The current population of Yorkshire is bigger than the populations of either The Republic of Ireland or New Zealand. We have just over 5.4 million whereas Ireland and New Zealand each contain 4.5 million people. Size-wise, Yorkshire's population is very similar to Finland's. Norway is home to 5.6 million while Denmark's population is only just over five million.
Albania is half the size of Yorkshire in population terms. Our county is bigger than any of the Baltic states. Estonia for example only has 1.3 million people. With 10,486,660 people, the German state of Baden-Württemberg is almost twice as big as Yorkshire.
Turning to the United States of America, Yorkshire is bigger than twenty eight of them - including Colorado but not including either Washington (ranked 13th) or Georgia (8th).
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| Yorkshire folk gathering last summer to cheer Le Tour de France riders |
Over the last year, the media in Great Britain was filled with news about Scotland and their independence referendum. From Yorkshire's point of view, Scotland has received a lot of preferential treatment over the years and yet it only has a population of 5.3 million - 100,000 less than Yorkshire. Wales is very much a little brother with around 3.1 million living in the picturesque principality.
The state of Queensland, Australia is considerably bigger than Yorkshire - but only in terms of its land area. Regarding population, Yorkshire has about 700,000 more residents. We are on a par with the city state of Singapore.
As the bishop said to the actress, "Size isn't everything" but when you compare populations it starts to provide an interesting new perspective on things. All the more reason for Yorkshire to seek independence. The London government will need to fork out £414 million for a Yorkshire Parliament Building for this was the huge amount they had to cough up for the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh. There'll be an avenue of marble statues in our white rose gardens - Harold Wilson, Freddie Trueman, Hilda of Whitby, Geoffrey Boycott, Jessica Ennis, David Hockney, Dame Judi Dench, Kevin Keegan, Joe Cocker, Emily Bronte, Helen Sharman, Andrew Marvell... it will be a very long avenue leading to our Yorkshire pudding-shaped mass debating chamber.
The state of Queensland, Australia is considerably bigger than Yorkshire - but only in terms of its land area. Regarding population, Yorkshire has about 700,000 more residents. We are on a par with the city state of Singapore.
As the bishop said to the actress, "Size isn't everything" but when you compare populations it starts to provide an interesting new perspective on things. All the more reason for Yorkshire to seek independence. The London government will need to fork out £414 million for a Yorkshire Parliament Building for this was the huge amount they had to cough up for the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh. There'll be an avenue of marble statues in our white rose gardens - Harold Wilson, Freddie Trueman, Hilda of Whitby, Geoffrey Boycott, Jessica Ennis, David Hockney, Dame Judi Dench, Kevin Keegan, Joe Cocker, Emily Bronte, Helen Sharman, Andrew Marvell... it will be a very long avenue leading to our Yorkshire pudding-shaped mass debating chamber.
Being ensconced on the other side of the pond, I have no way of knowing whether Yorkshire independence is truly being considered or is a mere figment of your longing, tinged with no small amount of obvious Scottish-envy. But I hope you will become Chancellor of the Exchequer or Minister of Public Education or something equally prominent in the new government.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't mind Bob, I would like to be The Lord High Executioner.
DeleteI was with RWP… not sure how much of this is tongue-in-pudding.
ReplyDeleteRe. you in that role, executioner - wouldn't like to be in charge of parking meters under a new regime of independence then!
The Yorkshire Parliament would immediately make all parking free and heads of clamping companies would roll - literally - into The Lord High Executioner's basket.
DeleteWe have our own separation issues here. They're not pleasant when they get going.
ReplyDeleteDoes Canada have a problem with Reds under the beds?
DeleteI've been so slack of late; so behind the eight ball; not purposely so. Daily events have gotten in the way and I'm only today catching up with all my blogger mates. Apologies for being so silent for so many days...but I'll make up for it...I threaten...oops...promise you I will! Please forgive me for my wanton, reckless ways! :)
ReplyDeleteWomen with wanton, reckless ways are quite popular in my neck of the woods.
DeleteI wonder if the London Parliament will also fork out for the construction of a large fence around your perimeter to keep out all those illegal immigrants looking for a home in Paradise ..er Yorkshire I mean ! Hope you also get out of the EU, it seems a very one way street to me.... and better visiting rights for Colonials too would be nice !
ReplyDeleteYorkshire would open its arms to asylum seekers from Queensland escaping the state's totalitarian regime. We still have a few old asylums here!
DeleteWe've been talking about this before, haven't we. You promised me the position of Embassador. If that offer is still standing, go ahead.
ReplyDeleteHelen Sharman! Your mention of her makes me remember her book and that I want to read it again. It's been easily 15 years since I first read it.
Yes you are still in line to be the Embassador - somebody else will get the Ambassador's job. The Embassador will require a mop and bucket.
DeleteThat's where pre-breakfast typing gets you!
DeleteYou should have been doing your aerobics workout instead ma'am.
DeleteAfter seeing the Beehive in Wellington, I could quite believe a giant Yorkshire Pudding Parliament House. The question is where to build it? York? Hull? Sheffield? Barnsley perhaps?
ReplyDeleteYork - always York Carol - where our three original "ridings" meet.
DeleteBeehive in Wellington? Do the female MPs all have beehive haistyles or black and yellow horizontally striped outfits?
The difference is, Neil, that Scotland is a different country. It's part of a union - The Union - but it is and has been for over a millennium a different country with it's own identity and it's own very separate history which, so far as I can recall, was never even mentioned at my schools (in England). Every Scot knows that he is a Scot. He may, secondarily, be British. Every Welshman knows that he is Welsh and may, secondarily, be British. The only people who call themselves British first (and, of course, not all of them do) are the English and some of those in Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom is London-centric first and England-centric second.
ReplyDeleteA thousand years isn't such a long time. Before that Scotland was a collection of disparate and often diconnected tribal regions. And this remained a feature of the new "country". The idea of Scotland promoted by the SNP is rather modern - like clan tartans and bagpipes.
DeleteScottish history is complex but the greatest and most significant King to rule Scotland was David (1124-53) and despite the attempts (many successful) by English Kings to dominate and rule Scotland it remained a distinct country acknowledged as such in that, I think I am correct in saying, no English monarch ever claimed that Scotland was part of England but that he/she was either monarch of Scotland as well or that the King of Scotland owed his allegiance to the King of England. The Elizabeth/Mary situation could have turned out very differently! The idea of Scotland promoted by the SNP is simply a modern re-statement of the claims made prior to the reign of King David.
DeleteThank you for the history lesson Graham. You clearly know more about the topic than I do.
DeletePS I bet there were lots of people other than Yorkshire folk in that crowd.
ReplyDeletePPS No Graham. I asked to see the birth certificates of everybody in that picture and all were from Yorkshire apart from from a West Indian gentleman called Frank who runs a club in Chapeltown, Leeds. He's on the brow of the hill to the right, seven in from the edge of the picture, wearing a Yorkshire flag as a bandana.
DeleteActually YP I recognise the face seventh face from the left at the front. I saw it on Buchanan Street in Glasgow in January. No self-respecting Yorkshireman/woman would be seen dead on Buchanan Street in January.
DeleteI was rereading The Secret Garden the other day (one of my favorite pieces of children's literature) and I kept thinking of you, Mr. Pudding. The children were always trying "to talk a bit o' Yorkshire" with each other. :)
ReplyDeleteI read that book years ago and don't remember that reference. If you want me to teach you some Yorkshire Jennifer just send me a return air ticket.
DeleteI wish I could visit YOU and learn some Yorkshire! And then go meet the rest of my blog friends in the U.K. Maybe one day.
DeleteOne thing you need to get sorted out is the lands south of the river Tees which have been 'pinched' by Co Durham. They need to be reclaimed by Yorkshire. Or you could declare Co Durham to be part of Yorkshire then I would be a very happy bunny. I would be living in a part of the country that I love and still be living in Yorkshire.
ReplyDeleteIf you will be recruiting for staff, I'm very good with a mop and bucket!
What about Cleveland Kitty? Westminster really did us over with that one. When I were a lad, Middlesbrough and Stockton were Yorkshire places - like Roseberry Topping. Regarding staff recruitment Miss Kitty, how fast is your shorthand? I need a PA.
DeleteIndeed, my birth certificate states 'Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire'
DeleteI withdraw my application, shorthand zero and typing not much better!
Please may I be Minister for the Dales? I once had an Airedale called Alice and My favourite was always the 'Harrogate' flavour (yellow paper) of MacIntosh Toffees, so I think I am perfectly qualified.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed and not only Minister for the Dales but also a Baroness! Baroness Steeds of Tauranga has a nice ring to it. However, you will have to renounce your NZ citizenship and pledge and oath of allegiance to the Yorkshire Republic...wearing a flat cap while stroking your whippet.
DeleteEee oup and away! Here Oi come! Get thy kettle ont stove.
ReplyDelete