Nativism and the disintegration of the UK

With the weakening of pro-integration parties, Ben Wellings warns that the continuation of the UK in its current form cannot be taken for granted

Stalking your editorial on the new political geography emerging in Britain (25 December) is the fear of disintegration. This is a political outcome that needs to be taken seriously. Despite the “British” rhetoric of the political class, and the profusion of union flags in highways and byways, the continuation of the United Kingdom in its current form cannot be taken for granted.

Twentieth-century history shows us that when plurinational polities collapse, they do so fast. Crucial conditions for the collapse of plurinational polities are the weakening of pro-integration parties, and the attitudes of political elites in the majority nation. Weakening support for Labour and the Conservatives anticipated in the May elections of 2026 could provide a hint that the centre may not hold.