Separatism in the United Kingdom

Separatism in the United Kingdom may refer to the secession of any of the countries of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales) from the union. Less significant movements for separatism within England also exist.

Major movements

England

On the political level, some English nationalists have advocated self-government for England. This could take the form either of a devolved English Parliament within the United Kingdom or the re-establishment of an independent sovereign state of England outside the UK.

The English Democrats are an English nationalist political party that call for the creation of a devolved English Parliament within a federal UK.

Scotland

Scottish independence is supported most prominently by the Scottish National Party, but other parties also support independence. Other pro-independence parties which have held representation in the Scottish Parliament include the Scottish Green Party, the Scottish Socialist Party and Solidarity. At the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, 69 of the 129 seats available were won by pro-independence parties (63 SNP and 6 Greens). The independence movement consists of many factions with varying political views. The SNP wants Scotland to keep the monarchy (see personal union) and become an independent Commonwealth realm, similar to Canada or Australia. Others—such as the SSP and Solidarity—want Scotland to become an independent republic. The SSP has led republican protests and authored the Declaration of Calton Hill, calling for an independent republic.

Irish reunification

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom but has a substantial nationalist population who would prefer to be part of a united Ireland. In Northern Ireland, the term "nationalist" is used to refer to those who seek Irish reunion by constitutional means. A more militant strand of nationalism, traditionally associated with the Sinn Féin party, is generally described as "republican" and was regarded as somewhat distinct, although the modern-day party declares itself to be a constitutional party committed to exclusively peaceful and democratic means. The counterpart of nationalism is Unionism, which seeks to maintain the union with the United Kingdom, again by constitutional means. The more militant strand of Unionism is called Loyalism.

Northern Ireland, like Scotland, voted to Remain in the EU Referendum. A factor in this vote was the fear of a disruptive hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as well as fears that such a border might lead to the collapse of the Good Friday Agreement (Belfast Agreement). Unionist (and particularly Loyalist) discontent with the Northern Ireland Protocol (a protocol to the Brexit withdrawal agreement) and the consequent Irish Sea border it has entailed, has also threatened the stability of the Agreement.

Wales

Welsh independence (Welsh: Annibyniaeth i Gymru) is a political ideal advocated by some political parties, advocacy groups, and people in Wales that would see Wales secede from the United Kingdom and become an independent sovereign state. This ideology is promoted mainly by the Welsh nationalist party, Plaid Cymru, and the non-party YesCymru campaign.

Minor movements

Cornwall

The Celtic League and Celtic Congress have a Cornish branch and recognise Cornwall as a Celtic Nation alongside the Isle of Man, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Brittany. The league is a political pressure group that campaigns for independence and Celtic cooperation. Mebyon Kernow is a regional party in Cornwall that promotes Cornish nationalism.

Independent Northern Ireland

Independence has been supported by groups such as Ulster Third Way and some factions of the Ulster Defence Association. However, it is a fringe view in Northern Ireland. It is neither supported by any of the political parties represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly nor by the government of the United Kingdom or the government of the Republic of Ireland.

London

London independence, sometimes shortened to Londependence, refers to a belief favouring full-fledged independence for London as a city-state, separate from the United Kingdom.

North of England

Northern Independence refers to a belief favouring independence for the North of England. The North-South divide is of significant political and cultural importance in England.

Orkney

In July 2023, Orkney Council announced they were to look in alternative constitutional arrangements including changing its status within the UK or leaving the UK to become associated with Norway.

Shetland

A movement called Wir Shetland was launched in October 2015 to secede from the rest of Scotland in favour of becoming either a Crown Dependency or a British Overseas Territory, as a means of achieving greater autonomy for the Shetland Isles.

In September 2020 the Shetland Islands Council voted in favour of exploring options for "financial and political self-determination", stating that the islands' reliance on Scotland was "seriously threatening the prosperity, and even basic sustainability, of Shetland as a community."

Other parts of England

Yorkshire, Mercia (the Midlands), Wessex (southernmost England) and Northumbria (centred on North East England) are other areas considered in media as potential areas for separation prior to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

References