[Doc Shmok]

Originally Posted by denzl

The EUSSR would be rubbing their hands in glee at that, anything that further balkanises the british isles and weakens us they would welcome. What next? break us down in to regions and counties, abolish the nation state, but keep the over-arching, undemocratic super-state that is Brussels who would possess the real power.

I don't think they have an Anti British competition on..

[HillmanImp]

Originally Posted by husted

I suggest that your suggestion has no basis whatsoever, and if you repeated your suggestion in an Irish pub people would think you a comedian and hand you a microphone.

I've been quoted in an Irish pub that Gerry Adams and James Martin McGuinness are 10 to 1 "odds on" for getting a Knighthood before 2020. It bought some smiles and one or two noddings of heads.

[SULLA]

Originally Posted by jmclaugh

If the Irish were going to join anywhere surely it should be the US. Their presidents seem to go to great lengths to dig up rather tenuous connections to come and visit them and it appears Irish music is de rigueur at US police funerals.

Democratic candidates reply on the Irish vote

Originally Posted by tiggertiny

We have enough debt and unemployed of our own without importing any more.

They were keen enough to break away so let's leave it at that.

They wouldn't want to rejoin us anyway.

Sound right

[Middleotroad]

Originally Posted by Irishguy123

OP how about England joining forces with Germany to form one country? A lot of the bad blood between the two is now healed and the two countries would be even more powerful than they are now. English people could learn German and even be entitled to German passports. It would be wonderful!

Sound appealing?

The English have some German origins. This should be recognised and celebrated! Joining up as one country is possibly going a step too far.

Irishguy may be a little affronted by this thread - what's this about being more powerful? The OP was being whimsical, I think. Lots of English have a heritage from other parts of the British Isles. It creates a desire for a country which unites all their background, or for closer ties with those countries.

[Irishguy123]

Originally Posted by Middleotroad

The English have some German origins. This should be recognised and celebrated! Joining up as one country is possibly going a step too far.

Irishguy may be a little affronted by this thread - what's this about being more powerful? The OP was being whimsical, I think. Lots of English have a heritage from other parts of the British Isles. It creates a desire for a country which unites all their background, or for closer ties with those countries.

Why???

[Middleotroad]

Heck, I don't know!

Their currency sounds like too much trouble for a start off - all that bailing out of other countries all the time.

They'd be a bit astonished if we asked for unification too, wouldn't they?

Although... our football team would be better. Perhaps we should give it a try...

[Aneechik]

Under a federal UK, I'd love Ireland to join. I'd also like New Zealand, Australia and Malta to as well.

It won't happen though, and ironically Ireland would probably be the most difficult to entice into it, while simultaneously being the most sought after member.

[DM Andy]

Originally Posted by Aneechik

Under a federal UK, I'd love Ireland to join. I'd also like New Zealand, Australia and Malta to as well.

It won't happen though, and ironically Ireland would probably be the most difficult to entice into it, while simultaneously being the most sought after member.

Ahh, the old Imperial Federation idea. That would have been good, if the British Empire had just hung on to modern days when it would have become just about feasible. However would England be happy with only a handful of MPs in a 600 MP Imperial Parliament where the majority represent Indian constituencies?

[HillmanImp]

DM Andy: Seriously we could out source parliament. We would be able to get 10 MPs for the price of one of ours. It sounds silly but everything else gets our sourced, might as well go the whole hog.

[Aneechik]

Originally Posted by DM Andy

Ahh, the old Imperial Federation idea. That would have been good, if the British Empire had just hung on to modern days when it would have become just about feasible. However would England be happy with only a handful of MPs in a 600 MP Imperial Parliament where the majority represent Indian constituencies?

I wasn't suggesting India should join. You'd only allow in countries that shared history, culture, levels of development, language, etc, which would limit it to the UK (split into constituent parts), Australia, New Zealand, Malta, Ireland, and Canada if they wanted to. Singapore might be good too.

[HillmanImp]

Originally Posted by Aneechik

I wasn't suggesting India should join. You'd only allow in countries that shared history, culture, levels of development, language, etc, which would limit it to the UK (split into constituent parts), Australia, New Zealand, Malta, Ireland, and Canada if they wanted to. Singapore might be good too.

Come off it. Forget the rest, its got to be the West Indies. Sun, Sea, Coral Sand, Cricket, Oil Wealth and Bob Marley.

[Aneechik]

Originally Posted by HillmanImp

Come off it. For get the rest, its got to be the West Indies. Sun, Sea, Coral Sand, Cricket, Oil Wealth and Bob Marley.

You could ignore some of the criteria (such as the state of its economy) if it's a very small country, so it wouldn't be impossible for the Carribbean and Pacific islands to be allowed in. It would already have some of them via our current overseas territories.

You couldn't let in a huge country with massive problems though, that would just upset the applecart.

[HillmanImp]

Originally Posted by Aneechik

You could ignore some of the criteria (such as the state of its economy) if it's a very small country, so it wouldn't be impossible for the Carribbean and Pacific islands to be allowed in. It would already have some of them via our current overseas territories.

You couldn't let in a huge country with massive problems though, that would just upset the applecart.

Phew! So the Jamaican Bob Sleigh team just make it in!

[Aneechik]

Originally Posted by HillmanImp

Phew! So the Jamaican Bob Sleigh team just make it in!

Not Jamaica, no. It's problems are too great and its population too large. Trinidad can though.

[Donk25]

No! Ireland are doing fine on their own