Can the UK survive as a Union in the face of a Brexit referendum and the rise of the SNP?

Will Cameron's government avoid the break up of the UK in the face of the future Brexit referendum and the rise of nationalism in Scotland and England? Join the debate

After 2015 General Elections

The General Election is over and there is now a Conservative Government with a small majority and with only about 37% of the popular vote. At the same time the Scottish Nationalists (SNP) have taken all but three of the seats in Scotland with 50% of the votes. In over 100 seats in England UKIP is the now the second party bringing with it a resurgence of English nationalism. The Liberal Democratic Party being reduced to an almost rump in the House of Commons. Labour has been wiped out in Scotland (from 41 to only one seat) arguably because it was not perceived leftist enough, while in England it has failed to make progress perhaps for the opposite reason, it may have appeared too radical. Thus, Labour now faces a crisis of identity.

Future of the UK: a break up?

The results of the general elections came as a surprise for many. Although David Cameron's position as Prime Minister and his government have been reinforced by the results, the new political scenario raises many doubts. Direct democracy has pros and cons and in the case of the UK referendums can demonstrate it. EU membership and Scottish devolution are considered by most analysts key challenges for the Conservative government. Some claim that over the next five years we may see the end of the UK as we know it. Can the United Kingdom now survive as a Union in the face of the mounting pressures upon it following the General Election? And will the proposed EU Brexit Referendum add to these pressures by exposing the fault lines of British politics even more? There is much of middle and nationalist England that wants out of the European Union. At the same time Scotland is very much in favour of EU membership and if the United Kingdom leaves may well wish to apply for membership as an independent nation. Wales also favours membership and could well follow Scotland’s example leaving the United Kingdom as an English rump not only on the edge of Europe but also possibly the world. These are some of the great political issues that will dominate the next five years of debate and discussion.

Are you optimistic about the future of the Union? Can Cameron's majority help his government strengthen the Union? Or on the contrary, do you think this is the beginning of the end? Could the monarchy help keep the country together?

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