If you're in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, do you still feel part of a 'united' kingdom?

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

I'm in Wales, with family in England. Obviously I've always been aware of the divide (with some aspects more divided than others) but I feel increasingly like I don't even recognise England. It doesn't sound safe, the government is so chaotic it's not even funny any more, and now yesterday. Does anyone else feel like England's handling of the pandemic will permanently and fundamentally change the dynamics of the UK?

I'm n.irish living in Northern England with an English husband and children. Since living here I've realised how little English people know about or care to know about the devolved nations. However growing up in N.Ireland we knew lots about England . Since the Brexit vote I've felt more and more disconnected with England. I don't recognise it at all and I feel very angry about the lack of care over the peace process.
I'd absolutely back an United Ireland and our long term plan is to move back home

I am in Wales was so jealous when England opened things up three weeks before us every time. Was raging in fact. Then we had the county line thing, now two weeks lockdown. So imo. it has been pretty evenly awful wherever you live.

I am glad I do not live in a city anywhere because I think that would have been even tougher with the children, we are able to go on wet walks splash in puddles, throw stones into the sea. As for having to travel on public transport daily with so many other people that would have given me the heebie jeebies. Having lived here for so many years now I do not miss England even though I was terribly homesick at the start.

Sorry I was on the school run. I meant it’s mainly the accent that sounds very different to a foreign ear, but you get used to it. But also, you can tell quite often who is Scottish, like you might be able to say who is Spanish or Polish or whatever. Like NS looks very Scottish to me. Or Ian Blackman or Alex Salmond. I don’t really know what is is. Also, Irish you can tell quite often too, but again, I couldn’t say what it is. Maybe its Celtic?

But also, you can tell quite often who is Scottish, like you might be able to say who is Spanish or Polish or whatever. Like NS looks very Scottish to me. Or Ian Blackman or Alex Salmond. I don’t really know what is is. Also, Irish you can tell quite often too, but again, I couldn’t say what it is.

Utter bollocks ?

It’s like in Spain, you can tell who are the Basque - not always, but often.

Anyway, sorry to detail. What I meant to say is I think Scottish independence is inevitable now.

@Zeb1

Sorry I was on the school run. I meant it’s mainly the accent that sounds very different to a foreign ear, but you get used to it. But also, you can tell quite often who is Scottish, like you might be able to say who is Spanish or Polish or whatever. Like NS looks very Scottish to me. Or Ian Blackman or Alex Salmond. I don’t really know what is is. Also, Irish you can tell quite often too, but again, I couldn’t say what it is. Maybe its Celtic?

😂😂😂 bollocks! Iain Blackford you mean? Will we play a game of Scot or Not Scot where we send in photos and you decide?

Drakeford kind of ruled that out today admitting that we needed the money from the english government to help with furlough payments and grants. I thought that was pretty honest. So no I do not think we can go independent, we have no oil fields etc.

I think my facebook page is quite illuminating, following farmers, craft people, local hostelries, local groups who inform and ask at times for litter pickers etc. Local businesses. We are pulling together when we come out of lockdown will book two eateries that are run by locals. Intend to do xmas shopping locally where I can. I think we may be somewhat tribal, but the community does pull together.

@Zeb1

Sorry I was on the school run. I meant it’s mainly the accent that sounds very different to a foreign ear, but you get used to it. But also, you can tell quite often who is Scottish, like you might be able to say who is Spanish or Polish or whatever. Like NS looks very Scottish to me. Or Ian Blackman or Alex Salmond. I don’t really know what is is. Also, Irish you can tell quite often too, but again, I couldn’t say what it is. Maybe its Celtic?

Well I have never been so insulted in my life...

The people you mention all look like puddings (sorry Nicola). I definitely do not fall into the pudding category.

No so sorry, it’s not an insult at all to anyone! It’s just, when I was young in Spain, I was fascinated by British culture and the English language. We had tourists which would come through and you could often just tell who was Scottish and Irish as opposed to English before you went over to the table, but Welsh not really. I had never heard Welsh spoken until I came here. And you could quite often tell who was German or French or Dutch too, without hearing them. I don’t know what it was exactly. I used to get flustered because I couldn’t understand the Scottish accent at all sometimes. I can now of course!

@zeb1

No so sorry, it’s not an insult at all to anyone! It’s just, when I was young in Spain, I was fascinated by British culture and the English language. We had tourists which would come through and you could often just tell who was Scottish and Irish as opposed to English before you went over to the table, but Welsh not really. I had never heard Welsh spoken until I came here. And you could quite often tell who was German or French or Dutch too, without hearing them. I don’t know what it was exactly. I used to get flustered because I couldn’t understand the Scottish accent at all sometimes. I can now of course!

Only joking. We may be ugly but we don't take ourselves too seriously

@zeb1

No so sorry, it’s not an insult at all to anyone! It’s just, when I was young in Spain, I was fascinated by British culture and the English language. We had tourists which would come through and you could often just tell who was Scottish and Irish as opposed to English before you went over to the table, but Welsh not really. I had never heard Welsh spoken until I came here. And you could quite often tell who was German or French or Dutch too, without hearing them. I don’t know what it was exactly. I used to get flustered because I couldn’t understand the Scottish accent at all sometimes. I can now of course!

Ah we’re just teasing, not to worry 👍

Will we play a game of Scot or Not Scot where we send in photos and you decide?

Don't you mean Scot or Nae Scot?

@JesusInTheCabbageVan

Will we play a game of Scot or Not Scot where we send in photos and you decide?

Don't you mean Scot or Nae Scot?

😂 Amur Scot or Amurnae?

@Zeb1

From a non- British perspective, most people do think of Scotland as separate to England. Scottish English sounds more like Danish (or something, but very different). Also, a lot if the time you can tell someone is Scottish just by looking at them. So people do think of it as separate. Welsh is harder to differentiate (unless they’re actually speaking Welsh of course). Scotland is a different culture and a different climate.

As a Scot who speaks a smattering of Danish, I can't really hear any similarities.

Mibbes aye, mibbes naw

i'm in Scotland, feels like a v different country to England

@zeb1 nice try to derail the discussion or just goady as fuck. As an English person I think you should address NS as the first minister of Scotland.

Maybe us Scots have large noses to enable us to sniff out bullshit

I would like to say, apologetically as I'm uninvited, that as a person living in rural England we also feel very much a side thought. I don't feel the govt speaks for anyone but London and the SE.
I feel less like part of the UK reading threads like this, as clearly its not working for many. Not sure I'd feel any closer relevance to the English govt (if that ever happens) than I do now to Westminster.

As an aside I read a bit about the Barnett formula and I wonder if there's a direct correlation between level of dissonance and the deficit left once that's applied (London is the only specific area in uk to have a surplus).

@giggly

Maybe us Scots have large noses to enable us to sniff out bullshit

And we've had years of practice

Poll tax anyone?

I'm a unionist living in NI and educated in England. The lack of knowledge about NI was truly shocking when I went to school and uni in England. Not surprising in any way and little has changed except Brexit has forced many people to think about us.
I feel very strongly that we are part of the UK and it's a very important part of my identity.

You have to wonder why a vote to leave a 50 year union that has no common language, currency, cultural history and a still developing trade and freedom of movement with large inequalities between members, has triggered the push to break up a 200 year union with complete freedom of movement, trade, common currency and language. But history is important.
The UK is not just union with England but with each other non English countries.
But if the union was broken and the same closed borders the EU are putting up at the entry to their trading block, were set up between the Nation's of the UK, it would be disastrous for all concerned.
Maybe consider the predicted impact on Ireland of Brexit and they only trade with UK through EU trade and have a common currency with EU countries and established trade with EU. A look the arguments to stay in the EU around freedom of movement and trade - the UK was the original union of freedom of movement and trade. Ireland and the UK had freedom of movement and trade before the EU was even thought about, and still has more freedom between the Countries than EU free movement.

Scottish living in Scotland. Want to stay in UK.

Wonder no more @ClareBlue, citizens voted to join the 50yo union that benefitted them, they were forced into the UK and it certainly didn't benefit the people of Ireland or Northern Ireland after partition.

Ireland and the UK had freedom of movement and trade before the EU was even thought about, and still has more freedom between the Countries than EU free movement.
Nonsense. I remember customs officers on the trains and queues at the border. The EU meant we didn't have that anymore, but we're going to have to have it again. This will be inconvenient at best, disastrous at worst for NI.

And now they have voted to leave the 50 year union. So there is no argument.
But you could always move between Ireland and UK without a passport, could always work in each Country, claim benefits straight away, vote if resident etc.