Julian Cope presents Head Heritage

Every third year there is an ECOC from an EFTA/EEA country, a candidate country or a potential candidate to EU membership. It uses the same criteria with a few administrative differences (call and rules of procedure issued by the European Commission and designation by the European Commission).

I sort of feel angry rather than depressed about this. Geographically the British Isles are part of Europe and it feels a bit 'dog in the manger' on behalf of the EU to do this. I particularly feel for Northern Ireland (actually Ireland as a whole) and Scotland as both countries must feel more and more on the edge of everything. What to do?

Angry? Because the UK has to follow the rules?

The Guidelines for the European Capital of Culture are very clear. They are down in black and white, and Britain helped draft them. But you feel Britain merits an exemption?

Why exactly?


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So by the rules of the system, 2023 has been set aside for an EU member (which Britain has chosen to no longer be in 2023).

It could apply as a non-EU member for one of the "1 in 3" years; except those slots are only open to EFTA/EEA members, or those applying to be EU members. There is every chance, based on the current statements of your own government, that the UK will no longer fulfil any of those criteria in a couple of years.

But still you're angry about EU "dog in a manger" attitudes? I just don't get it. Why do you feel you can leave a community and then feel aggrieved when you no longer have access to the benefits of that community? Or feel angry when the community fails to make special exemptions to its own rules for your benefit?

Brexit has resulted in some odd attitudes in the UK.

Scotland voted to stay, as did NI, surely they have to treated differently.

Unfortunately not.

The whole thing is a clusterfuck.

Legally, the EU can't treat Scotland and Northern Ireland differently, and you know that. Leastways not without the consent of Westminster.

What's more -- it shouldn't be able to! I like the EU and I'm a proud European citizen, but I don't think the EU should be able to reassign territories from one nation state to another. Down that road lies madness.

So no; Scotland and NI cannot be treated differently even though many of us (me included) think it would be better, in this instance, if they were. The general principle is more important.

To be blunt, Brexit has made me furious. And more so every day when I see the bumbling incompetence and outright contempt for peace and stability in my country being displayed by British politicians.

The EU has already proposed a special exemption for Northern Ireland; allowing it to remain in the Customs Union and even the Single Market. This has been roundly rejected by the UK government and their DUP partners.

Any "different treatment" has to happen with the consent of London, and London won't give it.

So Britain ignores Scotland. Fantastic! Time to bring SNP MPs home I think.

My Scottish friends are all pro-Independence and so, by proxy, am I. However, I'm also of the opinion that Brexit has made the whole issue *way* more complicated. If Scotland had voted 'yes' in the Independence Referendum I don't believe a hard brexit, entailing an exit from the Customs Union, would have even been on the table. Just couldn't have happened.

But we are where we are. I personally feel the effects of Brexit, if it happens and if it's even remotely "hard", will be keenly -- and badly -- felt in Scotland and Northern Ireland (as well as everywhere else of course).

I think it has the potential; if Pro-Independence parties in Scotland and/or Republican parties in NI, play a blinder; to spark regional referenda within the next 5 years.

Whether the people of NI will vote for a united Ireland; or whether the Scottish people will vote for independence (and the potential for "border problems" of their own by then); is a whole other matter. But Brexit definitely lays the groundwork for further political upheaval.

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NOTE: edited for spelling and clarity.

I think it has the potential; if Pro-Independence parties in Scotland and/or Republican parties in NI, play a blinder; to spark regional referenda within the next 5 years.

It all looks like it's ripe for a break up of UK but that particular horse left the stable the night of the referendum. All the stuff about "get over it", "the people have spoken" is never going to be heeded.