Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Tamas]

Hope this gets shot down.

My only understanding is that only the Queen could truly stop him.

Then again I guess such an attempt hasn't happened since the 1600s, so who knows how would that end up.

[The Brain]

Boris Johnson would hold a general election in the "days after" the UK has left the EU on October 31 if he is forced to go the polls following a successful parliamentary no-confidence vote in his government, senior aides to the prime minister have said.

[...]

Since 1935, British elections have been held on Thursdays but this is an unwritten convention. The date is de facto decided by the prime minister. The Spectator reported that Friday, November 1 — the day after Brexit — is being considered by Mr Johnson as the most opportune moment for an election if he is forced to go to the polls.

Holding an election straight after Brexit day is seen by some in the party as a risk, but potentially a necessary one to maximise the Tory vote. One official at Conservative HQ said: "It would be the only way to neuter the Brexit party. We can only go to the country once we've actually delivered Brexit."

Others in the party think that the calculation by Mr Johnson and Mr Cummings is that any disruption resulting from a no-deal Brexit would not be apparent by polling day, or would be less harmful than some have predicted.

[...]

Why not follow convention and hold the GE on Brexit Day? 

How is the date decided de jure?

[Tonitrus]

I wonder if the talk of a Queen-intervention (a legal one, even if against tradition) bringing about the end of the monarchy is a bit over-hyped.  Of course it could...but that process would not be instantaneous.  Heck, if Brexit is taking a couple years, Quexit would probably take a decade (and have morphed into Kinexit by then).

The drama would be both hilarious and tragic to watch though...and probably make Brexit debate's effect on internal UK political drama look small by comparison.

[Tamas]

Now a leading Guardian columinst is also coming out for Scottish independence.

This whole island is going mental.

What the FUCK would they do with the border? The argument is that the UK would have a hard/no-deal Brexit which the Scotts won't abide. Ok, so they become independent, they re-join the EU... and then they'll have to have a proper border with England.

I am not even mentioning the need for own currency (or remain dependent on England economically), sorting out citizenships, and all the rest. Just the effin' border alone.

[The Brain]

What would be the problem with a border between England and Scotland?

[Syt]

Yeah, they just need to spruce up the old one.

[The Brain]

OK Trump.

[Duque de Bragança]

What would be the problem with a border between England and Scotland?

Speaking of which...
Which old one to choose? Things change in 2000 years. Hadrian Wall or Antonine Wall?

[The Brain]

Worst case scenario: you get border reivers and much romantic derring-do.

[Josquius]

Yeah, they just need to spruce up the old one.

[img]https://www.ramblers

I live a few hundred metres north of that.
...
So fine by me. Though it kind of cuts the city in half. Can we push it a bit more south? The Humber-Mersey line perhaps?

[garbon]

Now a leading Guardian columinst is also coming out for Scottish independence.

This whole island is going mental.

What the FUCK would they do with the border? The argument is that the UK would have a hard/no-deal Brexit which the Scotts won't abide. Ok, so they become independent, they re-join the EU... and then they'll have to have a proper border with England.

I am not even mentioning the need for own currency (or remain dependent on England economically), sorting out citizenships, and all the rest. Just the effin' border alone.

Why should Scotland want to stay in the suicide pact though?

[Josquius]

I'm not the only one contemplating a move northwards to escape brexit.
Scotland really wants more immigration and they stand to really sweep up a lot of educated people from south of the border if they play their cards right.

[Tamas]

Now a leading Guardian columinst is also coming out for Scottish independence.

This whole island is going mental.

What the FUCK would they do with the border? The argument is that the UK would have a hard/no-deal Brexit which the Scotts won't abide. Ok, so they become independent, they re-join the EU... and then they'll have to have a proper border with England.

I am not even mentioning the need for own currency (or remain dependent on England economically), sorting out citizenships, and all the rest. Just the effin' border alone.

Why should Scotland want to stay in the suicide pact though?

Because the shock of leaving the EU and not rejoining it will be NOTHING, compared to the shock of separating from England.

[Tamas]

Meanwhile, the Guardian notices that all leaves for cabinet consultants are cancelled until end of October, and draws the conclusion of "snap election!"

Excuse me, does ANYONE remember this thing called Brexit? Wouldn't that alone warrant a lack of summer holidays?


Really, I am getting the feeling like the entire island is now only holding on to a sense of reality with ten fingernails, and its slowly but steadily losing grip.

[Josquius]

Now a leading Guardian columinst is also coming out for Scottish independence.

This whole island is going mental.

What the FUCK would they do with the border? The argument is that the UK would have a hard/no-deal Brexit which the Scotts won't abide. Ok, so they become independent, they re-join the EU... and then they'll have to have a proper border with England.

I am not even mentioning the need for own currency (or remain dependent on England economically), sorting out citizenships, and all the rest. Just the effin' border alone.

Why should Scotland want to stay in the suicide pact though?

Because the shock of leaving the EU and not rejoining it will be NOTHING, compared to the shock of separating from England.

Scottish independence is really meta in a way.
The economics don't matter. Its the principle of England forcing Scotland into this suicide pact which means Scotland must commit double suicide.

For educated Scots this will be fine. Their escape route will remain open, unlike that of the English. I worry for the working class north of the border however.