Campaigner wants London to become its own country with housing built on M25 to create border – My London

Londoners, like everyone else in the UK, have slowly grown accustomed to life outside the EU, but a handful of residents have developed their own vision for the future. Hamish Stewart is one of a growing number of people in the capital who would like to see London become an independent city-state.

He runs an advocacy group called London Independence that envisions an independent London, free from the "shackles" of the rest of the UK, regaining its place in Europe. Speaking to MyLondon, Hamish shared some of his ideas to see London achieve greater autonomy and gradually reverse some of the after-effects of Brexit.

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Since Brexit, weve seen increasing food prices and challenges in the labour market, which has made life for people and businesses in London all the more challenging," he said.

London has always been a European capital and I think anyone in London understands that putting that at risk and damaging the personal and professional links with Europe is a problem.

Hamish says that public consciousness in regards to an independent London started in 2016 after the Brexit referendum, in which the majority of Londoners voted for the UK to stay in the EU.

He underlines that London wanting independence is not to suggest that theres a problem with the rest of the UK, but is simply to suggest that London is a European city that needs to have an independent relationship with Europe as well as greater financial autonomy, much like the Channel Islands and Gibraltar.

However, he describes London one day being a member of Europe as a city-state as the ideal outcome, citing examples of other micronations in the EU like Luxembourg and Malta.

On that note, Hamish abstains from dictating the exact direction London should take in its reintegration into Europe, explaining that countries like Norway and Switzerland, which arent part of the EU but are participants in the European Economic Zone, could also be taken as models.

He added: One rhetorical question we would ask is, why wouldnt Londoners and London want to be part of Europe as a city-state, with the same levels of autonomy as Norway or Switzerland might have, or some of the other participants in the European Economic Zone who are not full EU member states but still enjoy the freedom of movement of goods and people?

Thats a question weve asked London MPs and the Mayor and the London Assembly. Are there reasons why London shouldnt have more of an independent relationship with Europe as a city-state?

"And then the question becomes, what membership model do you want to pursue? Thats a conversation we think should be happening now.

Asked what an independent London would look like, Hamish answers: The borders of an independent London are there to be negotiated on. I mean, the M25 is already there, but there could be discussion on bringing in some of the home counties as well.

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He adds: We think the M25 can be converted into housing and a new park, and that would be our soft border with the rest of the UK.

The advocate also says London would have its own independent government based in the County Hall and more control over things like immigration and tax policy, as well as a property tax that would help to alleviate problems relating to unaffordable housing.

Hamish does not think London would need to prioritise having its own standing army as he believes being part of Europe would allow the city to benefit from collective security.

He also does not anticipate a hard exit from the UK, as he argues that the rest of the UK will be better off with a healthier, independent London that has a positive and productive relationship with Europe.

I think the relationship with the UK would be determined by who leads the transition to a city-state. Its about leadership and negotiation, he said.

Of course, London would have a mutually respectful relationship with the rest of the UK. As a city-state in England, London will still be reliant on the UK for its manufacturing base and food supply, and everything else we already participate in, so its just about political and financial autonomy.

But there is one catch. Hamish says an independent London would be a republic with a written constitution, meaning no more monarchy.

The land the Royal Family owns in London could be put into a trust and they could move to one of their castles outside of the city.

Nevertheless, Hamish believes that is a price most Londoners would be willing to pay to retain their connections with Europe and greater control over where their tax money is spent.

For most Londoners, keeping a personal and professional relationship with Europe is very important and so is respect for international law, and human rights law. On that basis, I would ask Londoners what future do you want to participate in, and what future do you want to contribute to as a taxpayer, as a member of society?

On basic terms, if you want to have public services like public education, the health service, water utilities and energy system run in a way that reflects the wealth that is present in London, there needs to be greater local tax powers and fiscal independence.

He concludes: That will only happen with a push to break away from the central government.

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Campaigner wants London to become its own country with housing built on M25 to create border - My London