Potential breakup of the United Kingdom (original) (raw)

The hypothetical break up of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland following departure of Scotland (and, to a lesser extent, of Northern Ireland) is mentioned in media and think tanks with regard to potential Scottish independence. The union of the Kingdom of Scotland and Kingdom of England into the Kingdom of Great Britain was formed in 1707. The union of the Kingdom of Great Britain with the Kingdom of Ireland was formed in 1801, to establish the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Most of Ireland left in 1922, whereupon the UK became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.