages to being a citizen of a stronger country vs. a weaker one that can be preyed upon.

If Scotland leaves the UK it can apply to join the EU.

[Sheilbh]

It seems linked to pie in the sky thinking that we will always be at peace / that there aren't advantages to being a citizen of a stronger country vs. a weaker one that can be preyed upon.

If Scotland leaves the UK it can apply to join the EU.

And would, immediately.

[garbon]

Scottish independence existed before Brexit.

[HVC]

It seems linked to pie in the sky thinking that we will always be at peace / that there aren't advantages to being a citizen of a stronger country vs. a weaker one that can be preyed upon.

If Scotland leaves the UK it can apply to join the EU.

And would, immediately.

Would Spain let them in?

[HVC]

Scottish independence existed before Brexit.

I blame braveheart

[The Larch]

It seems linked to pie in the sky thinking that we will always be at peace / that there aren't advantages to being a citizen of a stronger country vs. a weaker one that can be preyed upon.

If Scotland leaves the UK it can apply to join the EU.

And would, immediately.

Would Spain let them in?

Do we have to repeat for the nth time that Spain will be perfectly ok with Scotland wanting to join the EU as long as its independence takes place in agreement with the rest of the UK?

[Sheilbh]

Scottish independence existed before Brexit.

I blame braveheart

You're not entirely wrong

I remember the SNP leafletting outside cinemas that were playing Braveheart and I think that was the start of the SNP's rise to dominance.

[Admiral Yi]

You're not entirely wrong

I remember the SNP leafletting outside cinemas that were playing Braveheart and I think that was the start of the SNP's rise to dominance.

Mel Gibson and David Hasselhoff have shaped modern European geopolitics.

[Valmy]

Scottish independence existed before Brexit.

I blame braveheart

I fucking hate that film so much.