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.

"Why would they care

Because Wales and Scotland are lovely places to visit (see the Whitby thread)"
I think it's been well clarified after the speech that Wales's rules are different, so dont go there just for exercise. (People still can go for work or essential journeys, the border isnt closed and thousands are coming into Wales legitamittly every day).

I also don’t agree that the situation is really clear to everyone in the devolved nations. If you are paying a lot of attention and listen to the FM’s briefly regularly then it is clear, but there are a lot of people who aren’t paying attention, get their info via headlines posted on social media from people who may not be in the same country, watch London-based telly (which most of ours is) and/or just want an excuse to ease off. I think it causing a lot of confusion, and BJ should be much, much clearer that he’s talking about England and no the UK.

I certainly have @Tonz My mum's Scottish so my dad researched for her what Scottish independence would mean for our Scottish relatives and even he said he's be moving to Scotland should that happen

I think it's been well clarified after the speech that Wales's rules are different, so dont go there just for exercise

And that's the point.
People in England will have watched the speech. They don't watch the speeches from the other parts of the UK.

If a speech needs clarification, then you haven't done a good job of communicating

Boris was asked in parliament after that speech if he would state that he was speaking only for England as Scotland, Wales and NI have different guidelines at the moment and he said no, as PM he is speaking for the whole UK

When broadcasting isn't devolved and the whole UK watch what he's saying, it's definitely confusing of him to say that.

Well we offered Scotland independence and they turned it down 🤷🏻‍♀️

I am certain BJ wanted the UK to move as one, but the other nations didn't want to.

But 'BJ' is the one deviating from the rest of the UK, who are moving as one.

It's certaintly highlighted Brown/Blair's stupidity of Scotland, Wales and NI being given devolved powers whilst not doing the same for England. It's an ill conceived half way house between keeping the Union and allowing separation. England should definitely have had the same devolution, separate Parliament etc as granted to Scotland. It's been madness that, say, Scottish MPs have retained the right to vote on matters that ONLY affect England.

You offered?? Some bloody "union"

Everanewbie

You are wrong. We are allowed out multiple times a day within our household group as long as it's in close vicinity to the house.

There are no current planned dates on schools here.
We are no allowed to meet with anyone outside our household for a socially distanced walk
There has been no change on who can and cannot go to work with no current date set for things like construction sites.

Currently we have no timeline for exit plan at all. This will come this week and will come from NS.

If BJ wanted us all to move as one it was only under the plan that he wanted and there was little regard for the other nations. I'm glad the devolved governments are saying no because I suspect figures will soar within the next 2 weeks.

We offered Scotland independence.. No we didnt . The government fought hard to stop it..for good reason.. We are stronger together

Question (from Hansard)

hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-05-11/debates/D92692B5-165B-4ACB-BC97-4C3F25D726EE/Covid-19Strategy

Ian Blackford

Finally, for ultimate clarity, will the Prime Minister reaffirm for the public and businesses in Scotland that the advice that they should follow will come directly from the Scottish Government, and is not the advice that he gave in last night’s broadcast?

Boris

My answer to No. 4 is no, and I say to the right hon. Gentleman quite simply that I do think that the UK has been able, thanks to the co-operation I have had not just with hon. Members opposite, but across all four nations, to make a huge amount of progress together. I think most people actually understand where we are in fighting this disease, and most people looking at the practical reality of the advice that we are giving today can see that overall, there is far, far more that unites the UK than divides it, though I know that there is always the political temptation to accentuate the divisions. That is not going to be the approach of this Government, and I do not believe it should be the approach that commends itself to parties across this Hous

Liz Saville Roberts (Wales)

I understand the sense of optimism that the Prime Minister wishes to convey, and I understand that people need hope, but we must not forget that more than 31,000 people are dead, so for the hundreds and thousands of grieving families this does not feel like victory in a fight.

There is now a three nations approach: Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all agree on policy and message. I mean this with no malice, but for the sake of clarity, can the Prime Minister confirm that on almost everything he has announced today he is acting as the Prime Minister of England?
The Prime Minister

Boris

No, I reject that completely, and I think that most people will know that what we are saying is very good advice for the entire population of the United Kingdom, though I perfectly respect the inflections and variations that may be necessary locally, regionally and nationally to reflect differences in those areas.

There is a higher R rating in some parts of the country, and as we come out of the disease, we will be applying different measures in different places in order to get that R down locally, regionally and nationally.

But 'BJ' is the one deviating from the rest of the UK, who are moving as one.

But the virus hasn't spread evenly across all countries. Regional differences in how it's controlled is common sense surely. I think one of the greatest mistakes of Covid has been the lack of more regional control measures. We should be implementing/releasing lockdown measures as and when appropriate on a more local basis. Based on the rate of spread, hospital capacity, etc etc.

Well if Scotland are happy enough to forgo the furlough pipeline from a London, then they can do what they want. So can wales

Fucking hell. The furlough scheme comes from the UK Treasury, not London. They have actual jobs in Scotland you know, and pay tax on their income.
How can this level of stupidity exist?

Well we offered Scotland independence and they turned it down 🤷🏻‍♀️

A large part of IndyRef was being told that a No vote was the ONLY way to stay in the EU. A No vote meant we were out. I know many people who voted No for that reason. The political landscape has changed massively since the vote.

I agree with you Kazzy, I just hate this implication that the 'other' 3 nations are somehow being naughty, going against what the boss says.

Well if Scotland are happy enough to forgo the furlough pipeline from a London, then they can do what they want. So can Wales
Actually maybe London can fucking set up on it's own since they seem think they have all the money, knowledge etc - see how they sort that out and the rest of us can get on with having a normal country that isn't so ridiculously in thrall to a single crowed expensive and polluted city in a corner of England.

Well we offered Scotland independence and they turned it down 🤷🏻‍♀️

It was offered? Freely? By whom?

"We are no allowed to meet with anyone outside our household for a socially distanced walk"
Are you Wales? If you are, you can, Drakeford let it slip the other day that we've always been able to do that.

I'm from the north of England. I don't want to be stuck with the rest of the English! If there's a split can you take us with you? (And people from the south west if they want to come).

^lighthearted^^

Tabby I'm Scotland

Ah ok, sorry Jazzled.

Well we offered Scotland independence and they turned it down 🤷🏻‍♀️

Why are you acting like you offered it personally? 😂😂😂

Small English minds. So cute.

I'm from the north of England. I don't want to be stuck with the rest of the English! If there's a split can you take us with you? (And people from the south west if they want to come).

Me too, but I'm generally happy with most of England. It's London that I'd love to escape from. Thoroughly fed up of it sucking the life out of the rest of the country.