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July 25 Information
Is it possible for the United Kingdom to withdraw from the Commonwealth of Nations?
Is it possible for the
United Kingdom to withdraw from the
Commonwealth of Nations? If this were to happen, would
Charles III retain his job as the head of the Commonwealth, or would the Commonwealth have to elect a new headperson? Or would the United Kingdom itself have to find a new head of state?
JIP |
Talk14:42, 25 July 2023 (UTC)reply
As far as I can tell, any country can withdraw from the Commonwealth whenever they wish -
Gambia left on 3 October 2013 without giving any prior notice
[1] (don't worry, they rejoined in 2018). Charles's position as
Head of the Commonwealth would, as far as I can tell, be unaffected, as the position "has no constitutional relevance to any of the member states within the Commonwealth" according to our article, but note that he is also the king of 14 other
Commonwealth realms besides the UK, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The Commonwealth would have to find a new home for the
Commonwealth Secretariat which is currently based in London at
Marlborough House.
However, I can't think of any earthly reason why such a thing would happen, as membership is really not very onerous and we Britons like to think it still gives us some prestige to play a leading role in it. Moreover, the
Commonwealth Games gives us a chance to win some medals without having to compete with Americans, Russians and Continental Europeans. What's not to like?
Alansplodge (
talk)
14:55, 25 July 2023 (UTC)reply
I remember the
1987 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Vancouver, which "was marked by a confrontation between most Commonwealth leaders, including conference chair Mulroney, and Britain's Margaret Thatcher over the issue of economic sanctions against South Africa with Thatcher opposing sanctions and most other leaders being for sanctions." There was some (not entirely flippant) talk at the time that, if Thatcher persisted in the obdurate intransigence for which she was notorious, the UK could be expelled from the Commonwealth. Wouldn't that have been a hoot! Sadly, it never came to that. --
Jack of Oz[pleasantries]22:17, 25 July 2023 (UTC)reply
Welcome to the Wikipedia Humanities Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a
transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the
current reference desk pages.
July 25 Information
Is it possible for the United Kingdom to withdraw from the Commonwealth of Nations?
Is it possible for the
United Kingdom to withdraw from the
Commonwealth of Nations? If this were to happen, would
Charles III retain his job as the head of the Commonwealth, or would the Commonwealth have to elect a new headperson? Or would the United Kingdom itself have to find a new head of state?
JIP |
Talk14:42, 25 July 2023 (UTC)reply
As far as I can tell, any country can withdraw from the Commonwealth whenever they wish -
Gambia left on 3 October 2013 without giving any prior notice
[1] (don't worry, they rejoined in 2018). Charles's position as
Head of the Commonwealth would, as far as I can tell, be unaffected, as the position "has no constitutional relevance to any of the member states within the Commonwealth" according to our article, but note that he is also the king of 14 other
Commonwealth realms besides the UK, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The Commonwealth would have to find a new home for the
Commonwealth Secretariat which is currently based in London at
Marlborough House.
However, I can't think of any earthly reason why such a thing would happen, as membership is really not very onerous and we Britons like to think it still gives us some prestige to play a leading role in it. Moreover, the
Commonwealth Games gives us a chance to win some medals without having to compete with Americans, Russians and Continental Europeans. What's not to like?
Alansplodge (
talk)
14:55, 25 July 2023 (UTC)reply
I remember the
1987 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Vancouver, which "was marked by a confrontation between most Commonwealth leaders, including conference chair Mulroney, and Britain's Margaret Thatcher over the issue of economic sanctions against South Africa with Thatcher opposing sanctions and most other leaders being for sanctions." There was some (not entirely flippant) talk at the time that, if Thatcher persisted in the obdurate intransigence for which she was notorious, the UK could be expelled from the Commonwealth. Wouldn't that have been a hoot! Sadly, it never came to that. --
Jack of Oz[pleasantries]22:17, 25 July 2023 (UTC)reply