Brexit - The UK, a disunited Kingdom

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country in 1922. It is a Republic with a president. This country is part of the European Union. B. Video Analysises | The Queen's death. (BBC News Report) I. Analysis of the news report. This is a news report from BBC in London. The journalist is announcing [ proclaiming, professing ] the death of Elizabeth II. The Queen died [ passed away] at Balmoral Castle, in Scotland. Balmoral is the place where the Royal Family goes on holiday(s). The Queen's son became the new monarch, now called Charles III. The British monarch represents British people in the World. He is also the head of the Anglican Church. The Royal Family can organize charit nts. They are the link between the past, present and future due to the fact that they respect the traditions as well as modernize the institutions. They are a figure of stability for the country. The Monarch cannot influence the political life of the country. The Prime Minister, Lis Truss, who is part of the Conservative Party, is in charge of the political matters. Quotes from Lis Truss' speech. "We are all devastated [...] It is a huge shock to the nation". "The Queen was a rock on which modern Britain was built" "Our country has grown and flourished [ thrived ] under her reign". C. The UK and Devolution. The UK is made up England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - also known as Ulster. These four nations are all British. The UK is governed by the Parliament sitting at Westminster, in London. But Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also have their own parliaments [ assembles ] with devolved powers. The Devolution is the Act of giving power from a central athority (London) to an authority (or government) in a local nation. The nations have now control over polical matters that directly affect them (education, healthcare, the police). However, many other services such as defense (army), foreign affairs, immigration and social security remain under central UK government. D. Brexit and David Cameron. I. Implementing of Brexit in the UK. The word "Brexit" is used to refer the departure of the UK from the European Union. It is a blend of "British" or "Britain" and "Exit". During the general election, Prime Minister David Cameron promised to hold a referendum about Britain's membership in the EU if his government was re-elected. Even though David Cameron was himself against the withdrawal [ departure ] of the UK from the EU, he kept his promise and a referendum was held in 2016. On 23rd June 2016, 51.9 % voted in favour of leaving the EU. Because David Cameron wanted to remain in the EU, he decided to resign [ step down, quit his job ]. After numerous negotiations, Britain's split from the EU took effect in early 2021. The newly elected PM - Boris Johnson - was determined to implement Brexit because it was the will of the voters. The UK is the first country to have left the European Union after 47 years of membership. II. Brexit results and consequences for Scotland. UK chooses Brexit EU referendum results by region Remain 48,1% 51.9% Turnout 72.2% Source: The Electoral Commission Leave England 53.4% 52.5% 52.6% 59.3% statista In 2016, the results showed that Scotland voted in favour over the United Kingdom staying in the EU. The whole of the UK voted to leave. The leave-side won by a margin of 52% to 48%. Moveover, US president at the time, Donald Trump, said it was "a great thing that people of UK had taken back that country". But people in Scotland have the feeling of being taken out [ excluded, put aside ] from the European Union against their will. Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon told a media conference that a referendum on independence was highly likely. According to Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Parliament should have the right to hold a referendum. III. Painting Analysis | Banksy's mural about Brexit. On May 7th, 2017, street artist Banksy painted an outdoor mural that protrayed [ depicted, represented ] a man on a ladder who is chipping away at one of the 12 yellow stars on the Blue European Union flag. The work first appeared in Dover. Dover is a well-known port city that looks out onto continental Europe. It quickly became a significant symbol of Brexit and its consequences for the UK. Very little is known about Banksy. He managed to remain anonymous. He is a political activist. E. Video Analysis | Nigel Farage's final speech in the European Parliament [Watch the video ]. “This is it, the final chapter, the end of the road. A 47-year political experiment that the British frankly have never been very happy with. My mother and father signed up to common market not to a political union, not to flags, anthems, presidents and now you even want your own army. [...]. But Boris has been remarkably bold in the last few months [...]. But the most significant point is this: What happens at 11:00 PM this Friday 31st of January 2020 marks the point of no return. Once we've left, we are never coming back and the rest is frankly detail. [...]. I walked in here - as I said before you all thought it was terribly funny. You stopped laughing in 2016. In 2005, I saw the Constitution [the European Constitution] - that had been drafted - I saw it rejected by the French in the referendum. I saw it rejected by the Dutch in a referendum and I saw you in these institutions ignore them. [...] the Irish did have a vote and did say "no" [to the Constitution] and were forced to vote again. You're very good at making people vote again, but what we proved is the British are too big to bully, thanks Godness. So, I became an outright [ completely ] opponent of the entire European project. I want Brexit to start a debate across the rest of Europe. What do we want from Europe: If we want trade, friendship, cooperation, reciprocity, we do not need a European Commission, we do not need a European Court, we do not need these institutions and all of this power, and I can promise you that both in UKIP and indeed Brexit party, we love Europe. We just hate European Union. It is as simple as that. [...] No more financial contributions, no more European Court of Justice, no more fisheries policies, no more being talked down [denigrated, minimised ] too. F. From the platation of Ulster to a political partition. The plantation of Ulster. I. Religious differences caused great conflicts between Britain and Ireland. In 1607, during the reign of James Ist, English people decided to send Protestants to inhabit [colonise, settle in ] Ireland. This was called the "Plantation of Ulster". OCEAN ATLANTIQUE Slipe Londonderry erick MUNSTER Cork Ennisken Mer Celtique Dublin LEINSTER Ulster Plantations About 1590 After 1602 (James) Lands reserved for Irish people (1649-1659) Below is a quotation by 12th-century Secular clerk Gerald of Wales. "They live on beasts only, and like beasts. They have not progressed at all form the habits of pastoral leaving. This is a filthy people, wallowing [ dwell upon ] in vice. Of all peoples it is the least instructed in the rudiments of the faith. They do not yet pay tithes or first fruits or contract marriages. They do not avoid incest" Both English and Scottish families of Protestant faith were given small plantations in the north of Ireland (i.e Ulster). This was done in the purpose of civilising the Irish Catholics. These farming families introduced new farming methods. The Irish were hired as labourers on the land they had once owned and farmed themselves. In 1603, 90% of Irish land was owned by Catholics whereas by 1750, they owned only 5%. Today Many Ulster Protestants are descendants of settlers who arrived from Britain in the early 17th century Ulster Plantation. II. Nothern Ireland, excluded and ignored country. [ Lesson written from a news report] How checks between Britain and Northern Ireland work Certain goods, such as meat and eggs, need to be checked when they enter Northern Ireland from Great Britain Goods from Great Britain are checked at Northern Ireland ports Belfasto Goods can move across the border in r into t o the Republic of Ireland Goods dispatched BBC It is possible to stumble upon [ come across, bump into ] many protesters that want to remain British. They are demonstrating in the outskirts of Belfast despite a police ban. When it comes to Northern Island's special status, they feel betrayed by the UK government. A woman is being interviewed: "We have now a partation in the Irish Sea - something people from Ulster have fought for hundreds of years. [...] And now we find ourselves divided from the UK with no consent". British symbols are common in Northern Ireland's Protestant dominated areas. The Red hand is one of many parramilitary organisations' symbols. It can be found in traditional working class neighbourhoods. G. Painting Analysis | Banksy's UK parliament. In this huge painting, apes replaced politicians (MPs) in the House of Commons. Although this painting was completed in 2009, many people compared [ drew a comparison ] with Brexit in current-day politics. The anonymous street artist offers a biting satire of British politics which foreshadows [ forsees ] the deadlock [ stalemate ] MPs reached over Brexit. Indeed, instead of debating MPs, the House of Commons is filled with apes in a scene of mayhem [ uproar, shambles ] and madness.