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Is a Federal Union of the Anglo-Celtic Nations Advizable?

Devolution in Britain under PM Tony Blair saw the creation of regional Assemblies in Wales and greater delegation of responsibility to the Scottish parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly. This trend toward a form of federalism is continuing under the present Labour Party administration in Westminster.

Federalism has a lot going for it, contrary to the popular misconception that it creates too many politicians. In fact it divvies up and allocates decision-making to the people closest to the areas affected. However, England is far more populous and economically significant than Wales, Scotland and Ireland combined. A federal union would have to would carefully balance this reality with the political autonomy and rights of the other three countries.

Brexit

Brexit extricated Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the EU, for better or worse. Is it time now for all four Anglo-Celtic nations of the British Isles to consider the benefits of forming their own, mini-EU? These nations have good reason to prioritize their own free trade and movement zone before joining other neighbouring economic blocs. They have more in common than not and if their collective resources were prioritized for domestic consumption, they may gain some leverage in dealing with foreign powers, as well as dealing with irregular immigration.

So, how about a Anglo-Celtic Union?

Ireland – A Grand Rapprochement?

Historically, Ireland’s relationship with London has been fraught with difficulty. Consequently, for the past century or so, it has been an independent republic, albeit divided at the north. It was neutral in World War II. In 1977 it joined the EU and subsequently its economy boomed in the 1990s and 2000s, earning it the moniker ‘Celtic Tiger’. This also saw a reversal of the long trend of emigration since the Great Potato Famine that crashed the population from over 8 million 4.4 million in 1911. The population now is nearly 5.4 million. Recently, the Irish have shared in the experience of unwanted mass immigration of incompatible foreigners, many of them by irregular entry through the porous border with Northern Ireland.

In a federal union of Anglo-Celtic nations, Ireland is united.

UMACI – United Monarchy of the Anglo-Celtic Isles

Envisage the Anglo-Celtic Isles as a political and economic federation united as four constitutional monarchies. When a monarch dies or abdicates, the crown passes to the heir of the next country. No country would take precedence over the other.

Each country would maintain their Parliaments and Assemblies and a downsized Commons in Westminster would have representatives from England alone. These bodies would be responsible for domestic departments such as police, schools, hospitals, as in the States of Australia and the U.S.A.. The National Parliament would consist of an Senate (formerly the House of Lords) in which each country has equal representation, like the Australian Senate. The national (UMACI) Federal or Commonwealth government would decide on matters such as defence, foreign policy, trade and immigration. This Executive branch of government could consist of a cabinet of heads of government and ministers from the four countries – 6 from the three smaller countries and 5 from England; an 11 person cabinet all nominated jointly by their respective Premiers and Opposition Leaders from members of the Senate. Alternatively, this Executive branch could be formed from and responsible to a National House of Representatives elected on a one-vote, one-value basis. A new location for this seat of government could be negotiated.

Heads Of State

The English throne has a clear line of succession.

Scotland’s monarch could be the Jacobite claimant to the English throne.

Ireland and Wales do not have obvious descendants, however, the YouTube Channel ‘Useful Charts’ suggests they could be identified. The Welsh line appears to flow into the Tudor line.

The Irish line might be a Fitzgerald!