9 UK Areas You Probably Didn't Know Had Designs On Independence | HuffPost

These 9 Place Could Be Next To Call For Independence From The UK

Louise Ridley— The Huffington Post UK

|

Independence was in the air as Scotland went to the polls to vote Yes or No on becoming a separate country from the rest of the UK.

Scotland chose no, but calls for independence are nothing new to the UK. And it's not always from the corners you'd expect. Around the country many small areas have won elements of home rule and devolution. There's even an unlikely call for freedom for Wessex, a kingdom that technically no longer exists.

Here are some areas of the UK that may be itching for a little more independence:

UK regions looking for independence?

Cornwall(01 of09)

There have been movements to give Cornwall greater independence for years. It has its own language, and in a 2011 census, 73,200 people out of the total population of 530,000 said they considered themselves as having a "Cornish" national identity.

Cornwall's nationalist party, Mebyon Kernow, wants it to be recognised as its own nation (but not a separate country), with a legislative assembly like that of the to the current Scottish Parliament. (credit:Images from BarbAnna via Getty Images)

Bristol(02 of09)

Bristol has its own special 'currency', which is a little-known fact that marks the West Country city out as distinctly independent-minded.

The Bristol Pound is the UK's largest alternative to sterling, and has just celebrated its second birthday. Bristol Pound notes can only be spent in the city: the aim is to keep money in the hands of local businesses. (credit:Marek Slusarczyk via Getty Images)

Yorkshire(03 of09)

In 2010, Sheffield MP and former cabinet minister David Blunkett suggested Yorkshire should have its own 'White Rose Parliament' with a devolved budget similar to the way Wales is funded.

He said in the House of Commons: "Can you think of one single reason why the people of Yorkshire shouldn't determine their own priorities?" (credit:CaronB via Getty Images)

London(04 of09)

Although landlocked by England, London's sheer difference from the rest of the UK could be an obvious candidate for independence.

It generates over a fifth of the UK's GDP and exists in its own bubble on issues like house prices, not to mention being the political and arguably cultural centre of the country. More people live in London than in Scotland and Northern Ireland added together. (credit:M Swiet Productions via Getty Images)

Boris Johnson?(05 of09)

Boris Johnson has launched an audacious bid to break away from the United Kingdom and declare himself an independent country, Huffington Post UK's comedy team reported.Johnson told reporters that he had mentally scheduled the vote to take place on February 25, 2017, and would likely decide on this “important point of national self-determination” whilst cycling across Chelsea Bridge. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Wessex(06 of09)

There is a separatist party for Wessex, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the south of the country which became part of England in 1066.

Even though it no longer exists, some want to bring it back: the Wessex Regionalists Party calls for legislative and administrative home rule for an area roughly based on the old kingdom. (credit:LatitudeStock - Paul Felix via Getty Images)

The Isle Of Wight(07 of09)

The island is physically separate from the bulk of the UK, for a start. And it has already won some independence.

It was considered part of nearby Hampshire for a short time, until a 'home rule' campaign led to a separate county council being established back in 1890. (credit:VisitBritain/Britain on View via Getty Images)

Guernsey(08 of09)

Guernsey it not part of the UK, but has always had an odd relationship with it. It is a British Crown Dependency, meaning in layman's terms that it runs itself, aside from defence and foreign affairs. It also has a parliament: the States of Deliberation.

In fact, while Guernsey could look to break away further from the UK, its setup is more likely to be looked at as a model for Scotland's move towards devolution if Scots vote No in the referendum. (credit:Holger Leue via Getty Images)

The whole north of England(09 of09)

Recent complaints that Westminster and the media neglect Scotland are all too familiar: the north of England also receives far less attention than the wealth-attracting capital and its surrounding areas.

Could the north-south divide be enough to cause one half of England to break away entirely? (credit:Jonathan Klemenz via Getty Images)

SEE MORE:
Scottish Independence Referendum Result Could Be Curtains For The Union Jack
Tory Minister Leads Anti-Scots Revolt In Call For No More 'Goodies'
Final Poll Says No Ahead... But Only Just
Andy Murray Finally Reveals His View On Scottish Independence
Twitter Reacts To Murray's 'Yes' Endorsement
The Scottish Sun Asked Twitter To Fill In Its Blank Front Page. Twitter Duly Obliged...

Suggest a correction

|

What's Hot

Not Checking This WiFi Setting Is Like 'Leaving Your Front Door Open' To Hackers

People Are Just Realising Why We Call Them Uppercase And Lowercase Letters, And I Had No Idea

I Always Knew I Was Different. Still, I Was Shocked To Hear My Doctor Say These 4 Words To Me.

Here's Why You Should Never Throw The Liquid On Your Yoghurt Out