A not so very united kingdom

Sir, – Mona Clark is perfectly correct in stating the union is more than 400 years old, but she refers to the Union of the Crowns in 1603 that united the two united kingdoms under one monarch, but left them as two separate political entities with their own sovereign parliaments until the Treaty of Union of 1707.

That established the first United Kingdom, consisting of Scotland and England and Wales, which combined were known as Great Britain.

The second United Kingdom came into being by the Act of Union of 1800 with the island of Ireland to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801.

The third United Kingdom was effectively established in 1927 with the departure of the Irish Republic and the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

It is conceivable, though perhaps unlikely, that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland may not see its centenary.

Which raises another issue. During the run-up to the independence referendum, reference was often made to “the rest of the United Kingdom”.

Given that there are only two kingdoms (England and Scotland), if one kingdom withdraws there can be no “rest of the United Kingdom”.

Then of course there is Brexit. It would seem apparent that whatever the legal term, currently there is no united kingdom. Malcolm McCrow. 23 Navarre Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee.