Now Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed another independence referendum is on the cards, Brexit Britain may shrink even further. But its people have seen the news as a golden opportunity. And they’ve been working on it all night.
Change is coming
Prior to Sturgeon’s announcement, a national election in Northern Ireland saw shock gains for republican party Sinn Féin. Those gains mean unionist parties no longer have the numbers to veto legislation. And it makes a Northern Ireland independence referendum more likely.
Following these events, writer Will Black tweeted:
#SuggestANewNameForTheUK as it can't be called 'United' if Scotland or Northern Ireland leave.
I'll start: "Fucked McFuckface"#indyref2
— Will Black 🍓🍄🚀 (@WillBlackWriter) March 13, 2017
And as Sinn Féin called for a Northern Ireland independence referendum and Leanne Wood said Wales should have an independence debate, this search for a new British identity spiralled quickly. One suggested sticking with Black’s theme, with a slight variation:
#SuggestANewNameForTheUK
Please, please let it be.
LeavyMcLeaveFace pic.twitter.com/vsq4VBeS9o— Peace, Love & Sour Power (@alanknox) March 13, 2017
A name that’s been floating around for a few months aptly resurfaced, too:
What #Brexit voters will get is nothing like what they voted for. No access to single market, no £350m/wk for NHS etc. #BrexitMcBrexitface
— Marcus Chown (@marcuschown) March 13, 2017
Other name-makers chose different angles:
The Island of Regrexit #SuggestANewNameForTheUK pic.twitter.com/UaGwR5Ed4q
— FrazzleDazzle (@laurendarkes) March 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/hussain_nassif/status/841373991633866752
https://twitter.com/markmcan/status/841270507802644480
Some suggestions, meanwhile, targeted the Tory government for its role in the UK’s demise:
Torygeddon
— Will Black 🍓🍄🚀 (@WillBlackWriter) March 13, 2017
Cameron's Folly #SuggestANewNameForTheUK
— Disappointed Optimist (@disappoptimism) March 13, 2017
#SuggestANewNameForTheUk Land of Dope and Tory
— Rapunsal Dowl (@Pdixie81) March 13, 2017
There was, however, one idea that people repeatedly offered up, in various forms:
Free United Crown Kingdom of England and Dominions.
Or FUCKED for short. #SuggestANewNameForTheUK— Tom Pride (@ThomasPride) March 13, 2017
#suggestanewnamefortheuk
I favour "Formerly United Kingdom" not only because of FUK …
but also UKIP would have to have to become FUKIP.— Geoffrey M Hodgson #FBPA 🔶 (@g_m_hodgson) March 13, 2017
#suggestanewnamefortheuk
I suggest:
Formerly United Kingdom – England & Wales
FUK – EW
Sums up sentiment of some compatriots. pic.twitter.com/ePuhVh2RNe— Geoffrey M Hodgson #FBPA 🔶 (@g_m_hodgson) March 14, 2017
Black claimed his initiative led some to call him unpatriotic. But most commentators seemed to welcome it, as the humour of the hunt provided some much-needed light relief:
Humour is our survival therapy in this Mess!
— chrissie harper (@chrissiew4) March 13, 2017
Stranger things
There is, of course, no guarantee that the Conservative government will adopt any of these names. Even if much of the country gets behind one of them. The majority of people in the UK don’t want the Tories to privatise the NHS or negotiate a Brexit that’s damaging to citizens’ lives. But the Conservative government is steaming ahead with both of those things.
Nonetheless, we can never say never. Especially when Boaty McBoatface is alive and well. Granted, the Science Ministry didn’t bestow the name to the ship the public voted for. Instead, it called that the David Attenborough. But that ship is now accompanied by the Boaty McBoatface submarine. So we achieved a small victory after all.
And small victories are all we need, right? Given the tiny size Leavy McLeaveface is about to obtain.
Get Involved
– You too can #SuggestANewNameForTheUK.
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Featured image via Garry Knight/Flickr
