Aibu to think the break up of the UK is inevitable now?

[KenDodd]

I think it is.

@mumofamenagerie I was living in Belfast at the time of the Scottish referendum but on holiday in Scotland on the actual date, and I remember the conversations I had with my Scottish and Northern Irish colleagues and friends from my part of the world in the north of England. We pretty much all wanted the United Kingdom to remain united; now, I'm wishing to God Scotland had voted for independence then. I think the next referendum will absolutely be in favour, and there will be queues at the border.

I am weeping for what was my country at the results of the exit poll if they're accurate. My Irish relatives are too far back for me to claim a passport; I've always loved Scotland and long wanted to move there, but at this rate I think we'll be queuing at the border.

A Tory Government is terrifying but what’s worse? An independent Scotland under the SNP.

It's not up to that bollocks face cunt if there's another referendum. He's going to screw us big time.

Yes, I think loads of English will want to move to Scotland and Ireland

I wish I could vote for SNP and I live in the Home Counties.

Not because I want Scotland to leave - I’m not Scottish therefore I don’t have an opinion.

I hope so. Yes last time, and like PP said on previous page, hell, Yes now!

And the finances just don’t stack up in any way for either side

The finances don't stack up for the UK leaving the EU, but hey, look what happened?

If people are pissed off enough, they clearly put sentiment above money. And I'd say anti-UK sentiment among the Scottish must be pretty high right now.

I think it is but I wish it wasn't. I voted no last time, and would vote no again. Those I know saying they'd vote yes just to stay in the EU, aren't looking at the bigger picture imo. At the last referendum the SNP didn't have a plan as to how they would fund things fully (just went on about the oil and gas industry which has since gone into decline), and I don't remember seeing actual figures published. I doubt that's changed, which begs the question of where they're going to get the money from. There was also no guarantees when it came to currency, and things like the BBC etc. Education has suffered under the SNP, and the NHS isn't doing so well. Yes it's not in danger of being sold off as the Tories want to, and it's not as bad as the situation in England. But, not as bad, is not the same as good. Then there has been scandal surrounding the SNP's Named Person Scheme, which they were forced to scrap.

And most importantly, is that the SNP want one thing, and one thing only - independence. That's what binds all the politicians in the party together, but that aside, that they all have varying opinions, and left or right leanings. I'm worried about what would happen once independence is achieved. The party could very easily break apart, and I can foresee splits happening as soon as negotiations to leave the union begin (like what has happened with the Tory party and Brexit). I feel the country is divided enough as it is; even just within Scotland at the moment. I voted remain myself, but do know a number of leave voters, and I also know people on both sides of the indy debate. I feel it already got quite ugly during this GE campaign, and will be worse during an independence one. And once the cracks in the SNP (which I think are inevitable) appear, the country will become even more divided, between those supporting different factions of the party. And more division is the last thing anybody living here needs!

The indyref was supposed to be once in a generation - it's been five years. At least wait another couple and see how things are going to pan out before starting another relentless campaign. There is already discontent and apathy when it comes to politics, all over the UK, and that won't help. Plus, does anyone really want to have to suffer through more years of news about campaign trails, and negotiations?

@HollaHolla I hate the way England is grouped together. I don’t know anyone who voted brexit and I don’t know anyone who votes conservative. We need a democratic republic of Liverpool and the non posh surrounding areas that want to join. I can work on the official name 😂

I agree with @asprinklingofsugar.

An independent Scotland under the SNP.

Not necessarily - I imagine if Scotland gained independence there would be a more varied spread of votes when it came to forming a government. The current voting system for the Scottish Parliament is a form of proportional representation so there’s less chance of a single party holding power ongoing. I would assume a post-independence government would look the same as currently.

wouldn't assume

I would be devastated if Scotland voted for independence but I think they would be right to do so.

If I was offered a job in Scotland tomorrow I would grab it with both hands.

Very sad that you need to criticise someone on their looks because you don’t have an intelligent argument.

Plus London votes labour and remain, the majority of them can’t be happy tonight either!

If Scotland goes Wales is screwed as England will inflict a Tory government on us forever and the Tories don't give a fuck about us, so in those circumstances I'd vote for independence for Wales.

We might still be fucked, but at least it wouldn't be inflicted on us by people like Boris Johnson.

"It's not up to that bollocks face cunt if there's another referendum. He's going to screw us big time."

If you're talking about Boris Johnson, unfortunately it is up to the British government if there's a referendum. And they will try hard to block it, of course.

What is going to actually HAPPEN though? I'm talking in terms of quality of life for people?

We moved to Oz 4 years ago but I have always been aware that my kids might one day want to go back to the UK...when they're of uni age or when they're adults...what's it going to BE like?

And myself...I'm happy in Oz but you never know do you? And my family and friends in the UK...how's it going to affect them? I'm ignorant of politics...can anyone explain what's going to happen to people's lifestyles please?

I hope Scotland do break free, for completely selfish reasons as the daughter of a Scottish person I'm hoping I will be able to get a Scottish passport.
Could definitely see another referendum going for independence.
Where that leaves Wales and northern Ireland is anyone's guess.

More of what has already happened I suspect. An increased gap between haves and have nots, increased levels of poverty, less security in employment, reduction of the safety net provided by the State, continued privatisation of health and education (outside of Scotland), continued increased costs of higher education just off the top of my head.

I’m very glad of the small measure of protection against some of these measures provided by devolution, but I think we’re in for a rough few years.

@BillHadersNewWife It is impossible to say. The prospect of Brexit, the effects of that for NI and another Indyref in , altogether, it's like throwing a pack of cards up in the air. Lots of change and turmoil for a few years and we'll have to wait and see how it all looks once the dust clears.

Indyref in Scotland, I meant.

Jelly some of the people who voted for Brexit are in for a shock :( It's the idea of reduction of safety net that I find worrying...the vulnerable people will suffer.

I agree that ultimately it wouldn't be the SNP everywhere, and a more even spread of parties, but I think it would take a while, and there would be more and bigger divisions before that could happen. And I just don't think that's sensible or what the country needs at the moment. I think there needs to be a chance for existing wounds to heal over a bit, before new ones are created, or it'll be an even bigger mess.

I feel in Scotland anyway, it's been a relentless stream of politics, and elections and negotiations since 2014 - indyref in 2014, GE in 2015, Scottish elections and EU ref in 2016, GE in 2017, GE in 2019, plus negotiations and changes in leadership, new parties being created etc. I think the most sensible thing to do is take a step back, work with what we've got just now, and come back to the issue when the country is a bit more stable, and everyone can look at all the issues and policies with a clear mind. It seems to me that a lot of people are desperate to do anything to get away from the never-ending cycle of news about Brexit and the tories (and I don't blame them) and are grabbing hold of the first thing they can, without thinking about the long term consequences. The country's at boiling point, and I think it would be better for Scotland if things cooled off slightly before more campaigning took place. What people dream of is not necessarily what is best for the country, but I think that would be ignored if indyref 2 was held tomorrow - people would vote with their hearts, not their head. I'm not opposed to another referendum, but I think it would be a much fairer, more fact based campaign and vote, with a more considered result, if it didn't take place when the country is so heated, and passionate about just one issue.

Christa if it's impossible to say, then why are people so upset?

Was no last time. 100% yes now albeit with an element of sadness. (Life-long Labour supporter/previous member. Broken-hearted about the state they’re in.)

Christa if it's impossible to say, then why are people so upset?

Well a Conservative government is never good for NHS, poverty, welfare state in general, but this is a thread about the break of the UK, and you asked about quality of life in the long term, so I just don't think we know quite what will happen.

Obviously a lot of people do not want Brexit, but i'm thinking within ten years that will be reversed and hopefully next GE will see a rapid swing back to a reinvigorated Labour with a new leader...So many ifs buts and maybes.

I'm miserable about the short term, but more hopeful about the longer term.