BOF after 2014?

[Clive Coles]

Well of course Britain is an island ~ it's not a country. BOF should really be UKOF if it seeks to represent the whole of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the sovereign state in north-west Europe.

I suppose should the Scots say yes to independence the UK will just reclassify itself as the United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Prior to Irish independence the sovereign state was defined as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The advantage of having a name such as the United Kingdom is that you don't need to change the name when ever parts detach themselves from the whole.

Rather like UKOF ~ has a certain ring about it which i am sure the Scots will like.

[Gross]

Rather like UKOF ~ has a certain ring about it which i am sure the Scots will like.

UK & France could form one Federation?

[graeme]

As far as I know, Scotland has no intention of undoing the Union of the Crowns, so its not clear why you think we'd leave the United Kingdom.

As for Northern Ireland, I think you'll find their best athletes run for IRL at WOC, not GBR. And China gets still gets its two teams, CHN and HKG.

[madmike]

As for Northern Ireland, I think you'll find their best athletes run for IRL at WOC, not GBR.

Methinks a bit of a red kipper my dear fellow - running for IRL is probably down to the fact they can make the Irish Team but would not make the UK/GBR team - with the greatest of respect to them.

[graeme]

running for England&Wales will probably be down to the fact they can make the England&Wales Team but would not make the Scotland team - with the greatest of respect to them.

[madmike]

running for England&Wales will probably be down to the fact they can make the England&Wales Team but would not make the Scotland team - with the greatest of respect to them.

Hmm I had not thought about it that way; however, I suppose if you count MacNixon, MacGristwood, MacSpeake, MacStreet, MacJones theOrienteer, MacTaylor, MacRollins, MacHill and MacPalmer as Scottish then you would be right

[Tatty]

Mharky is part Scottish! My name isn't Baird for nothing.

[Clive Coles]

Interesting point :

As far as I know, Scotland has no intention of undoing the Union of the Crowns, so its not clear why you think we'd leave the United Kingdom.

I would have thought that if a state redraws it's borders as a result of one part opting to become another separate country the Union as currently defined is split. It is logical therefore to assume that the United Kingdom will be redefined and the new state will decide for itself who their Head of State will be. There is a precedent for this. This occurred when Ireland split with the old United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. They made the choice to become a Republic with an elected Irish President.

There is nothing to stop Scotland deciding to keep a Monarchy ~ our current Queen is Queen of a number of Commonwealth nations.

Could be interesting if baby Wales turns out to be a boy named James. He will need a split personality ~ James 3rd in what's left of the UK and James 7th in Scotland

[Clive Coles]

Yes Gross ~ even better

UK & France could form one Federation?

[Oldman]

Could be interesting if baby Wales turns out to be a boy named James. He will need a split personality ~ James 3rd in what's left of the UK and James 7th in Scotland

I am getting on and school history was a long time ago, but I think he would be James VIII in Scotland

[greywolf]

This occurred when Ireland split with the old United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. They made the choice to become a Republic with an elected Irish President.

took them 27 years though: independence in 1922 (3 years after the republic was declared), first President in 1938 but Irish monarchy not abolished til 1949...

[madmike]

Mharky is part Scottish! My name isn't Baird for nothing.

I know Tatty but it is part of the deal they keep most the oil andwe get Mharky back!

[graeme]

Union of the crowns - 1603
A hundred+ years of united kingdoms

Union of the parliaments - 1707
A hundred- years of "Great Britain"

Act of Union Britain and Ireland 1801
A hundred+ years of 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland'

Irish Free state 1922
A hundred- years of 'United Kingdom of GB & NI'

Extradition of mharky the wee Baird bairn 2015

He will need a split personality

Just like the current Queen Elizabeth of Scots (Elizabeth 2nd of England.)

[JK]

Would we still use UK for Ununited Kingdom of ...

I am not an O-politician, but

• Does the IOF not prefer us to be called GBR rather than UK to avoid the "and NI" part? I am sure I heard that somewhere (or was that the IOC)
• Looks like IOF have pre-empted the vote by providing a new flag for GBR, what do you reckon? http://news.sfu-kras.ru/files/ski-orienteering.pdf

[JK]

Well of course Britain is an island ~ it's not a country.

Actually it is GB that is the name for the largest island of the British Isles, as well as the old political name for the Union before Ireland got involved, ... and a nickname for UK. And why is it "Great"? I think that was to distinguish it from Petit Bretagne or something like that.

All nicely explained in this picture (IoM standing out proudly independent, yet "Dependent")
http://www.bsswebsite.me.uk/A%20Short%2 ... iagram.gif

There is another nice Venn diagram for how some of these fit into the EU (IoM nicely excluded of course):
http://www.cgpgrey.com/blog/the-united- ... agram.html