Boris Johnson, COVID-19 & the break-up of Britain
Being an internationalist I’m not an unequivocal fan of the break-up of Britain into its constituent parts if the result is to encourage reactionary nationalism. That is possible in times like these but then so is a socialist focused variety. I am in favour however on principle of the rights of nations to secede from the current UK structure and for that to be democratically determined by the voters.
The specific context is Johnson’s decision to announce a new lockdown to December 2nd
I listened intently when he announced the first lockdown in March. It applied to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
This time it applies to England only. Wales is in the middle of a 17 day firebreak lockdown timed to coincide with school half-term. Scotland and Northern Ireland have also implemented new measures.
Johnson’s authority is much diminished in the last 6 months and no doubt if the North had authority to run its own affairs it would too (as would London) leaving Johnson the Home Counties and the Shires.
It may not be how the break-up of Britain was envisaged when it was much debated in the 1970s but it’s happening and it wont easily be reversed once all this finally ends.
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