NOW OUT OF EU, UK FACES AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS OF ITS OWN. SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE & IRISH UNION HAVE GATHERED MOMENTUM DUE TO SOME RECENT EVENTS. HERE'S HOW.
Since the Irish Revolution of 1919 which resulted in creation of the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom has not faced such fierce & unified opposition.. Presently, the UK consists of:
ENGLAND
WALES
SCOTLAND
NORTHERN IRELAND
ISLE OF MAN
CROWN DEPENDENTS LIKE FALKLAND ISLAND
Ireland & Scotland have their own parliament and judiciary but foreign policy & defense is decided by London i.e. England.
WHY HAS THE INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT GAINED MOMENTUM?
The secession movement is well and truly alive in Scotland & Ireland because of
1.BREXIT
This map clearly implies that while England wanted to leave EU, both Scotland & Northern Ireland were pro-EU, This shows a clear contrast in foreign policy of these two regions. Such a huge gulf in opinion is not conducive for long term survival of the UK. Now if both these regions leave UK, then they have a chance of rejoining EU. Thus anti UK sentiment is on the rise.
2. HANDLING OF COVID
The locals of these two regions are shocked by the slow and indifferent reaction of London towards the current global pandemic. The Lockdown has been implemented late, health infrastructure is Inadequate and there seems to be a lack of a clear cut policy on how to handle the situation. In sharp contrast, the local government has tackled the situation in a more systematic and swift manner especially in Ireland by Irish PM Leo Varadkar. This is not MINE but the opinion of the locals.
IRISH PM LEO VARADKAR
The Scots as well have a poor opinion about Westminster (UK) due to their approach towards COVID as illustrated in the infographic below:
SWING IN PUBLIC OPINION IN SCOTLAND
3. RISE OF NATIONALISM
A wave of nationalism has swept across the world as right wing parties and leaders have gained a foothold in nations like USA(Trump), Poland(PIS), France( Marin le pen), Uzbekistan(Shavkat Mirziyoyev), India (BJP) and Hong Kong (the anti China protests).
CARTOON ON NATIONALISM
Personally I believe that Scottish prospects are stronger than that of Irish reunion but we can never count out the stubborn Irish! Still these current issues have exacerbated the anti-UK sentiment and it will be interesting to observe any new developments. A refrendum will be held on both these issues and a decision will ne taken hencefoth. THATS ALL FOR THE DAY.
GOODBYE!
p.s. I have tried to make the blog more mobile friendly & faster to load. Cheers!
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