Anyone else worry that we could end up with civil war and the break up of the UK?

[KennDodd]

All because of that wretched unnecessary referendum.

A number of surveys have shown just how many people think violence and the break up of the UK is a price worth paying for Brexit (or no Brexit). We've already got increased tensions in both NI and Scotland. Brexit has all the far right racist groups on their side, so quick to violence, Remain has the young on its side, so again quick to violence. Politicians and the media seem to be intent on only raising the temperature further.

This isn't something that keeps me awake at night or anything but I think people are naive if they think it could never happen here. I suppose one way to avoid it would be if Brexit did happen and the sunlit uplands and all the Brexit promises actually happened. I don't know anyone (Leave or Remain) who believes everything will suddenly get a lot better anymore though. Even if it did I still can't see any solution for the border in Ireland.

Me

Yep although we'll almost certainly be joined by the eye rollers soon

I suppose people may die of apathy...

don't see much chance of an uprising, everyone I know (over in the invisible west of England) is just cheesed off with waiting for SOMETHING to happen.

Nah.
No one will riot unless they can loot shops.
If the supplies are interrupted the shops empty we will be safe.

Yes there is a definite risk, however the effectiveness of the uprising will be dependent on the ability of the warring sides getting hold of weapons. However I fully expect that another nation would willingly supply arms.

I personally suspect that no matter which way Brexit goes there will be violence by next summer

Ben Eltons book Identity Crises is a great read about the breakup of the uk after Brexit and PC gone mad.

Civil war? No.

But I remember the 80s in South London with violent skinheads and no go pubs with Saint George flags outside when I had to be careful not to look too friendly with male friends/BFs of colour. That's what I predict.

Civil war? No.

I think there's a real risk to the NI peace process, and if the Troubles resume that is a civil war in the UK.

Which people seem to conveniently forget about.

If we do it will only be because those with vested interests stand to profit from the sale of arms and general panic.

Good point @MindyStClaire

Certainly a very bad social schism. But I think most people are too lazy and scared to actually take up weapons.

The UK will be broken up, though.

I fear unrest, but also doubt people will actually DO anything. I mean- there have been so many times over the last three years that I've thought- we'll surely NOW there'll be an uprising?! But it never happens. We're a very lazy and seemingly ineffectual lot. I'm relying on that not changing

Ds(10) thinks that England should just leave the UK and leave the rest of us in the EU
I can't say that he's wrong the only question is whether Wales would want to stay with England or not

I think there's a real risk to the NI peace process, and if the Troubles resume that is a civil war in the UK.
I agree. I remember reading years ago that what we called 'the troubles' much of the world called a civil war.

I also think people in England won't actually give a shit if the violence and death is confined to NI and Scotland. Polling seems to confirm this.

I'd doubt brexiteers could organise themselves for such a stunt.

Remainers are pretty much a peaceable bunch.

Evidence the scale of protests from both sides and how many arrests are made.

And frankly no-one riots in order to make themselves poorer. Farage and Francois are spineless shits.

I think the survey referred to asks "would you tolerate violence" NOT would you do it.

And what kind of little oik even came up with the survey?

People these days have too much to lose to riot. Only the truly desperate and those with nothing to lose will go crazy and smash the system.
Our elite overlords know just how much to push us...

But yes at this rate Scotland will go, peaceably and Ireland will unite though no sure how that path will go.

Me- I'm very worried. The leavers I've spoken to are very open about discussing the future including violence if they don't feel the Brexit they've imagined is realised. It's unnerving conversation.

The only place where violence is possible is NI.

Waxy Lemon and his semi-evolved football lads may huff and puff, but they are not remotely as menacing as Terre-Blanche in South Africa, and when push came to shove all he could do was fall off his horse.

Thing is, the Brexit they imagine is never going to be realised. Do they still believe the no deal Brexit followed by sunlit uplands? Most Leavers I know, know Brexit is going to be shit, they're all still determined to have it though.

Also, I don't believe Farage and his followers will stop at Brexit, there's a real undercurrent of English nationalism there, that's going to be next on the agenda.

Riots in recent times: ( last 40 years )

Mostly against the police.
So no, I very much doubt they’ll be riots.

1979: Southall riots during a Anti-Nazi League demonstration in opposition to the National Front.
1981 Brixton riot against the Metropolitan Police. Especially on 10 July, rioting extended to other parts of London and numerous other cities around the UK[10]
1985 Brixton riot against the Metropolitan Police after they shot the mother of suspect Michael Groce.
1985: Broadwater Farm riot, residents of Tottenham riot against the Metropolitan Police following a death during a police search
1990: Poll Tax riots followed the introduction of a poll tax.
1993: Welling riots, October 1993.[11] A march organised by the ANL,[12][13] the SWP and Militant resulted in riots against the Metropolitan police.[11][note 1]
1995: 1995 Brixton riot against the Metropolitan Police occurred after a death in police custody.
1996: Rioting in Trafalgar Square and surrounding streets following England losing against Germany in the semi-final of UEFA Euro 1996.
1999: Carnival Against Capitalism riot
2000: Anti-capitalist May Day riot[17]
2001: May Day riot in central London by anti-capitalist protestors.[18]
2002: Rioting around The New Den stadium following Millwall F.C. losing against Birmingham City F.C. in the 2002 Football League Division One play-off.
2009 G-20 London summit protests occurred in the days around the G-20 summit.
2009 Upton Park riot before, during and after a 2009–10 Football League Cup second round match between West Ham United F.C. and Millwall F.C..
2010 UK student protests against increases in student fees and public sector cuts.
2011 anti-cuts protest in London against government public spending cuts.
2011 England riots, initially in London, following the police shooting of Mark Duggan in Tottenham
2017: rioting outside Forest Gate police station following the Death of Edson Da Costa.

I’ve spent the last few weeks reporting and/or commenting every post on Facebook that calls for violence or is racist. Not going to make a blind bit of difference to the posters, but I don’t want it to be normalised.

The only ray of hope is that many of them are older keyboard warriors who probably aren’t fit to riot. Or, ironically, are ‘ex pats’.