Boris Johnson loses Commons majority as Tory MP defects

Politico ^ | 9/3/19

[Cronos]

With regards to the UK, it was made explicitly clear that they were leaving a purely trade union to join a political union.

Even in the 1970s, the distinction between the European Free Trade Agency (EFTA) and the European Economic Community (EEC) was clear: the former grouping of states was made up of those countries which did not want to become members of the EEC and its affiliated agencies, created on an explicitly supranational basis. The idea of a “Common Market”, for instance, involved a necessary degree of national governments acquiescing to supranational authorities’ dictates. Many of the other core elements of the modern European Union, first instance the European Parliament, had already existed for a while by the time the UK join. The term “ever-closer union” even featured prominently in the preamble to the Treaty of Rome that created the EEC!

UK joined the EEC in 1973 and “the four freedoms” were fundamental even then.

Freedom of movement of goods
Freedom of movement of People
Freedom of services
Freedom of capital

When the Brits joined, it didn’t matter - rather it was to their advantage - they got to go to the continent freely.

This was eminently clear in everything the EEC said and did.

The EU is a confederation - not a federal union

[Ohioan]

I think you are confusing ideology with circumstances based upon political institutions, about which there are the residue effects of the interactions of diverse nations. For example, All of Ulster is not contained in “Northern Ireland.

Moreover, there is some historic ethnic confusion about who should be attributed to which nation, as between back & forth migrations between the Scottish Highlands & Ulster. Also, between the personnel of the nations involved & current residences. Think of the concept of "Mary Queen of Scots", which recognized the fact that her subjects were scattered over Europe, often as mercenaries defending the political institutions of other nations.

[Cronos]

I’m talking about your statement about borders between nations, so I guess that you are saying there ought to be a border between Scotland and England?

[Hieronymus]

Last I checked, no one had moved the Tweed, so there is a border. The question is whether it should be taken more seriously.

[Cronos]

or rather whether Scotland and Wales should be independent of England.

[Hieronymus]

Very good. And while I am likely more English than Scottish or Welsh, I think that the more independence the better for all concerned.

[free_life]

Cons hold 289 seats out of 650 according to

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Commons_of_the_United_Kingdom

https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/current-state-of-the-parties/

Party Seats
Conservative 289
Labour 247
Independent 35
Scottish National Party 35
Liberal Democrat 16
Democratic Unionist Party 10
Sinn Féin 7
The Independent Group for Change 5
Plaid Cymru 4
Green Party 1
Speaker 1
Total number of seats 650
Working Government Majority * 0

[free_life]

Cons 309, and DUP 10 - 319 seats

Opposition parties - 320 seats.

[Ohioan]

There is a border between Scotland & England. I do not believe it has changed over many centuries. Similarly, we have borders between Ohio & our neighbors. But the Ohio/Michigan border was changed to avoid an armed conflict in 1836 (the “Toledo war”).