[s_dev]

Correct and the breakup of the UK will likely lead to a United Ireland. The real question is what will England use for a TLD? They've never considered their place in the world that isn't in reference to the UK or GB because to them the two are interchangeable.

[cal85]

Counterpoint: England’s national teams in the country’s most popular spectator sports (football, cricket, rugby) are all “England”.

[Veen]

> Correct and the breakup of the UK will likely lead to a United Ireland.

Will it? I know some Northern Irish who would not on board with that.

[oneeyedpigeon]

Some, of course — this is why it hasn't already happened. However, in the last NI census:

32% identified as British only, 29% identified as Irish only and 20% as Northern Irish only.

In 2011, the figures were 40% British only, 25% Irish only and 21% Northern Irish only.

[ceejayoz]

I think you're reading a "without bloodshed" into the sentence that's definitely not in there.

[disgruntledphd2]

> Correct and the breakup of the UK will likely lead to a United Ireland

Unless things go really pear-shaped in the UK, this is unlikely within the next twenty years.

[selfhoster11]

Things have been going very pear-shaped in the UK for at least 6 years now.

[cratermoon]

> Unless things go really pear-shaped in the UK

That doesn't seem terribly unlikely in within the next twenty years.

[disgruntledphd2]

Things would need to be really, really bad for the Unionist population of NI before they'd vote to join Ireland. I'm honestly not sure that anything bar the total collapse of the other island would do it, tbh ;)

[Aromasin]

Things weren't particularly bad, and the UK managed to vote itself out of the EU and into recession. All you need is a single vote and a particularly apathetic populace to change the political landscape forever.

[disgruntledphd2]

I strongly encourage you to visit Northern Ireland and talk to people (even just see the peace walls) as this is far more like the 18th century than it is like the 21st (in the sense that religion/ethnicity/history is the predominant driving force behind voting patterns).

[Aromasin]

Don't make assumptions; I'm well aware. I was deployed to an RAF station there for a number of months, my fathers side of the family are all passionate Catholic Irish republicans, and my mother all served in NI during the Troubles in the British Army. I know the history intimately through them, and years of studying the conflict within officer branch of the RAF.

I do truly believe that Brexit has fundamentally and permanently shifted the balance in the region in favor of the republicans. Public support for independence is the strongest it's been in decades, particularly within the younger demographics. There's no sign of that sentiment slowing. On the other side of the fence, Parliament's desire to govern NI has lessened significantly, something that would have been considered sacrilege just 10 years ago.

I can't picture a situation where it won't eventually go to a vote, just like the Scottish referendum. I also can't imagine it being a particularly peaceful transition whatever the result of the vote.

[gerikson]

So... England will not be part of the FUK (former UK)?