The surge of separatist movements in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales poses a significant challenge to the cohesion of the United Kingdom. Public support for dropping Wales has experienced a notable upswing.
A petition advocating for using Wales’ Welsh-language name, Cymru, exclusively has garnered widespread support. Supporters argue that the term “Wales,” derived from an Anglo-Saxon term for foreigners, is perceived as an imposition. Nationalistic sentiments have increased in various regions of England, including Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, particularly in the aftermath of Brexit. The question arises: What factors contribute to the growing public support for dropping Wales, and how have events such as the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the Brexit process influenced the likelihood of England’s potential disintegration?
Call to rename Wales
Public support for dropping Wales is increasing. Within the larger framework of the UK, comprising Wales, England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the Welsh population, totalling around three million people, is currently subject to decisions made in London concerning crucial aspects of governance. These include Wales’ annual budget, national affairs, foreign policy, security and defence, and other significant matters. A noteworthy development is the support of over 3,000 Welsh individuals endorsing the initiative to abandon the use of “Wales” in favour of its Welsh-language name, Cymru. Rachel Garrick, a Monmouthshire councillor and executive of Labour for an Independent Wales, shared with Sky News her decision to support the petition, emphasising the importance of utilising Welsh names to preserve and promote Welsh culture and identity.
Substitute Cymru for Wales
Public support for dropping Wales started before the 2022 World Cup and continues. The Welsh decision to change the name of their country had already started. The Football Association of Wales (FAW) had started negotiating with UEFA about possibly changing the country’s name after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In this regard, the FAW plans to talk to various football stakeholders in this country about the benefits of changing their names in international competitions.
The UK is subject to fragmentation
As anti-royalist and separatist activities surged in the UK, Wales faced heightened vulnerability, according to remarks by Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales. Speaking on The Rest is Politics podcast, Drakeford addressed concerns about the potential independence of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Despite acknowledging that the Welsh independence movement represented a minority, he noted a growing interest in independence due to perceived risks to the United Kingdom’s future. Drakeford estimated this interest to be significant but at most 20% of the population.
Northern Ireland and Scotland are the first candidates for independence from England.
The First Minister of Wales anticipated Northern Ireland and Scotland as the initial regions to secede from England, with Wales following suit. Dismissing that independence for Northern Ireland and Scotland would result in a seamless continuation of the status quo, Drakeford emphasised that such a notion is unacceptable. He clarified that Wales is actively exploring the possibility of separating from England.
However, the London government has expressed its opposition to this issue. In this way, if the Scottish referendum is held and the people of this region vote to separate from England, we can expect the dominoes of England’s separation will begin. At the same time, the movements of anti-royal groups within the UK increased after the death of Elizabeth, the queen of the UK, and threatened the foundations of the new king’s power. Statistics show that two in five British people want the end of the monarchy in this country. The findings of the Ipsos show that 25 per cent of British people do not consider the continuation of the monarchy appropriate for the country, and the number of supporters of the monarchy has decreased.
Dissolving the UK from the negative consequences of Brexit
The results of the polls show that most supporters of Brexit believe that this plan will entail various costs, including the separation of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from London. According to this survey conducted by Sky News, 41% of Brexit supporters, against 18%, believe that the implementation of Brexit is worth the separation of Scotland from England. Another 17 per cent believed this region should leave the European Union with England, and 24 per cent had no opinion. In this survey, participants were asked about the impact of Brexit on the separation of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from England. Based on the results, 40% acknowledged the impact of the UK’s exit from the European Union on the separation of Scotland, 28% on the separation of Wales, and 25% on the separation of Northern Ireland from England.
The discussion of the breakup of England is more serious than ever.
Today’s conditions in the UK are much different than in the past; therefore, with the independence of Northern Ireland and Scotland, we should wait for the action of the people of Wales to separate from England. The emergence of separatist groups and movements and their repeated rise in recent years to achieve independence has made the discussion of the separation of England much more serious than in the past. With the death of Queen Elizabeth II, supporters of republican rule in Britain believe they may be one step closer to the end of the more than 1,000-year-old monarchy. A wide range of British people agree with this opinion. Reputable polls also show that support for the monarchy among young Britons is declining.
The futility of the alliance with the UK and the possibility of its disintegration
The upcoming UK general election holds significant implications. If the Conservatives emerge victorious, it sends a message to Scots that an unpopular party in Scotland will govern them again. Conversely, if the Labour Party prevails, as indicated by opinion polls, Britain is more likely to move toward federalism. In such a scenario, Scots would gain increased autonomy in determining their fate across various domains, including budgets, expenses, and taxes, while remaining part of the UK. Despite Scotland’s historical leadership in nationalism, recent years, particularly in the aftermath of the post-Brexit cost of living crisis, have witnessed growing scepticism about the advantages of maintaining ties with the UK.
