Brexit Thread

[Pannonian]

You've hit on the London-centric theme a couple of times now, and I see how you believe it would play out here to further the "goal" of brexit (at least after the fashion of "paying off" the London Boroughs to accept it whilst the less populated but geographically broader hinterlands receive less). And your argument seems to make sense to me on a political level -- it very much ties in with my assessment of the limitations of democratic-republican government.

As I recall, however, NI and Alba were nearly as solid in support of the "NO" vote as was greater London. Yet if it plays out as you suggest, would that not end up encouraging/reinvigorating the independency movements in Ulster and Scotland? After all, they would not get the "payoff" London would receive under your formula.

That kind of London-centric policy-making isn't paying off London for giving them what they didn't want. It's just what UK governments do, probably exacerbated by the government and Parliament being based in London. The EU forced at least some degree of decentralisation in funding by redistributing EU dues to the regions in order to promote regional identities (a game which Italy are particularly adept at). Once the UK government doesn't have to do this any more, it will revert to its own tendency, which is to be London-centric. The first big spending commitment since the referendum has been made, to expand Heathrow. It will benefit London's economy (at the cost of upsetting some nimbies), with some trickle down effects for other areas, but it will cost a hell of a lot, which will mean commitments to other areas won't be met. There will probably also be some upgrading on rail links around London, again benefiting London's economy with some trickle down effects for others, but again costing a hell of a lot and meaning commitments to other areas won't be met. That's what UK governments do.