Could London become an EU state? Calls for independence after capital votes to Bremain

THE GROWING chasm between prosperous London and the rest of the UK became even wider today as demands in the capital grew to become a breakaway state.

The capital was shown to be monumentaly out-of-step wit the rest of Britain after largely voting Remain while the nation voted to Leave the EU.

But today the disconnect was heightened further as London's army of Bremain-backing resident called on the city's new mayor Sadiq Khan, to declare Greater London and its nine

million population an independent state.

Breakaway campaigners then want London to join Scotland in a new referendum which would allow them to re-join the EU.

So far, nearly 65,000 people have signed a petition asking Labour's Mr Khan "to declare London independent, and apply to join the EU".

It goes on to ask Mr Khan to "make the divorce official and move in with our friends on the continent".

Protests have been taking place in London since Friday when the Brexit decision was announced.

A hashtag 'Londependence' is trending on Twitter, while London teens and twenty somethings have tweeted feelings under #notmyvote.

So what is behind the call for independence?

Sixty per cent of London voters wanted to remain and only five of the 32 London boroughs supported a Brexit.

Only 48.1 per cent of voters in the rest of the country wanted to remain.

But is it realistic?

Well pro-Bremainers in Scotland are calling for another referendum about leaving Great Britain.

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said this is almost certain to happen, and went on to say Scotland and London now have a "common cause".

The SNP leader said a second independence referendum would be called within months.

Talks of a common cause were applauded on Twitter.

Seyi Rhodes wrote: 'I'm so pleased to hear that @SadiqKhan has already spoken to @NicolaSturgeon about #ScotLondon'.

But, separating London from the UK would be a legal minefield, of possibly bigger proportions that Britain leaving the EU, and Mr Khan is unlikely to seriously consider this as

one of his first tasks.

The mayor has good links with Europe, with offices on the continent to bring in business, but he would not have the power to keep links with the EU once the Brexit is enforced.

However, the petition goes a long to show him the concerns of his younger residents.

In a statement, he went as far as to say London was better off within the EU.

He also sent a clear message of support for London's close to one million EU immigrants.

He said: "I want to send a particular message to the almost one million Europeans living in London, who make a huge contribution to our city — working hard, paying taxes and

contributing to our civic and cultural life. You are welcome here.

"We value the enormous contribution you make to our city and that will not change as a result of this referendum."