United Kingdom divided 2008

Origins
On 14th April 2008, the United Kingdom was in trouble. The enonomy had worsened to the point that the FTSE in Central London controlling the stock market had collapsed. On April 16th, the Government withdrew the UK Armed Forces from Iraq to cut the budget of maintaining the UK Forces there. Prime Minister Gordon Brown then informed the US government that the UK was also leaving Afghanistan. By 1st May they had totally withdrawn from Afghanistan. 4 days later, a deadly car bomb exploded in Central London killing 140 people and destroying part of Canary Wharf.

The UK unravels
On 12th May, without warning, Wales and Northern Ireland declared its independence from the UK. Scotland also stated its independence from the United Kingdom but faced a rockier ride.

Scotland splits
2 days later on May 14th, rebels in the northwest of Scotland declared the formation of the "Republic Of Highland and Skye". The Shetland and Orkney Islands also declared its independence as the "Shetland and Orkney Republic" with Andy Makham, a prominent Shetland farmer as its leader and its capital at Lerwick in Shetland. The Scottish Government collapsed as these declarations were made.

On May 15th in Glasgow, rebels seized the Scottish parliament and proclaimed the "Kingdom of Grampian and Ayrshire under the ex First Minister of Scotland and Head of the Scottish National Party Alex Salmond. Later that day, the "Republic of Lothian and Fife" under Jack Brady an ex Scottish Labour Party politican was formed in its designated capital Edinburgh. This new country was the most powerful as it had seized the main Royal Navy bases and Royal Air Force base at Lossiemouth along with its latest Aircraft. However the country could not use them until they had the money to fund their use.

These countries kept the technology left over from the former Scotland but the upheaval forced change especially the old Scottish Rail Network which was now cut by the new borders. The new governments just took their areas of track over and began to use them to ferry their new armies to new frontier posts ready for the predicted battle to come. Civilian populations in these areas had to conform to new laws set by their new governments.

England falls
As these events were happening, the counties in England began to stir. By May 20th, England was startiing to fall apart. By June 1st the remaining British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force units had shut down. They waited to be taken over by new governments and absorbed into the expected new armies.

Timeline Of Declarations Of Independence
21st May - Republic Of London established as all boroughs of London are formed into a country. Capital is established in Central London with Ministers in Houses of Parliament making Gordon Brown President.

22nd May - Cornwall and Devon declare independence as the Federation Of Devon and Cornwall. Capital is established at Plymouth with local politician Carl Brown as President.

23rd May - Lancashire, Yorkshire, Shropshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire and Lincolnshire declared their independence as the Midland and Yorkshire Republic with its capital in Manchester. William Pope, a local mayor was made President.

24th May - East Anglia declared the formation of the Anglian Republic with its capital in Norwich. Its leader Nigel Crowe, a high ranking Norwich politican declared the waters between the Midland and Yorkshire Republic and the Anglian Republic a no go area.

25th May - Republic of Somerset and Dorset proclaimed in Weymouth. David Mills sworn in as President.

26th May - Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire form the Fens Republic with its Capital at Peterborough. Frank Dawes was sworn in as President.

27th May - Northumberland and Cumbria form the Tyneside Republic with its Capital at Newcastle. Newcastle Politican Gary Richardson was sworn in as President.

28th May - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire,Hampshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire form the Thames and Chiltern Republic with its capital at Reading. Tom Grey was sworn in as President.

29th May - Sussex and Kent create the South Downs Republic with its capital at Brighton. Steven King was sworn in as President.

Independent Countries after 1st June
(In ex Scottish Territory)

Republic Of Highland and Skye  Leader - President Mike Greig Capital -Mallaig Shetland and Orkney Republic   Leader - President Andy Makham Capital - Lerwick, Shetland Kingdom of Grampian and Ayrshire Leader - President Alex Salmond Capital - Glasgow Republic of Lothian and Fife  Leader - President Jack Brady Capital - Edinburgh

(In ex-English Territory)

Republic Of London Leader - President Gordon Brown. Capital - Central London Federation Of Devon and Cornwall Leader - President Carl Brown. Capital - Plymouth Midland and Yorkshire Republic  Leader - President William Pope. Capital - Manchester Anglian Republic Leader - Nigel Crowe. Capital - Norwich Republic of Somerset and Dorset Leader - President David Mills. Capital - Weymouth Fens Republic Leader - President Frank Dawes. Capital - Peterborough Tyneside Republic Leader - President Gary Richardson. Capital - Newcastle Thames and Chiltern Republic Leader - President Tom Grey. Capital - Reading South Downs Republic Leader - Steven King. Capital - Brighton