Is there any point in 4 separate countries in the UK?
 

N. Ireland and Scotland might have their own parliaments but they're ultimately ruled by England. Is there any point, other than historical reasons, to keep it as 4 separate countries instead of just integrating it all into one and downgrading England/Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland to regions?

Is this a serious post?

Yep. The UK is technically a country anyway and is governed as such. International relations (other than sport) also refer to us as the UK, so is there any reason to keep the 4 countries within?

I dont really understand this, you're advocating that the UK's 4 consituent countries lose that title and they all just merge into one country ruled in Westminster?

Thats what pretty much happens anyway...

I'm not saying it should happen, just wondering what other people think

Okay, So you want Scotland and NI to be called England?

No I don't want anything, I'm just putting the idea out there. Obviously 'UK' would be the name because thats a country already in existence.

Well I think the Scots, Welsh and N.Irish do have quite a lot of control over affair in their country. Just look at Uni fees as an example, the Scots dont have to pay tuition fees and the Welsh government are going to subsidise them should there be an increase. And then the Scottish government were also able to free the Lockerbie bomber.

I think they would be very resentful if they were solely governed by an English-dominated Parliament in London. What should happen is that we should have our own Parliament in England, and then Westminster should just be used for the issues that affect the UK as a whole

Scottish Parliament can be overruled by Westminster which kind of defeats the object, and I agree with an English parliament in principle but with the English just being moaners you can picture a load of protests at English Parliament decisions and then it gets thrown back to Westminster anyway. Scottish Parliament is just really like each local authority (education, health, policing etc) rolled into one and with a little bit more power.

Oh I hadnt realised that, can only see Westminster overruling them in extreme cases though

I think that sone decisions will only be relevant (or more relevant) to Scotland, though or to Wales. And when those kind of things are being decided at Westminster, it will essentially be decided by English MP's which doesnt seem very fair if you ask me.

Oh dear God!

If it was upto me I would make Scotland and Wales totally separate countries but still part of the commonwealth similar to Australia etc

For Ireland Id say ****** it let em have it N Ireland is pointless country anyway

No. In countries where distinct groups are thrown together under the banner of one country, they fight and they fight to get their own distinct identity back (see: South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Kosovo, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia... I could go on.) and it's such an English idea to unify everything as the United Kingdom - the Welsh, the Northern Irish and the Scottish are quite happy with their distinct national identities within the United Kingdom because we still have one.

England is the only country that can support itself. Scotland are just scroungers who are claiming independence half the time and then are begging england for billions.
Ireland is what any of the 3 countries will turn into with out England.

Wow.

shut up.

:joker:

Don't like the truth?

oh.dear.god

I don't even know where to begin...

I don't like ignorant people.

Well it's basically a horrible idea.

I would love for it to happen though if they did it with the Scottish, Northern Irish and The Welsh.

Just for the sheer fact we'd start a ******ing war and it'd be rather entertaining and quite amusing to watch and give people something to talk about once X Factor ends.

Then the French would get involved, The Irish would probably jump in for the lulz, The Americans would come out of nowhere and before you know it, We've started World War III all over the names of some countries.

:love:

That would be something to tell the Grand kids really, and it would also be something History teachers could tell their students in about 200 years time.

Which would be quite nice.

But yes, It's too peaceful now in the UK.
We need something to fight with eachother about.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales VS England.

What are you going to attack us with?
Scissors from the local primary schools? (which we bought may I add)

anyway, back to the op, why would you want to take away 3 countries individuality?

you know that has worked in the past, Republic of Ireland for example.