to think that this will bring about England as a separate country after this?

[chomalungma]

Is Boris Johnson the Prime Minister of the UK in name only? He seems to have forgotten about the rest of the UK in his speech as it was mainly about what people can and can't do in England.

Are there police on the border crossings in Wales and Scotland?

This crisis must be playing into the hands of people who would like to see the other countries in the UK as sovereign states recognised by the UN (as Richard Osmond would say)

Personally speaking, I think it would be good to have England as its own country. And good for the other countries as well. We could of course co-operate economically, have freedom of movement and free trade etc.

[AvalancheKit]

I can’t think there would ever be a majority independence movement in Wales.

[LellyMcKelly]

I think that’s what a lot of English people would like.

[sunnie1992]

He can't talk about wakes, Scotland and NI at the moment because their devolved governments have made it clear they aren't going along with the lifting of lockdown right now.

[TabbyMumz]

"as it was mainly about what people can and can't do in England"
Yes, because there are other rules for Wales, Scotland and Ireland. I believe he mentioned that.

[bridgetreilly]

No, don't be stupid.

The reason he isn't talking about Wales, Scotland and NI is because we already have devolution, so they get to set their own rules. That doesn't mean we're immediately about to dissolve the union.

[Smellbellina]

I think you’ve just misunderstood the situation, it happens if you don’t listen properly.

[chomalungma]

The reason he isn't talking about Wales, Scotland and NI is because we already have devolution, so they get to set their own rules

Yes - I know that. Thanks for politi-explaining.

www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-address-to-the-nation-on-coronavirus-10-may-2020

Do you think this is just about England in the way he speaks?

[dreamingbohemian]

I think it's two separate questions.

As others have said, he can only talk about the rules for England, so in that sense YABU.

But I do think it is increasingly likely that Scotland will support independence and there will be a united Ireland, let's say within 10-20 years, and the covid response is contributing to those feelings, so overall YANBU

[chomalungma]

I think you’ve just misunderstood the situation, it happens if you don’t listen properly.

Read the speech.How does that come across?

[chomalungma]

He doesn't even mention that this advice is about England only.

[StoorieHoose]

I'm Scottish. I know when Boris speaks he is only referring to England as I know Health and education are devolved powers. So I listen to Nicola.

Waiting for this thread to turn into a Scotland bashing one even though the OP talks about England independence

[Mrsjayy]

Every other nation is devolved their government has their own measures in place so yes Boris wasjust talking to England.

[chomalungma]

Waiting for this thread to turn into a Scotland bashing one even though the OP talks about England independence

Good luck to Scotland - they have a sensible leader who seems to speak calmly and clearly about things.

It does look like the other parts of the UK were not really mentioned in that speech.

""I have consulted across the political spectrum, across all four nations of the UK.

And though different parts of the country are experiencing the pandemic at different rates.

And though it is right to be flexible in our response.

I believe that as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, there is a strong resolve to defeat this together.

And today a general consensus on what we could do""

[JemimaPuddleCat]

@sunnie1992
their devolved governments have made it clear they aren't going along with the lifting of lockdown right now.

Why do you see it like this? Isn't it actually a case of 'UK Gov have made it clear they aren't going along with the remaining in lockdown right now'?

When 3 of the 4 nations are continuing to extend lockdown, why isn't it seen that the one who has lifted restrictions is the one "going along" on their own?

[Mrsjayy]

I think he did waffle about it just being England I'm sure he did.

[zscaler]

I think there will be a lot less appetite for independence in Scotland after this. Imagine the state we would be in now if we had voted for independence 5 years ago - there’s absolutely no way we could have afforded anything like the level of support for businesses and workers that has been made available by the U.K. government, particularly given the oil price collapse.

I’m not a Johnson fan, but I don’t know what else you expected him to do in this situation. He is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and thus always speaks in that capacity. He has no remit to only be the PM of England - there’s no such political role. All he can do is announce the rules the U.K. government has agreed upon, while respecting and acknowledging that the devolved parliaments may have different rules.

It may be time for an English Parliament in addition to the U.K. parliament, as others have suggested. That would solve other concerns too, such as the fact that Scottish MPs can vote on legislations which only affects England and Wales. But there has never been much appetite for this in England, and it would be a complex relationship to manage if it did come to fruition.

[chomalungma]

I think he did waffle about it just being England I'm sure he did

You can read the speech. He mentioned England once.

[HannahStern]

Boris was just talking to England. Boris may not have realised it himself but nearly everyone else did.

[StoorieHoose]

Scottish MPs can't vote on England o my matters due to EVEL brought in my David Cameron

[StoorieHoose]

Only
By

[Mrsjayy]

A pp is right though westminster did go against the grain I don't think Boris gives 2 hoots about the rest of the Uk he is very Londoncentric isn't he ?

[Sandybval]

Interested how Wales and Scotland would fund themselves?

[Mrsjayy]

Interested how Wales and Scotland would fund themselves?

Fund themselves ?

[Sandybval]

If they were to be independent.

[StoorieHoose]

By renting Faslane to England for trident for billions of pounds?
By selling England water and electricity at reasonable rates?

How do other countries smaller than Scotland manage to cope?