By April 2008, it was clear the economic crises that had swept the globe were about to take its toll on the 300 year old United Kingdom of Great Britain. The drops in the nation's stock exchange, the FTSE 100 in the City of London and a collapse in consumer confidence had caused the economy to stall. On April 16, the Government committed to withdrawing the UK's armed forces from Iraq in an attempt to cut the budget deficit. However, the ongoing campaign but Coalition forces in Afghanistan continued apace, largely ignored by the media in light of the recent withdrawal from Iraq. Demands for elections increased significantly in the run-up to May, the traditional time of year for local and national elections. However, the Prime Minister prevaricated leading the resignation of the Chancellor for the exchequer Alistair Darling and the promotion of Defense Secretary John Hutton to the post. Prime Minister Gordon Brown then informed the US government that the UK was also leaving Afghanistan. By 1 August UK forces had totally withdrawn from Afghanistan, but not in time to avert an Al-Qaeda orchestrated car bomb attack four days later. The deadly car bomb exploded in Central London killing 140 people and destroying part of a Canary Wharf complex. This event, and the seeming inability of intelligence services to prevent the attack led to mass unrest amongst the population, and signaled the beginning of the disintegration of the British state.
The UK unravels[]
On 12 May, without warning, Wales and Northern Ireland declared their independence from the UK. Scotland also stated its independence from the United Kingdom but faced a rockier ride.
Scotland splits[]
Two days later on May 14, rebels in the northwest of Scotland declared the formation of the "Republic of the Highlands and Hebrides".
Flag of the Republic of the Highlands and Hebrides
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.
Flag of Shetland and the Orkneys
The Scottish Government collapsed as these declarations were made.
On May 15 in Edinburgh, rebels seized the Scottish parliament and proclaimed the "Kingdom of Grampian and Southern Uplands under the ex-First Minister of Scotland and Head of the Scottish National Party Alex Salmond. 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 20, England was starting to fall apart. By June 1 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[]
21 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.
22 May - Isles of Scilly announce their independence as the Isles of Scilly Republic with its capital at Hugh Town. Larry Hughes was sworn in as President.
23 May - Lancashire, Yorkshire, Shropshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Lincolnshire and Herfordshire declared their independence as the Midland and Yorkshire Republic with its capital in Liverpool. William Pope, a local mayor was made President.
24 May - East Anglia declared the formation of the Anglian Republic with its capital in Norwich. Its leader Nigel Crowe, a high ranking Norwich politician declared the waters between the Midland and Yorkshire Republic and the Anglian Republic a no go area.
25 May - Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Sussex, Surrey and Kent form the Southern Republic with its capital at Plymouth. David Mills sworn in as President.
26 May - Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire form the Fens Republic with its Capital at Peterborough. Frank Dawes was sworn in as President.
27 May - Northumberland, Durham and Cumbria form the Northumbrian Republic with its Capital at Newcastle. Newcastle Politician Gary Richardson was sworn in as President.
28 May - Gibraltar declares its independence as the Republic Of Gibraltar.
29 May - Isle Of Man declares its independence as the Isle of Man Republic with its capital at Douglas. Mary White became President.
30 May - Channel Islands form the Federation of the Channel Islands with its capital at St Helier on Jersey. Harry Jones sworn in as President.
31 May - The Falkland Islands, South Georgia, South Orkney Islands, the South Shetland Islands and the South Sandwich Islands declare the formation of the Republic Of Scotia. The capital is established at Port Stanley and David Cike sworn in as President.
1 June - Argentina decides to formally recognize the Republic Of Scotia and drop its claim to the islands because of the country's big military strength for a small country. Ascension Island and St Helena are handed over to the US government as military bases with payments for the occupation of the islands heading to the Republic Of London which hold the remaining UK territory. Also St Helena controlled islands of Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island was also handed over to the US. The British Indian Ocean Territory was also handed over to the US and put under US/India joint administration.
Independent Countries after 1st June[]
(In ex Scottish Territory)
Republic Of Highland and the Hebrides Leader - President Mike Greig. Capital - Mallaig
Shetland and Orkney Republic Leader - President Andy Makham. Capital - Lerwick, Shetland
Republic of Grampian and Southern Uplands Leader - President Jack Brady. Capital - Edinburgh
(In ex-English Territory)
Republic Of London Leader - President Gordon Brown. Capital - Central London
Midland and Yorkshire Republic Leader - President William Pope. Capital - Liverpool
Anglian Republic Leader - President Nigel Crowe. Capital - Norwich
Fens Republic Leader - President Frank Dawes. Capital - Peterborough
Northumbrian Republic Leader - President Gary Richardson. Capital - Newcastle
Southern Republic Leader - President David Mills. Capital - Plymouth
Federation of the Channel Islands Leader - President Barry Hill. Capital - St Helier, Jersey
Isles of Scilly Republic Leader - President Larry Hughes. Capital - Hugh Town
Isle of Man Republic Leader - President Mary White. Capital - Douglas
Republic Of Scotia Leader - President David Cike. Capital - Port Stanley
Other Independent Countries unaffected[]
Republic of Wales Leader - President Simon Jones. Capital - Cardiff
Northern Ireland Republic Leader - President Gary Keating. Capital - Belfast
Countries consolidate territory[]
On 2 June, the newly independent countries started to establish independent economies. Military preparations started in all the countries to counter any threat from attack. But it increased tension to a point where each country was suspicious of another. To cut down the cost of maintaining them, all of the countries armies had dropped the now ex British Army weapons for cheaper alternatives as their economies couldn't afford the cost of production. Some had kept them but reduced their numbers. The countries all retained the same Pound Stirling currency to keep trading between each country simple.
Warnings of War[]
For military strenghs see this article
By July 4, the tension settled for now as the respective militaries patrolled their borders. Covert weapon shipments came into each country from Russia, China and the US plus several other countries with each government determined to be the strongest country. On July 5, the Anglian Republic President Nigel Crowe declared the water between the Anglian Republic and the Midland and Yorkshire Republic "now a De-militarised Zone". On that same day, the Fens Republic President Frank Dawes declared his country's neutrality in the situation. Meanwhile in Great Yarmouth, boats were being readied for a seaborne attack on the Yorkshire Republic. The Southern Republic Army watched across the Thames Estuary as boats full of Anglian soldiers and equipment began to sail north for the attack.
The Anglian War breaks out[]
At 3am on July 7, Anglian artillery opened up along the south area of the water between the Anglian Republic and the Midland and Yorkshire Republic. Immediately, two divisions numbering 10,000 soldiers landed between Gibraltar Point and the mouth of the Welland River. Heavy fighting erupted all along the coast but the better trained Anglian Republic Soldiers broke through and secured Skegness and Boston the following morning. However, the Midland and Yorkshire Republic Army checked then held the advance. A counterattack by 21,000 soldiers, over double the invasion force threw them back towards the sea. The Anglian Army fell back in panic abandoning most of its landed trucks and defensive positions. Skegness was liberated on July 9 and Boston on July 10. By the morning of July 11 it was over. The Anglian Republic had been totally defeated with 4000 of the 10,000 invasion force being killed or captured.
Anglian treaty[]
The Anglian Republic's misery didn't end there. Two days later, the Midland and Yorkshire Republic imposed the following terms on its defeated opponent:
1. The Anglian Republic will lose the right to use the strip of water between our countries and no Anglian Shipping will be forbidden to go west of Gibraltar Point.
2. Reparations of 400,000 Pounds to be paid to the Midland and Yorkshire Republic as compensation for damage caused during the Anglian attack.
3. Anglia must not purchase weapons for one year and must adopt a peacetime structure. Any violation will mean a total blockade of the country.
President Nigel Crowe was humiliated. He had taken a gamble and lost the battle. He knew that it would be a long time before he would have his revenge, though.
Tension in the Northwest[]
Tensions between the Republic Of Highland and the Hebrides Republic and the Republic of Grampian and Southern Uplands had been building since their creation. The Highland and the Hebrides Army had high capacity military installations on the Island Of Mull which made the Republic of Grampian and Southern Uplands President Jack Brady demand that the Highland and the Hebrides President Mike Greig scale down the fortifications to guarantee the Republic of Grampian and Southern Uplands its security. He refused.
On 4 August, the Republic of Grampian and Southern Uplands Army spotted movement on the Island of Mull area where high concentration of Highland and the Hebrides Army divisions had massed. However on August 5, President Mike Greig backed down. A standoff ensued to see which country would attack first. Other countries started negotiations to diffuse the situation. However, the Grampian and Southern Uplands Army began to mass along its western border at the Caledonian Canal. Diplomatic overtures started coming from the Northumbrian Republic in an attempt at diffusing the crisis. President Gary Richardson sent President Jack Brady a letter asking for him to back down. He refused.
On 7 August, President Richardson sent a letter to the Midland and Yorkshire Republic President William Pope to ask for help. President William Pope stated his country's neutrality in the matter and refused to help. President Richardson then sent a letter on August 8 to the Republic of Northern Ireland President Gary Keating. He also refused, wanting no part of the expected war. Time ran out.
War in the Northwest[]
At 3am on August 10, Grampian and Southern Uplands Army artillery opened up along its western border onto Highland and the Hebrides Army defensive positions. The defensive positions were hit severely but the soldiers stayed in their positions waiting for the main attack. At 3:15am, 3000 Grampian and Southern Uplands Soldiers supported by T-90 MBTs, BMP-3 Infantry Combat Vehicles and BTR-80 APCs moved to secure the five bridges across the border. Progress was light as Highland and the Hebrides Army brought up M1A2 Abrams MBTs to counter the attacking forces which stopped the advance around two miles inland along the border. A counterattack by 2000 Highland and Hebrides Army Soldiers and supporting M1A2 Abrams MBTs and Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles carrying heavily armed soldiers forced the Grampian and Southern Uplands Army to fall back into their homeland.
Northumbrian Republic attacks[]
On August 11 the Northumbrian Republic President Richardson, fearful that the war in the northwest would destabilise the region, decided to launch a surprise attack. At 6am on the morning of August 14, 18,000 Northumbrian Army Soldiers supported by 400 M60A3 MBTs and 260 M113A2 APCs attacked across the Grampian and Southern Uplands unprotected southern border and cautiously advanced towards Edinburgh. When 20 hours later the spearhead of the advance had reached Kilmarnock and Northumbrian 155mm shells started landing on targets inside the capital Edinburgh, the Grampian and Southern Uplands President Jack Brady immediately pleaded for a ceasefire. The Northumbrian advance was halted and the short campaign came to an end. Also he surrendered his forces to the Highland and the Hebrides Army advancing through the northeast of the country.
Treaty of Kilmarnock[]
The "Treaty of Kilmarnock" was signed on August 17 with the following restrictions placed on the Republic of Grampian and Southern Uplands:
Clause 1: The Grampian and Southern Uplands Army is forbidden to deploy forces along its western and northeastern borders.
Clause 2: To give up claims to Lismore Island, Colonsay, Olonsay, Jura, Islay and Gingha Island. The Borders region is to be demilitarised and occupied by the Northumbrian Republic for two years and the Solway Firth closed to any Grampian and Southern Uplands military and civilian shipping except the Northumbrian Republic for also two years.
Clause 3: Compensation of £3,000,000 is to be given to the Republic of Highland and the Hebrides in one payment.
Clause 4: The Republic of Grampian and Southern Uplands cannot purchase any more weapons for one year and is bound to a non-aggression pact with the Republic of Highland and the Hebrides until it is seen that both countries can co-exist peacefully with one another.
Clause 5: This treaty come into effect on August 20 when all foreign forces have withdrawn from the Republic Of Grampian except the Borders region and will expire in two years time on August 20, 2010.
The first Northern War was over.
President Jack Brady sat in the Grampian and Southern Uplands Capital Edinburgh a broken man. He had a dream of uniting the main part of the old Scotland under his rule. He had failed and had paid the price. Many military bases and outposts had been lost. Foreign bases was going up in the Borders region in the south and the islands that would provide the springboard for an attack in the northwest had been lost. He was too weak to defy the treaty at the moment, but it forbade him to buy new weapons from his Russian backers. He just had to buy his time and wait.
Southern Republic-US Treaty[]
On October 14, 2008, negotiations began between the Southern Republic President David Mills and the soon outgoing United States President George W Bush had formed the basis of a Southern Republic-US agreement. The meeting took place at the Presidential House in the Southern Republic Capital Bristol. Subjects mentioned during the four-day summit was the Southern Republic economy, defense, current and future relations, and also about the recent Anglian and Northwest conflicts. On October 18, the Southern Republic-US Treaty was signed by President David Mills and President George W Bush. The following clauses were included in the treaty:
Clause 1a: The United States of America will support the Southern Republic in building up its economy with guarantees of US interest in its products.
Clause 1b: The Southern Republic will receive machinery for its factories and will also receive material to build new factories to build up an economy on par with the United States.
Clause 2a: The United States Armed Forces will support the Southern Republic militarily in conflict and will establish military bases where US personnel will be on hand to help train new recruits and also deter any foreign threat.
Clause 2b: The United States will provide military equipment to arm the Southern Republic Army with the latest technology and weapons to defend itself with.
Clause 3: The United States and the Southern Republic have also agreed on the exchange of food imports for oil shipments and US food imports.
Footnote: This treaty takes into effect on October 15, 2008.
War of the Coasts[]
The Midland and Yorkshire Republic President William Pope had been jealous when the Northumbrian Republic President Gary Richardson had defeated the Republic of Grampian and Southern Uplands. He was also jealous that he Northumbrian Republic had a good powerbase in the region even though it was smaller than the Midland and Yorkshire Republic Army. He wanted to possess all of Morecombe Bay and also gain land from the Fens Republic. However he decided that the Northumbrian Republic would be first of his targets. Preparations were made for a surprise attack but were somehow compromised by Southern Republic agents planted in their military. The plans were leaked to the public which forced the US to put pressure on President William Pope to halt his plans. He responded by pushing his timetable forward and setting the deadline of the attack to October 21.
At 5am on October 21, a green flare shot into the dawn sky. Immediately afterward, a large scale artillery barrage opened up along the whole Northumbrian Republic's southern border along the Tees River. 12,000 Midland and Yorkshire Army Soldiers supported by 3000 M60A3 MBTs and 5000 M113A3 APCs and 7000 Humvee Armored Vehicles crossed the border and headed north.
Hearing this in Plymouth, the Southern Republic President David Mills with full US support, decided to attack from the south to help the Northumbrian Republic. At 1pm, 12 hours after the start of the Midland and Yorkshire Republic Invasion, the Southern Republic Army unleashed 80,000 Soldiers, 600 Challenger 2 MBTs, 400 M1A2 Abrams MBTs, 300 Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles, 200 M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, 170 M901 Improved TOW Vehicles and 3000 Humvee Armored Vehicles across the Midland and Yorkshire Republic's northern border. Supported by 60 M110 203mm Self Propelled Guns, 150 155mm AS90 Self Propelled Guns and 300 105mm Light Guns, the attack broke through easily and charged towards Birmingham with no signs of stopping. The Midland and Yorkshire Republic Army in the south, totally outnumbered in both soldiers and equipment fell back towards the River Trent where defensive positions where placed. But US bombing behind their lines destroyed reinforcements moving up to the front.
On October 22, the Southern Republic Navy, made up from mostly ex-Royal Navy Warships, Submarines, Aircraft Carriers and Support Vessels made an appearance off Morecambe and began a heavy sea and air barrage of the town, and Midland and Yorkshire Republic shipping around the town was sunk and the town severely damaged. The Southern Air Force also made an appearance with Typhoon Eurofighters and Harrier GR7s dropped bombs on the bridges along the River Trent, cutting off with 10,000 soldiers left to their fate. Birmingham and Wolverhampton fell on October 23 with the Fens Republic entering the war on the same day launching an offensive against the Midland and Yorkshire Republic with the intention of securing Lincolnshire.
The Anglian Republic without warning declared war on the Fens Republic and attacked the Fens Army defenses along the Great Ouse river. However the strong defenses stopped countless attacks by Anglian T-80 MBTs which incurred heavy losses on both sides. The Fens Republic finally took Grimsby on October 24 and totally occupied Lincolnshire. In the west, the Southern Republic had halted at the River Trent after advancing for three days and the need for resupply. In the north, the Tyneside Republic had halted then reversed the front and had taken Hartlepool and Morecambe. The Midland and Yorkshire Republic was now being squeezed. But President Pope was not going to surrender, even though his army and even his country could disappear. Rioting had flared in the Midland and Yorkshire Republic Capital Liverpool and desertions in the Midland and Yorkshire Army were rife.
On October 25, the Northumbrian Army began "Operation Lightning" against the Midland and Yorkshire Army north of Leeds. On October 26, President William Pope was ousted from office and replaced by his Vice President, Kevin Harris. He ordered that the Midland and Yorkshire Army hold firm. On October 27, the Southern Army opened "Operation Claymore" aimed at capturing the Midland and Yorkshire Capital Liverpool. The day after, with fighting raging around Liverpool, the Midland and Yorkshire government surrendered surrounded by the Northumbrian Army in the north and the Southern Army in the south. Kevin Harris resigned the same day, a broken man. The Anglian front had collapsed as the Fens Army swept through East Anglia capturing the Anglian Republic Capital, Norwich on October 29.
The territory was kept the same but an obscure politician called Harriet Williams was installed as President. No territorial restrictions were placed on the Midland and Yorkshire Republic or the Anglian Republic but a treaty was signed preventing them from being aggressive in the region.
Independent Countries after 31st October[]
In ex Scottish Territory)
Republic Of Highland and the Hebrides Leader - President Mike Greig. Capital - Mallaig
Shetland and Orkney Republic Leader - President Andy Makham. Capital - Lerwick, Shetland
Republic of Grampian and Southern Uplands Leader - President Jack Brady. Capital - Glasgow
(In ex-English Territory)
Republic Of London Leader - President Gordon Brown. Capital - Central London
Midland and Yorkshire Republic Leader - President Harriet Williams. Capital - Liverpool
Anglian Republic Leader - President Nigel Crowe. Capital - Norwich
Fens Republic Leader - President Frank Dawes. Capital - Peterborough
Northumbrian Republic Leader - President Gary Richardson. Capital - Newcastle
Southern Republic Leader - President David Mills. Capital - Plymouth
Federation of the Channel Islands Leader - President Barry Hill. Capital - St Helier, Jersey
Isles of Scilly Republic Leader - President Larry Hughes. Capital - Hugh Town
Isle of Man Republic Leader - President Mary White. Capital - Douglas
Republic Of Scotia Leader - President David Cike. Capital - Port Stanley