Furthermore, it seems quite clear to me post Scotref that the UK can not integrate into a European Union in its current form.
Cameron et al know this, and so panicked when our undeserving self-serving political elite saw that Scottish independence was the not so thin end of the wedge and was a real possibility (though I didn't ever think that it was).
What are your reasons for believing this?
To all but particularly to Jason:
The price England may have to pay so that only the English vote on English laws may be the creation of an English Assembly as well. Perhaps Assembly would be an easier term than Parliament to accept.
I have my doubts that the UK can survive as a union with England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales all having different relationships to The UK at large.
Letting the other three dictate to England what England will and won't do might not change things quickly, but if this were to happen, England will find away out of it. Its own assembly might be the best answer.
What I do see is that the heritage of the UK that is projected to the world is essentially English. True, the King of Scots came down and took the English throne. He reigned in both England and Scotland. But it didn't take long for the governmental trappings and tradition to be based on the English line of monarchs from 1066. The coronation of monarchs is done in a Church of England Abbey following primarily Anglican liturgy.
If I remember my history classes concerning the UK, the history book text stated that the British monarchy will be 1000 years old in 2066. It is pointed out somewhere, if not in on that page that the Scottish monarchy went extinct after the King of Scotland came down to become the King of England.
I am paraphrasing here of what I remember. The exact words I read are long gone from my aging brain!
The Queen needs to stress to Charles and William the need to be more sensitive/inclusive of the other nations in the UK. They can't afford to appear to be the English Royal Family. When the next coronation takes place, it should be obvious to all who watch on tv that representatives of Scotland, NI and Wales are participating. The Church of Scotland needs to have a part of the religious part of the service.
I've read some of the news today about the discussions on proceeding. The British have a way of making allowances as needed. Perhaps the next election should be postponed until the issues are voted on and signed by the Queen.
The Queen can silently demand this. And she can get away with making it happen. There are times when a monarch is needed badly. This may be one of those times.
All we have in America is a Republican Supreme Court. They don't help matters at all!
I do hope you Brits get it all together. I have ancestors from all four nations. England and Wales on my mother's side and Ulster on my father's side.
Canada more than the US but both nations show a very distinct heritage from the British Isles. There is also a significant Hispanic and German influence with the German influence in slight decline and the Hispanic influence in more than slight increase.
Many churches built in the US from the start of the 20th century until a few years after WWII are mid 19th century English neo-Gothic or are heavily influenced by that style.
England is the Mother Country. English history is part of English literature taken in the senior year of American high school which is the age of students in second year of 6th form.
Yes, American students study MacBeth. It seems to be a national standard that it be taught. There are other Shakespeare plays thrown in for good measure!
Obama gave his congratulations to the United Kingdom that it is staying together and commented on the special relationship between the UK and the US. He named the UK as America's closest ally. That is saying a lot when one considers the closeness of the Canadian/US relationship.