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Continuity UK Government in the Orkneys or Shetlands

Bolt451

Sometimes things that are expensive...are worse
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This is based on an AH.com thread entitled "Taiwan your country".

In the event of a 1926 general strike leads to revolution or Kaiserreich/People's Flag type scenario. What are the chances of the UK Government withdrawing to one of the UK's islands and setting up a government there?

I had an idea of the Royal Navy regrouping at Scapa Flow and a government being established at Kirkwall and then the Scottish Islands becoming a Taiwan to Socialist Britain's PRC. How feasible is this? Or would the government just withdraw to Canada or somewhere similar? Would socialist Britain just capture the Islands?
 
Depends on the strength of socialists and their fleet. If the socialists have no navy, then the remnants of the monarchy’s government is going to establish garrisons. If a large section of the navy mutiny’s, then you’re probably going to get a mass retreat to Canada Kaiserreich style. Also depends on how ballsy the monarchists are, they might be wanting a decisive naval engagement to make sure the socialists don’t get any further.
 
The biggest problem here is size and resources. Even today the Orkneys and Shetlands have a combined population of less than 50,000, and until oil was found in 1978 the economy was mainly agricultural (and agriculture continues to be a big industry today). There isn't a way for the government of the UK in exile to build a strong economy or be able to maintain a military that could hold off the socialists (even if the Navy sides with the monarchists the socialists are going to be pretty quickly able to build a much larger fleet and army and simply overrun the area). As others have said Canada or Australia works a lot better.
 
One interesting thing about this scenario is what happens to the colonial empire? The colonists will probably be more favorable to the old government than to the socialists, since the latter's opposition to capitalism and imperialism undermines the colonists' position. Of course, the socialists could eventually decide that they're okay with imperialism as long as they're the ones doing it, but when we're in the initial stages and people are picking sides the colonists are going to want to stick with the guys they know will support them.

However, there aren't that many whites in the colonies. For example in 1921 there were less than 10,000 whites in Kenya of a population of 2.376 million, while in India there were 165,000 whites compared to a total population of 318 million. Given the power vacuum that a revolution creates white settlers are going to have a hard time holding the fort. This opens up a lot of colonies that could either become independent or be seized by other powers. Either way, there's probably going to be massive amounts of unrest.
 
One interesting thing about this scenario is what happens to the colonial empire? The colonists will probably be more favorable to the old government than to the socialists, since the latter's opposition to capitalism and imperialism undermines the colonists' position. Of course, the socialists could eventually decide that they're okay with imperialism as long as they're the ones doing it, but when we're in the initial stages and people are picking sides the colonists are going to want to stick with the guys they know will support them.

However, there aren't that many whites in the colonies. For example in 1921 there were less than 10,000 whites in Kenya of a population of 2.376 million, while in India there were 165,000 whites compared to a total population of 318 million. Given the power vacuum that a revolution creates white settlers are going to have a hard time holding the fort. This opens up a lot of colonies that could either become independent or be seized by other powers. Either way, there's probably going to be massive amounts of unrest.

I think this happens in Kaiserreich. Fairly sure they get gobbled up by other European Powers.

Or in Meadow's TL based on it. TBH I know the latter better than I do the former
 
I can see a situation where the Government-in-exile is based in Ottawa or whatever, but still has sovereign territory in the form of Orkney and Shetland. Due to practical considerations mentioned above they never formally move Parliament there so its not a Taiwan, but is sort of a hyper-militarised outpost, staffed by people from across the Empire/Commonwealth and possibly with the connivance of a non-socialist Great Power in Europe, be it a Cagoulard France or a Kontinued Kaiserreich or Russians On The Rhine But This Time They Are Trying To Make Us All Orthodox.
 
I can see a situation where the Government-in-exile is based in Ottawa or whatever, but still has sovereign territory in the form of Orkney and Shetland. Due to practical considerations mentioned above they never formally move Parliament there so its not a Taiwan, but is sort of a hyper-militarised outpost, staffed by people from across the Empire/Commonwealth and possibly with the connivance of a non-socialist Great Power in Europe, be it a Cagoulard France or a Kontinued Kaiserreich or Russians On The Rhine But This Time They Are Trying To Make Us All Orthodox.

I could see some of the other bits of the Highlands and Islands being held onto as well.
 
Can't see how it works unless rUK is swept with war and no one is able to organise anything let alone a small fleet as well as that the rUK has loads of well trained and equipped forces as well as a powerful military force nearby ala Japan/Taiwan post WW2.

Just look how close Orkney is to Caithness.

You need someone, like a Norway or Germany to be able to supply and support it
 
I love the notion of "The Hebrides and Western Isles" as a remnant state but doubt it is feasible. "Red Glasgow" and mutinous sailors at Rosyth would have certainly intervened.
 
There can be such a thing as too small. How about Newfoundland?

That could work as it'd probably be pre 1949.

If we're going for absolute banter you then have Canada fall to socialism or just go full on republic leaving just Newfoundland (and Labrador I suppose)
 
Ulster is right there folks.

Yeah, Northern Ireland is the obvious choice as the Taiwan. It also gives you the story fun of the Continuity Government nervously watching its back while the mainland courts Dublin or, if the timeline has Ireland not having its revolution, a Continuity Government nervously hoping it can keep the majority of its nearest citizens to keep wanting it & not go "actually we'd like a different one".
 
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