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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|publisher=}}</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|publisher=}}</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" />
The movement for either increased autonomy or full sovereignty received a boost following the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum]] in 2016, during which the UK as a whole voted to leave the European Union (at 52% leave), although the majority of London voted for the UK to remain in the EU (60% remain). This led to 180,000 Londoners petitioning [[Sadiq Khan]], [[Mayor of London]] online to seek London's independence from the UK so it could remain part of the EU. Supporters cite London's status as a "[[world city]]" and its demographic and economic differences from the rest of the United Kingdom, and argue that it should become a city-state based on the model of [[Singapore]], while remaining an EU member state.<ref>{{
[[Spencer Livermore]] of the Labour Party said that London's independence "should be a goal", arguing that a London city-state would have twice the GDP of Singapore.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/eu-referendum-london-independence_uk_576d4c57e4b0d257114993a2|title=London Independence Goes Beyond A Twitter Joke With Politicians Seriously Discussing It|date=24 June 2016}}</ref> Journalist [[Tony Travers]] argued that Khan would be "well within his rights to tell the government London didn't vote for Brexit and that City Hall now viewed the government as dysfunctional." Analyst Kevin Doran said that London becoming an independent state is not just possible, but inevitable "within 20 to 30 years' time."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theweek.co.uk/73896/london-independence-could-the-capital-break-away-from-the-uk|title=London independence: Could the capital break away from the UK?|publisher=}}</ref>
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After the EU referendum vote, Peter John, the Labour Party leader of the [[London Borough of Southwark]] stated it would be a "legitimate question" for London to consider its future in the United Kingdom and the European Union. Southwark had voted 72% in favour of remaining in the EU. John also said "London would be the 15th largest EU state, bigger than Austria, Denmark and Ireland and our values are in line with Europe – outward looking, confident of our place in the world, enriched by our diversity and stronger working together with our friends and neighbours than we are alone."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/southwark-council-leader-backs-calls-london-consider-independence-uk-eu-referendum-result/|title=Southwark Council Leader backs calls for London to consider independence from UK after EU Referendum result|author=Alex Yeates|date=24 June 2016 | newspaper=[[Southwark News]] |accessdate=26 June 2016}}</ref>
In June 2019, a 'Londependence' party was formally approved by the UK [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PP9095|title=Londependence registration details|publisher=The Electoral Commission|accessdate=23 June 2019}}.</ref><ref>{{
==Public opinion==
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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 |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a97a4f1c-0a8b-11e3-aeab-00144feabdc0 |title=Could London ever be a city-state? |last=Groom |first=Brian |date=26 August 2013 |publisher=Financial Times |access-date=31 March 2017 |quote=This is, of course, fantasy. Unlike Scotland, London has no separatist movement.}}</ref>
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 without permission it would not be able to join the UN.<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}}</ref>
==See also==
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