Special: The Last Days of The UK? GAVIN ESLER and NICK COHEN on Britain’s breakup

With Brexit opening a Pandora’s Box of irrational nationalism in England, and Scotland and Northern Ireland heading to the exit door, the break-up of the United Kingdom is no longer a weird fantasy but a real possibility. Nick Cohen talks to the writer, broadcaster and card-carrying Scot Gavin Esler about his new book How Britain Ends, and the forces that could pull Britain apart. Can the Union be saved? Would an independent Scotland really be welcomed into the EU? And is Britain in danger of becoming a failed state? 

“I’ve had people telling me ‘We English aren’t nationalistic – that’s why we’re BETTER than other people’…” – Gavin Esler

“The central role of British foreign policy since the Spanish Armada was to stop Europe uniting against us. And Brexit has achieved exactly that.” – Nick Cohen

“What would post-imperial Britain’s role be? It wouldn’t BE post-Imperial Britain. It would be England alone.” – Gavin Esler

“Brexit has led to the collapse of an English myth that we’re a tolerant, pragmatic people not given to wild ideas.” – Nick Cohen

“Thatcher said Northern Ireland was as British as Finchley. Under Boris Johnson, in customs terms it’s as British as France.” – Gavin Esler 

Presented by Nick Cohen. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices