Westcountryman

I'm pretty sure that any move to repeal the 1707 Act would sufficiently amend existing Acts or put appropriate law into place so that the United Kingdom may continue without Scotland.

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Manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietam - "This hand of mine, which is hostile to tyrants, seeks by the sword quiet peace under liberty."

Britannist

The United Kingdom is a Union including Northern Ireland, of course (as has been pointed out). In the event of Scotland unfortunately deciding to leave the UK, then the Union of the UK would not dissolve (as Northumbrian claims in the above quote) - it would simply carry on as a Union of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. But the Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland (now Northern Ireland) may have to be amended again to take into account the fact that Scotland were no longer part of the Great Britain which had signed The Act of Union with Ireland.

Indeed, the United Kingdom - as a legal entity recognised internationally - could continue even if England were its only member under certain circumstances. And England as the only member of the UK could use the name UK in its membership of international institutions such as the United Nations (UN) where the seating of representatives is decided by alphabetic order. This would enable England's member there to sit next to the person representing that most powerful of nations and our largest single trading partner - the USA.

I would also add that even if the UK did have to formally dissolve due to the departure of Scotland there would be nothing to stop England, Wales and Northern Ireland forming a new United Kingdom and reviving its name. A United Kingdom comprising Wales and England did, of course, exist for centuries before the 1707 Act of Union with Scotland.

Britannist

A good question, Hartlepool.

And one that the europhile Salmond (Scottish First Minister and leader of the pro-EU Scottish 'Nationalists') hopes won't be asked - for it is a question which rightly highlights the fact if he has his way and Scotland quits the UK but stays in the EU - there could be border posts/fences on the Scottish border with England.

Salmond keeps on telling the people of Scotland that they will be able go to and from England just as they can now - but it is not his position to either say such a thing or to decide about it.

England is going to leave the EU and while Scotland might enter the EU open border (Schengen) zone membership of it would not give people in Scotland (who, under Salmond's plans, would remain EU 'citizens') the right to enter England/Wales/Northern Ireland as and when they please (if Scotland were outside the UK) in the way that they can now.

The UK is not in the Schengen open border zone of the EU (thank goodness) and one day England (and, hopefully, the rest of the UK) is not going to be in the EU at all. If Scotland quits the UK but stays in the EU the people of Scotland could well find themselves having to show their passport before entering England, Wales or Northern Ireland/Ulster (all of which would still be in the UK) .

England (once outside the EU) could build a border fence with border posts and guards between England and Scotland if Scotland quit the UK but stayed in the EU. Indeed, England (after she has broken free from the EU straitjacket), may have to do such a thing in order to try to keep out illegal immigrants from trying to enter the English, Welsh and Northern Irish parts of the UK via the England land border with what would be the EU member state of Scotland.

I think that there are many in the europhile Scottish 'National' Party (a party which wants Scotland out of the UK and in the EU Superstate instead) who are trying to hide this fact from the Scottish people.

The Bear

There’s a handful of Scots that I would like to see go to Devils Island but let’s leave politicians out of it for now.

No, I don’t see why Scottish people should be asked to return to an independent Scotland.

As regards the EU, Scotland would presumably remain in the EU though as a state in its own right though should itnot wish to there is precedence.

Take the Isle of Man and the Channel Isles.

The Isle of Man has a relationship with Britain wherein although not a member of the UK it retains rights such as freedom of employment by Manx in Britain without constraints (though not under a reciprocal agreement, Brits are required to get a Manx work permit before being employed on the IOM).

The relationship with the remained of the EU states is different.

As the Isle of Man and the Channel Isles relationship with the EU is not as a full or associate member, it is only Protocol 3 of the Treaty of Accession of the UK that allows for the movement and sale of goods on a tariff free basis.

Should Scotland for some bizarre reason believe that they would do better outside of the EU I guess a similar relationship could be created.

Northumbrian

Of course, I admit there's a possibility that the politicians could fix something. Though it would be a bit daft calling Wales a kingdom when it has a prince.

Whatever. If Scotland does become independent, then I will only recognise the kingdom of England, and would campaign vehemently to show that would be the case.

Northumbrian

Britannist, I seriously doubt there would be border posts between England and Scotland. There are no border posts between Sweden (EU) and Norway (non-EU) because of an agreement in the Nordic Council. I would be very surprised if we didn't have a similar arrangement.

Northumbrian

Are you for real? That's about as daft as Serbia calling itself Yugoslavia.

Wales and England was never a united kingdom. Wales was annexed by England within the kingdom of England. What history books do you read?

Alex McKee

Constitutionally we've moved on. Wales is now recognised more or less as an independent nation within the Union whereas pre-Union it was, as you say, a province of England.

Cornwall still suffers this.

If Scotland were to withdraw from the Union, pragmatism will win out over nationalistic causes in the short term. The Union would be re-founded as the United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It would, of course, give a huge boost to nationalist causes in Cornwall, Wales the Isle of Man and to a lesser degree to those in England.

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Northumbrian

But again, bit daft calling Wales a kingdom if it has a prince.

Maybe we should have a referendum in this new state to establish it's name. Obviously highly likely it would end up being called England because there's loads of English people... but hey, that's democracy!

Northumbrian

In that case, I'll call it 'England' for short.