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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you think the English, if given a vote, would vote for independence from the rest of the UK?

685 replies

Kendodd · 15/02/2021 13:23

Yabu - No they wouldn't
Yanbu - Yes they would

The break up of the UK seems high chance to me, maybe 60/40 to be voted for within the next ten years. They don't ever seem to ask the English what would you personally vote?

OP posts:
MissMarpleDarling · 15/02/2021 15:35

No I wouldn't

Darkbrownistheriver · 15/02/2021 15:35

England built and empire. I think you’ll find they didn’t do it alone. The hint is in the name - ‘British Empire’.

Stripesnomore · 15/02/2021 15:36

Scotland did more for the Empire proportionate to population than England did.

LexMitior · 15/02/2021 15:38

I’m afraid that it started out as an English adventure, and then we had “Britain” as a political and legal entity in 1707 with Scotland. Until then, no British existed.

TheCatThatGotTheCream · 15/02/2021 15:38

@Bearnecessity

No but I must admit to being absolutely fed up with the whining scots.I would be quite happy if we cut them loose and didn't give them another penny.
And I'm sure the Scots would love to not have to give you another penny.
Oblomov21 · 15/02/2021 15:39

No. I wouldn't vote for it. It's fine as it is.

TheCatThatGotTheCream · 15/02/2021 15:40

@ChancesWhatChances

If England vote to leave the U.K., I think wales, N.I and Scotland would stay within the U.K. given its England that they want away from. Makes much more sense to give England the vote to leave than it does the other 3 countries, that way everyone is happy.
It isn't really England that Scotland want away from, it's Westminster.
LexMitior · 15/02/2021 15:40

I accept that it wasn’t done alone! But the point is that it’s genesis happens in England. My own Scottish family benefitted from empire and its opportunities.

Chloemol · 15/02/2021 15:40

I wouldn’t vote for it, but tbh am not bothered if Scotland go

PurpleWh1teGreen · 15/02/2021 15:41

I wouldn't, but given the amount of people who have replied "white English" when I've asked their ethnicity recently, I can imagine plenty would.

Marchitectmummy · 15/02/2021 15:41

If I was going to go with head I would vote to separate, but heart I wouldn't. I don't understand thr hostility I struggle to find someone who doesn't have relatives who are from another country in UK.

Saoirse7 · 15/02/2021 15:43

@cardibach

England voting out of the UK would be like leaving a party in your own home You really don’t see this as union of equals, do you *@Saoirse7*? Which of course it isn’t, due to English attitudes and the way government is set up. It could be though, and without England probably would be. They could definitely leave.
Absolutely not. It couldn't be less equal. The very fact posters on this thread see the 'NI problems' as an inconvenience will tell you that.
GirlInterruptedAgain · 15/02/2021 15:43

I agree with a pp that the English feel as though they are solely responsible for the lives of the welsh, Irish and Scottish in the sense that they ( English) prop up and support those other nations. I think from what I’ve seen and read in sm over the years, that they feel the other nations hold no significant value for them, that without the English that the other nations would fall apart, and England and all who sail in her would be much better off financially without having to support the lazy leech sucking dole bludgers- esp the Scottish ones. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, HEARD AND SEEN, that appears To be the attitude that’s most prevalent. I think that without the other three nations England would find themselves ina much worse position. I think that Rngland would vote for independence, and it would be a negative move.

NuniaBeeswax · 15/02/2021 15:44

"And I'm sure the Scots would love to not have to give you another penny."

We don't give them any money, silly. We're up here in our gilded utopia hoovering up free prescriptions, uni education, heroin and irn bru that we get for fuck all because none of us work or pay tax.

RuggerHug · 15/02/2021 15:45

Irish place marking so I can at least see the delete message if it happens before I have the popcorn ready and can read all the comments.

Stripesnomore · 15/02/2021 15:45

If you use social media as a barometer of public opinion on any issue, you are going to come away with the opinion that everyone resents every other group and has nothing but contempt for them.

It doesn’t match the reality of people’s feelings.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 15/02/2021 15:47

In a heartbeat.

All I ever seem to hear is that the English hate everyone. But never actually the English hating anyone. It's boring rhetoric.

Cadent · 15/02/2021 15:48

@RuggerHug

Irish place marking so I can at least see the delete message if it happens before I have the popcorn ready and can read all the comments.
Why would the thread be deleted?

And place marking is always annoying.

unbotheredbutbewildered · 15/02/2021 15:48

The question really is...how many English people would vote for Scottish independence (mostly to get rid of the SNP whiners) but keep Wales and NI?

LexMitior · 15/02/2021 15:48

Somebody on AIBU has reminded me that the English are 84 per cent of the population of the UK.

84 per cent! Yes, England would be okay.

raspberrymuffin · 15/02/2021 15:49

I think most people in England have given it very little thought - look at how many people use 'England' and 'UK' interchangeably. So it would come down to whoever waved their flags the most convincingly during the campaign, as these things always do.

MarshaBradyo · 15/02/2021 15:51

I wouldn’t vote for it but I feel the same re Scotland going as pp

Gets to the point where you can’t be bothered to convince people to stay

Stripesnomore · 15/02/2021 15:52

The NI one is really difficult to decide because it is so important to for there to be peace there.

I have nothing but admiration for Wales and really don’t want them to go, but it is a small proportion of the Welsh and English who want to separate.

ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia · 15/02/2021 15:53

No in answer to the original poster's question.

I am in the heart of global cosmopolitan London but the other regions/nations can possibly leave as it is a mutually beneficial United union not anything untoward. Better all together than divided. I hope Scottish people see themselves mostly as British but not sure about the Irish issue as that is very unique and sensitive given recent historical issues. It would be ideal to keep the reminding British part of Northern Ireland but not knowing much apart from some stories from Irish and Northern Irish contacts to known the nuances as I am sure there is always at least two sides to every story. Britain is always a fascination especially the legacy empire commonwealth etc and many overseas territories.

As a United Kingdom we have much more to offer as a complete package and as a new independent post Brexit global orientated outward looking (including EU 27 neighbours and friends) cooperative and leading trading nation with a remaining seat at the UK top table and major NATO military member for security and peace. We originated much more than just the language (and culture) and have much more yet to offer. Not so sure about the Royalty aspect as that is possibly overdue a review to retain the main bits that seemingly works in today's global British brand and all the others surplus to requirements.

DGRossetti · 15/02/2021 15:56

Not really sure how 55 million people deciding what 5 million people can and cannot do with their own country is counted these days ?

If you are an English nationalist, you are - by definition - also a Scottish Nationalist and Welsh Nationalist and Northern Irish Nationalist too.

As someone living in England, my view is it's up to the citizens of those countries to decide their own path.