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If pro-independence parties win tomorrow

TheCatWoman

How likely do you think it is that the UK will break up?

Would you like to see independance of Scotland and Wales?

What of England, how would it react?

What would you see as a workable alternative to  control from Westminster?

Personally I'd be quite happy for the UK to break up and reform in a more equal way, maybe as a federation. 

I think it could drag our politics kicking and screaming into the 21stC.

I think it would be good if the devolved parliaments were given more powers and we all elect representatives to a reformed House of Lords that would oversee things that we could share, like defence, national security, national infrastructure ands things where it would be counter productive to have seperately. I think if that happened then there would also be calls for some Englsih regions to have more devolved powers too. I think the UK is quite unusual in its lack of regional devolution, other countries seem to be more regionally devolved but retain a strong national government.

I think England would be in uproar and would really hate it, when you live somewhere like Anglesey you get a real sense that many English people don't see us as a national with its own traditions and parliament that makes some rules, it feels like we're treated like a conquered people, even after 800 years. I say this as an English person. I do think England should have its own parliament to decide purely English issues as I agree with many English people that the current system feels unbalanced, it dosent' help that so many poeple are so poorly educated in politics.

 I guess we'll find out over the coming days and months how all this will play out

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  • TheCatWoman said:
    when you live somewhere like Anglesey you get a real sense that many English people don't see us as a national with its own traditions and parliament that makes some rules, it feels like we're treated like a conquered people

    I think you overestimate how much people think about Wales - from my experiences of dealing with the English in London on the whole Wales (and to a degree Scotland) is thought of as possible holiday destination more than anything but when any sort of resposibility for it comes up, it is thought of as a net burdon on the English.

    I've heard people in the office talk about the Welsh people as a bunch of benefit scroungers living off the good graces of the English (untrue I know). Scotland comes in for much the same sort of ill informed opinions.

    Based on this I hardly see the English being in an uproar about giving them powers so long as they took responsibility for paying for their own benefits. Should Wales expect all the freedom with none of the responsibility then I would expect pushback as it is effectively expecting someone else to look after them while they played at governing.

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  • TheCatWoman said:
    when you live somewhere like Anglesey you get a real sense that many English people don't see us as a national with its own traditions and parliament that makes some rules, it feels like we're treated like a conquered people

    I think you overestimate how much people think about Wales - from my experiences of dealing with the English in London on the whole Wales (and to a degree Scotland) is thought of as possible holiday destination more than anything but when any sort of resposibility for it comes up, it is thought of as a net burdon on the English.

    I've heard people in the office talk about the Welsh people as a bunch of benefit scroungers living off the good graces of the English (untrue I know). Scotland comes in for much the same sort of ill informed opinions.

    Based on this I hardly see the English being in an uproar about giving them powers so long as they took responsibility for paying for their own benefits. Should Wales expect all the freedom with none of the responsibility then I would expect pushback as it is effectively expecting someone else to look after them while they played at governing.

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  • in reply to Iain

    If I understand you correctly I agree. We are actually in Anglesea on holiday right now, arrived late afternoon, and as on several previous trips into north wales some of the local people switch from speaking English to each other to Welsh once they realise we are English, I find this insulting but I say nothing. This was in a big supermarket checkout queue. We have come here in good faith, we will respect speed limits and parking restrictions, use public transport as much as possible, dispose of all our litter responsibly and treat everyone with respect. We will put in excess of £2,000 into the local economy this week and hope to enjoy this beautiful area walking and touring and photographing, but the sense that as tourists we aren’t welcome grows and grows. 

    In terms of the economics Wales doesn’t create enough money, ie have a large enough GDP to sustain itself financially as a nation. At present the shortfall comes mainly from Westminster, ie the UK Government (not the English but collective taxation from all four nations). Its not just about benefits which you rightly pointed out, but hospitals, both capital and revenue funding, road maintenance, policing and fire services, and many more areas. 

    I actually love coming to wales, always have done, one of my earliest memories aged about 4 was a trip to Beaumaris castle with my aunts + m&d. As a student I had field trips to Anglesea + Snowdonia, and southwest wales, I have donated money to and travelled on the incredible narrow gauge railways many times, Ive holidays also along the coastal resorts north from Barmouth to Pwhelli, then in mum’s later years we visited Llandudno numerous times and my wife and I continue to day-trip there and nearby Conwy. 

    So I would be very grateful if the anti English, anti tourist rhetoric could be refrained from in this thread, I find it hurtful and potentially divisive. We had a week from hell just gone and simply want to respectfully relax in this beautiful part of the world. 

    Alice