https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o0D0GEOR7I
This is a must watch. An ad by UK Labour with one of Emeli Sande's new songs, 'You are not alone.' It brought tears to my eyes.
I read someone's comments in the EU on NYT today about Brexit - I fully agree with this person:
"From a continental European standpoint, I say good riddance to the UK. Boris deserves a statue in Brussels as probably the savior of the EU, we haven't been as unified as since the original Brexit vote. We won't miss them and their constant demands for special treatment. The continent is fed up. It will be a reality check for many when Britain suffers as a result of all this, although not much of a surprise to anyone who has a clue.
It might be worth an analysis why the UK and US voters so blatantly and obviously vote against their own interests compared to other Western European countries and Canada. We have our populists for sure, but nowhere near that level of success. The Russians might interfere but they are not the reason in the end. Is it the media landscape, the populace less informed or plain dumber? I think the incessant "we are the best country in the world" attitude both countries always display with little justification that leads to a a lack of awareness and critical thinking which leads to buffoons in power like BoJo and the Donald.
Either way, we look forward to a united Ireland and welcoming Scotland, perhaps even Wales one day, into the EU:) England will come crawling back in a decade or two."
There is a rumour that Rebecca Long-Bailey will go for leader on a joint ticket with Angela Rayner who would go for deputy, or vice versa. The two are very close friends. Rebecca is ‘Hard’ Left and Angela is ‘Soft’ Left, neither of them are centrists, either. Both understand the working class very well.
Brexit Just officially Happened. They are out of the EU.
No but 51 percent of Scotland favors becoming independent right now in a recent poll.
Nicola Sturgeon is asking people to build a strong political case for leaving before having a new referendum.
Sir Keir Starmer is the new Labour leader. Angela Rayner is his deputy. They are both from the soft left. I believe Sir Keir will bring needed change without oversteering, this means that he will make the case for their bold policies to the public. If he can't explain it, he will try to have the policy left for Government. I believe he will be Prime Minister one day and if he is, will be one of the boldest in history. Sir Keir has a history of holding Governments to account, even those on his own side, having warned of the dangers of the Iraq war, and he was on the front lines in the mid to late 1980s, back when Thatcher was hurting the Working Class and Labour wasn't standing by them or when they did, took their time.
Here are the posts that got lost over the previous 24 hours. (note: I was unable to recover all of the names of the authors!)
RE: Brexit deal by @lovedures
@elainesk
Thanks for the update!
I absolutely LOVE Scotland. I had the trip of a life time with my eldest daughter there in the spring of 2019. My Great-Great grandfather was born in Scotland too.
I hope that Scotland can have the independence it appears to long for and that is will be given the respect it deserves. It would appear the UK is a hot mess with Brexit impacts and now covid-19.
I wonder if Wales will follow the Scottish lead?
RE: Brexit deal by @stu?
@lovendures, I do not think so. Wales does have a small independent spirit, but it is nothing like Scotland or Ireland. Wales has also been 'part pf England' much longer. They're also the only ones (next to England) who voted overwhelmingly to get out of the EU. Ireland and Scotland did not want to.
Does that mean Scotland may have to split it two again? creating another Northern Ireland situation?
RE: Brexit deal by elainesk?
@stu it might be different this time as I think Johnson and his government is very unpopular in Scotland. Through the Covid crisis Nicola Sturgeon has been a great leader, she still holds her daily briefings.
RE: Brexit deal
The problem is an independent Scotland isn't a solution either. A referendum is likely to be a very close call - something like 52% vs 48%, just like Brexit, it will divide Scotland.
I had a look at the Scottish independence referendum map from the last independence vote, and most of the counties close to England voted to remain part of the union.
RE: Brexit deal
@stu, also important to note is that people voted to remain with the UK in the understanding that they'd also be a part of the EU. Many Scots that I know feel utterly screwed over by that. Johnson's handling of Brexit has only fanned the flames. It isn't 48% vs. 52% anymore. It's closer to 60% and gaining traction. It has become choosing between England/Wales and pride/EU.
Ireland is a religious situation that has been going on for centuries. They've been treated like 2nd rate civilians by the protestant English (their actions causing famine, oppression and murder), while the Irish were mostly Catholic. It cannot be compared to this. Scotland and England came together under different circumstances.
RE: Brexit deal
I think Zoron predicted Scotland going independent some time ago.
RE: Brexit deal
Ireland is a religious situation that has been going on for centuries. They've been treated like 2nd rate civilians by the protestant English (their actions causing famine, oppression and murder), while the Irish were mostly Catholic. It cannot be compared to this. Scotland and England came together under different circumstances.
not sure which poll you are looking at but the latest polls have it very evenly split.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_on_Scottish_independence
At most these polls show 51% are in favour of Scottish independence.
You could say the Scottish independent vote was made with the understanding that the UK remains part of the EU, but that wasn't on the ballet paper. it's like Brexit, people have interoperated the Brexit vote to mean whatever they want. It started off being a close trading partner with access to the common market and the easiest trade deal in the world to being a hard Brexit trading on WTO rules.
We can't keep having referendums and then interpreting the results afterwards to suit different agenders, it needs to be clearly included in the question.
and we shouldn't have any more referendums until the Russian interference has been investigated and dealt with.
the UK government says that the UK voted as a whole to leave the EU, Scotland says it voted differently to the rest of the UK and therefore wants independence.
If this is true, then Scotland should recognise that if the southern and eastern counties of Scotland vote overwhelmingly to remain part of the UK then those communities should be allowed to remain part of the UK.
If Scotland believes in self determination than it should have no problems with this.
RE: Brexit deal
@Stu, the brexit campaign was full of lies and leaned heavily on 'let's give immigrants the boot'. Also, don't rely on Wikipedia on facts;-) They can be altered by just about anyone.
https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/poll-60-scots-would-back-remain-new-scottish-independence-vote-208986
Articles on misinformation:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/final-say-brexit-referendum-lies-boris-johnson-leave-campaign-remain-a8466751.html
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/sep/09/brexit-claim-boris-johnson-responding-to-barnier-threat-called-fake-news-
https://www.thenational.scot/news/18700513.brexit-opened-door-new-levels-absurdity/
etc.
Also, I am not talking about Russians or whatever, but history and politics now. The UK overextended itself with Brexit due to the hatred of a few, misinforming the rest of the country. The Elite always thought itself better than 'the mainland' and so made up a mirage of a 'wonderful new England'; they still haven't gotten over not being an empire anymore. The EU as a whole is a lot better choice to be a part of than the UK and people are waking up. The Scots know this and with Brexit coming, Northern Ireland will start to protest as well.
A news article out today about how the shetland islands wants to break away from Scotland and become a crown dependancy.
https://reaction.life/shetland-islands-council-votes-to-explore-breakaway-from-snp-run-scotland/
Scotland will be broken into pieces with it's own nationalism and not having the majority of people onboard. The SNP are playing with fire and are not being honest with the people of Scotland. Selling them a blue sky dream and sunlit uplands the same way Brexit has been mis sold to the whole nation. The reality will be very much different.
Shetland Islands Council has voted to explore ways of achieving financial and political self-determination.
Councillors exasperated by centralisation under the devolved SNP government in Edinburgh decided on Wednesday by 18 votes to 2 to back the move. A Shetland Islands referendum is envisaged.
The democratic decision by Shetland Islands councillors adds another layer of complexity to the Scottish independence debate. It will be interesting to see how the SNP government in Edinburgh responds to a campaign for self-determination that could break up Scotland. Will Nicola Sturgeon allow the Shetland Islands a referendum? Who will set the question?