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Original poster

To want English independence

113 replies

hanwiluk · 07/09/2014 16:09

I am English and all I want say on is England. This will be the third Scottish referendum, the Welsh have had three with another in the pipeline. NI have had two referenda. The English have never had a referendum on England - not one in our 1500 year history. I would vote yes for English independence tomorrow.

OP posts:
JanineStHubbins · 07/09/2014 16:37

Why to Ireland, sharon?

HesterShaw · 07/09/2014 16:39

I think she's inferring that there are a lot of people of Irish descent in Liverpool, which is why she wants it to "float back".

Which was a nice thing to say Hmm

Fluffyears · 07/09/2014 16:40

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Kewcumber · 07/09/2014 16:41

The problem when you invade countries which were previously sovereign states (Scotland. Wales, Ireland et al) then you don't get to unilaterally declare independance once you're bored with them and don't need to coal anymore. Should have thought about that before you took them over!

DiaDuit · 07/09/2014 16:42

"You want england to have Independance from....?

The Welsh, The Scottish, The NI. Just about everyone really"

In that case i suggest to you OP that england leaves the Uk and let the other remain. That would give you the same independance for england as scotland are now deciding on, wouldnt it?

Kewcumber · 07/09/2014 16:43

I think if you ask "the English" about English independance you will get a resounding "Don't know, don't care". In my very humble opinion.

AMumInScotland · 07/09/2014 16:55

I do think if Scottish independence doesn't go through, there needs to be a separate English parliament to deal with their issues, separate from the UK parliament. There ought to be 'devolved powers' which English representatives vote on and not the rest of us.

Then I think maybe the English would be a bit clearer about which things are being decided by their representatives, which are different from what the Scottish and Welsh ones are making a priority.

And maybe we'd not be told quite so often that Westminster are generously giving us free prescriptions and university fees, when in fact it's about our priorities for spending our taxes.

dreamerdoer · 07/09/2014 16:55

For the record, I am British. A mongrel of English/Irish/Scots.

I do think the current set up is unfair to the English. If Wales, Scotland, N.I. each get there own separate assembly/parliament, then England should have one as well. (In addition to the overall UK one involving MPs from all that currently exists).

But if it were the case, and the England had a referendum on independence from the UK... I'd vote no.

wigglybeezer · 07/09/2014 17:02

I thought there was a vote on having regional assemblies in England (didn't John Prescott organise it?) which was rejected as the voters did not want more politicians!

dreamerdoer · 07/09/2014 17:10

wiggly - That's regional assemblies (i.e. breaking up England into bits) - which people don't want.

A single English parliament would be less politicians voting on 'England only' issues, not more (i.e., just the English politicians, and not the Welsh/Stcots/N.I. ones.)

And according to this report the idea has public support - www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28880657

Fluffyears · 07/09/2014 17:18

We there is already a seperate parliament in Edinburgh called 'the Scottish parliament' and as we have devolved powers a seperate English parliament would be useless as we are devolved to make these decisions alone. All we want is the chance to make all decisions for ourselves not just be lumped in with everyone else.

Alisvolatpropiis · 07/09/2014 17:24

Catlady

I think most Welsh and Scottish people think the same. Welsh/Scottish first, British second. It's natural enough.

gordyslovesheep · 07/09/2014 17:32

Sharon that was a stupid comment

WeirdCatLady · 07/09/2014 17:32

I think that England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland have such wonderful diverse cultures that they would all be fine on their own. Perhaps with a combined something to sort out things that affect us all. But I'd like to see more devolution into the nations. Not that I trust any politician so I have noooo idea how it would actually work.

Mind you, I'd also like to be able to celebrate St George's Day without being accused of being racist.

unlucky83 · 07/09/2014 17:32

I think the point is that Scottish MPs in Westminister get to vote on English education etc - and that isn't really fair - we don't need a separate parliament - more politicians - we just need Scottish/Welsh/Irish MPs excluded from voting on English only issues ...like education.

And free prescriptions etc - it is all about balancing the books and choosing what to spend the money on (although in Scotland IIRC we get more UK government money per head....)
As well as free prescriptions here in Scotland we have free eye tests and free dental checkups - in fact last time at my check up I had to have an Xray which I did have to pay for ... less than £5...
All that sounds wonderful ...but....
If I need a scale and polish it cost £10 - plus the £5 for an xray - £15. Same thing in England would be £18.50 -so not that much difference...

But if my children have wonky teeth and I want to get them straightened and it is considered to be for cosmetic reasons I have to pay - about £2k apparently - that's a 6 month check up in England for over 50yrs...
You could say that was reasonable enough - if you can afford it your children have perfect smiles - if you can't they don't...

MamaPain · 07/09/2014 17:33

All this 'you invaded us so it's your own fault' is so tiresome and irrelevant. My family is made up of people from countries that were invaded by the British (meaning there were English, Welsh and Scottish, possibly Irish am not sure) some years ago. We now all over it and happily live in England without banging on about it all the time.

So my ancestors did not invade Scotland and regardless as a tax paying resident of England I think we should get an opinion or are we going to start blaming everyone now for past sins of their country. My DH is Jamaican and lives here, should he have refused to step foot in England because his ancestors were British slaves? Totally irrelevant to the individuals living in the countries now.

They won't give England a referendum ever because the answer would be to dissolve the UK and that isn't actually beneficial to the country, but let Scotland crack on.

And BTW I don't give a shit about prescriptions, it isn't that simple and we don't 'subsidise' it.

gordyslovesheep · 07/09/2014 17:36

every year the town I live in has a massive St Georges Day party with jousting and everything

I am not aware of anyone being told it's racist Hmm

OwlCapone · 07/09/2014 17:38

Your government in Westminster

Is there actually an English government?

You want england to have Independance from....?

The UK I imagine. I thought that was obvious.

Alisvolatpropiis · 07/09/2014 17:39

I was being being tongue in cheek in the first part of my initial post.

I do think that England and so English people are going through a period of massive national identity crisis. To raise the St George's flag, to say you're proud to be English - that seems to be met with raised eyebrows and muttering of BNP support a lot of the time. Whereas the Welsh (my lot) do it, the Scottish do. Indeed all countries do it and there is no such issue.

England seems a land quite divided, from an outsiders perspective.

OwlCapone · 07/09/2014 17:40

But if my children have wonky teeth and I want to get them straightened and it is considered to be for cosmetic reasons I have to pay - about £2k apparently - that's a 6 month check up in England for over 50yrs...

You'd have to pay for cosmetic orthodontics in England too though.

specialsubject · 07/09/2014 17:41

I just want permanent summer time. So if Scotland says yes, I hope we can then have that.

DiaDuit · 07/09/2014 17:43

To raise the St George's flag, to say you're proud to be English - that seems to be met with raised eyebrows and muttering of BNP support a lot of the time. Whereas the Welsh (my lot) do it, the Scottish do. Indeed all countries do it and there is no such issue.

tiny bit of an issue here in NI with flags too Grin

Fluffyears · 07/09/2014 17:43

I don't get free dental check-ups as I'm not able to get an nhs dentist. We get more per head spend as we put in more per head too.

Alisvolatpropiis · 07/09/2014 17:46

I don't get free dental check ups at my NHS dentist. They love me, due to the high unemployment (not a recent thing) in the area it is in I am one of few paying patients.

LadyRabbit · 07/09/2014 17:48

I dunno if it's English independence that we want or really need - I think most sensible people in the UK wouldn't mind if we could ALL be independent of Westminster. As a Londoner, I'm also tired of being governed by a small group of people who have no real clue about the real world and make so many dreadful decisions that people all over the Union and London rail against. It further saddens me that people now blame London - as opposed to Westminster - for social and economic inequality.