Flag of the Scot-free United Kingdom

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When you read this entry, referendum about Scottish independence is probably over. I am writing this on September 12th 2014, so I don't know the result. I personally like the Union Flag (this term is less controversial than Union Jack), so I am not prone to change it. However, this is in no way an argument against independence of Scotland! Flags are adapting to countries, not vice versa. I divide this entry in parts: some will be about human-geographic implications of the 'Yes' vote and the others about future flag of the rump United Kingdom (rUK).

Britannia and Hispania were Roman provinces, names of currently fragile countries are derived from them. The broader term "British Isles" still covers Ireland and "Great Britain" will still cover even independent Scotland. The rUK would be under double pressure: to change its flag as well as name. Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia dropped the Vergina Sun from its flag, but preserved the name "Macedonia", what still upsets Greeks. The situation is similar as if Timor-Leste insisted on name "Timor" for the country despite Indonesia. "Republic of Northern Macedonia" would be elegant solution. But now return to the point.

What is Northern Ireland? Northern Ireland are the last six Irish counties in the United Kingdom. What is "united" in the Kingdom? Great Britain and Northern Ireland. What is Great Britain? The greatest of the British islands, itself covered by union of England and Scotland for centuries. If the union between England and Scotland dissolves, would rUK still be "United Kingdom"? Should Northern Ireland be automatically part of rUK? If not and it will declare either independence or union with Ireland (God save the Unionists then), the rUK will consist only of England and Wales, territory covered by Kingdom of England or Roman Britannia in the past. While most people can consider "England" and "Britain" as synonyms, they aren't and won't be after repealing of Wales and Berwick Act 1746 by Interpretation Act 1978 in order not to upset Welshmen. Wales was not separate country of the UK when current Union Flag (cUF) was adopted, but now it is. So the future British flag (fBf) should definitely include an element for Wales.

The most known symbol of Wales is the Red Dragon flag, followed by flag of Saint David. Despite many Welsh-containing proposals for British flag contain black and yellow (sometimes only black), I think green is more suitable as Welsh element. cUF contains three colors: red, white and blue. Flag of Wales contains three colors: white, green and red. Combination of cUF and flag of Wales has only four colors and can look like this or this: . If dropping Scottish blue and adding Cornish black, the result is this: Note that I am against changing cUF if Scotland rests in the union. However, adding an element for Cornwall, which is not a country, is inconsistent like not representing Wales, so no gain (IMHO). Compromise can be seen here:

Northern Ireland is represented in cUF by St. Patrick's Saltire. The same was representing whole of Ireland before Irish independence. Therefore some try to represent Northern Ireland in fBf by yellow and red from flag of Ulster. There have even been proposals for renaming Northern Ireland to Ulster. There is no United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ulster, because Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan are parts of Ulster, they are parts of northern Ireland, but they ARE NOT part of "Northern Ireland" or UK. Renaming Northern Ireland to Ulster would require consent from these counties and they would leave Ulster. Then the fUf could look like this: or . Flag of Northern Ireland then could look like this: . If you prefer another design, I don't mind.

Warning! Flag should symbolize country as a whole, regardless of its borders. Thus maps or explicit counting of subdivisions (sorry USA) on an official flag is not so good idea. How does it apply to cUF? It combines symbols of three countries (Wales was not country then), but future flag of rUK doesn't have to do so! What about a new design with pan-rUK symbol? But - what is that symbol? English lions symbolizing three countries of rUK? Tudor rose ? It is an English flower, adding shamrock and daffodil (or leek?) would make the flag crowded. Picture of landscape, like Ukraine and Estonia did? This is rather ugly than British (sorry author). Idea of a pan-symbol of rUK is interesting, but it is almost impossible to find a symbol not consisting from symbols of constituent countries. It is very nature of UK (and rUK) that it contains more areas of identity. By this term I think about a constituent country, dependency, Cornwall, Orkney or Shetland. Orkney and Shetland were demanding a referendum about leaving Scotland just week after Scottish referendum. It was not approved. If it were, these islands would decide whether to rest in UK, rest in Scotland or become independent. Choice 2 would be pleasing for Scottish politicians, but I don't support it. If Orkney and Shetland remained part of rUK as "Northern Isles", cUF doesn't have to change. Patron saint of Northern Isles would be Saint Andrew and his saltire is preserved. But what if not?

If Scotland leaves United Kingdom as a whole and rUK changes its flag, this won't affect flags of independent countries and their dependencies (Australia, Cook Islands, Hawaii). They are no more under Westminster (although some are still under Crown). However, flags of rUK Overseas Territories should no more contain obsolete cUF. So choosing a new flag for rUK is of great importance. I am aware of this and therefore I prepared these proposals after refusing many worse ones:
              
(Explanation is in Imgur gallery).

Beside them I would accept this: The black can be seen as mourning after loss of Scotland, Welsh cross of St. David or Cornish cross of St. Piran. I don't like these proposals:
     (despite this one is pretty).

And why did I mention Hispania in the beginning? Hispania covered all Iberian Peninsula, but Portugal will no more be part of Spain, as Republic of Ireland won't join United Kingdom again. Galicia and Northern Ireland are mixed regions, but they are royalist enough for not to join the neighboring republic. Basque Country and Wales are quite peaceful, after persecution of their languages now they possess enough devolved powers. Only Catalonia and Scotland are restless about independence. I agree personal union between England and Scotland should not become perfect fusion, because now "perfect union" seems to be impossible. The same can be told about Castile and Aragon when fusing into Spain. While they profited from colonies, no one asked about separatism. Now Catalonia feels like colony what would never become if Spain were union rather than fusion (the union might have included Portugal). I want not to start flamewar, so I am finishing. Flags of Spain are perfect and in case of Catalan independence neither Catalan nor Spanish flag has to be changed. They have another problems: entrenched clause against separatism and unclear borders of "Catalan Countries".
© 2014 - 2024 hosmich
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SoaringAven's avatar
Wait, isn't the referendum on the 18th?
scotreferendum.com/