Content deleted Content added
Rescuing 17 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.8.8 |
GreenC bot (talk | contribs) Reformat 1 URL (Wayback Medic 2.5) |
||
| (9 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{Short description|Political movement in the United Kingdom}}
[[File:United Kingdom EU referendum 2016 area results (Greater London).svg|thumb|right|261px|
{{legend|#0069b5|Leave}}
{{legend|#ffc010|Remain}}]]
{{use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
'''London independence''', sometimes shortened to '''Londependence''' and '''Londexit''',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/eu-referendum/londependence/|title='Londependence' May Be a Dream, but More Autonomy for the City Is Not|date=28 June 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=2 March 2017|archive-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321084335/https://www.nytimes.com/live/eu-referendum/londependence/|url-status=live}}</ref> refers to a belief favouring full-fledged independence for [[Greater London|London]] as a [[city-state]] separate from the United Kingdom. The idea received particular attention after the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum]], in which the country at large voted to leave the European Union, but 60% of Londoners voted to remain, though the concept of an independent London had been discussed sporadically for some years before.
[[File:Flag of Greater London.svg|thumb|Banner of arms of the Greater London Council (1965–86)]]
==Movement==
[[File:SingaporeCBD9.jpg|250px|thumb|Supporters
London's status within the United Kingdom has been debated for several years, with some calls for increased autonomy,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2016/01/30/the-uk-needs-a-devolved-government-for-london/|title=The UK needs a devolved government for London|date=30 January 2016|access-date=25 June 2016|archive-date=29 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629023210/http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2016/01/30/the-uk-needs-a-devolved-government-for-london/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="theconversation">{{cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/london-after-brexit-independence-a-non-starter-but-special-status-could-protect-global-position-61609|title=London after Brexit: independence a non-starter but special status could protect global position|first=Richard G|last=Smith|access-date=25 June 2016|archive-date=26 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160626134455/http://theconversation.com/london-after-brexit-independence-a-non-starter-but-special-status-could-protect-global-position-61609|url-status=live}}</ref> Supporters have frequently cited [[Greater London]]'s population of over 8 million people, its economic size, its global role, its diverse population and its unique challenges compared to the rest of England as reasons for greater autonomy. The idea of London becoming a city-state resurfaced during the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|Scottish independence referendum of 2014]].<ref name="theconversation" />
Line 17 ⟶ 20:
Labour MP for [[Tottenham (UK Parliament constituency)|Tottenham]] [[David Lammy]] wrote a piece in the ''[[Evening Standard]]'' in March 2017 arguing in favour of London becoming a city state in the event of a [[Hard Brexit|Hard]] or [[No deal Brexit]].<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/david-lammy-london-must-look-to-be-a-citystate-if-hard-brexit-goes-ahead-a3494221.html|title=David Lammy: London must look to be a city-state if hard Brexit goes ahead|journal=Evening Standard|first=David|last=Lammy|date=20 March 2017|access-date=8 December 2020|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112031309/http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/david-lammy-london-must-look-to-be-a-citystate-if-hard-brexit-goes-ahead-a3494221.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
The
==Public opinion==
Line 35 ⟶ 38:
==Criticism==
The idea of London independence has been criticised as unrealistic. Brian Groom of the ''[[Financial Times]]'' wrote that "it is ludicrous to think of any nation gladly waving goodbye to its capital", calling the idea of secession a "fantasy".<ref>{{cite web |last=Groom |first=Brian |date=26 August 2013 |title=Could London ever be a city-state? |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a97a4f1c-0a8b-11e3-aeab-00144feabdc0 |
Dr. James Ker-Lindsay, a senior research fellow at the [[London School of Economics]] who specialises in secession movements, stated with regard to a referendum on London Independence that it "seems difficult to see how any government would ever agree to such a vote." He also said if London broke away unilaterally it would not be able to join the United Nations, as its membership application would be subject to the United Kingdom's permanent veto on the [[United Nations Security Council]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/mv57ba/we-asked-an-expert-if-london-could-secede-from-the-uk|title=We Asked an Expert How London Could Gain Independence from the UK|first=Hussein|last=Kesvani|date=17 April 2014|access-date=3 February 2020|archive-date=12 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012191323/https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/mv57ba/we-asked-an-expert-if-london-could-secede-from-the-uk|url-status=live}}</ref>
| |||