Glasgow vs Edinburgh who's for capital?

[VTPreston_Tez]

Suprisingly, Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. It has the highest population, but the city itself is incredibly historic and in some aspects is similar to York, only bigger. Glasgow is more modern and provides better getting around, and is bigger.
I want to see the arguments for both sides if possible.

 

[scotsman]

What are you on about?

Edinburgh has around 500,000 in the city and surrounding area. Double that for Glasgow. Edinburgh is home of the Scottish Parliament, most of the Scottish Government and has been Scotland's historic capital for several hundred years.

Glasgow is more modern in terms of architecture and industry, and, as can be expected with such a large population, better transport links.

How that makes it more deserving of capital status is beyond me...

 

[starrymarkb]

Capital doesn't necessarily mean the biggest place. Frankfurt is bigger then Berlin, Zurich is bigger then Bern. In most US states the Capital is tiny...

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Suprisingly, Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. It has the highest population, but the city itself is incredibly historic and in some aspects is similar to York, only bigger. Glasgow is more modern and provides better getting around, and is bigger.
I want to see the arguments for both sides if possible.

Glasgow's population is far, far higher than Edinburgh.

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

so if Glasgow wins in nearly every way why's it not capital? that's what I'm aiming at here.

 

[Liam]

so if Glasgow wins in nearly every way why's it not capital? that's what I'm aiming at here.

Because it isn't.

 

[route:oxford]

so if Glasgow wins in nearly every way why's it not capital? that's what I'm aiming at here.

Quite simply because Weegies are common.

 

[Eng274]

so if Glasgow wins in nearly every way why's it not capital? that's what I'm aiming at here.

Prior to the industrial revolution Glasgow was nothing more than a village on the banks of the river Clyde. Whereas Edinburgh had been a recognised settlement and military stronghold for 700+ years beforehand.

Scotland's capital had been bandied about frequently, at one point Haddington and even Dunfermline were the capital before Edinburgh was settled upon. But in no way has Glasgow ever been thought of as a capital city.

 

[Eagle]

Off the top of my head

• Milan
• Istanbul
• Jeddah
• Marrakech
• Mumbai
• Toronto
• New York
• São Paulo

are all larger and "more modern and provide better getting about" than the capitals of the countries they are in.

What's your point? The capital city is where the government is based, nothing else. The capital of Nigeria is an inland village despite the fact that Lagos is a city and port of 12 million people.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Off the top of my head

• Milan
• Istanbul
• Jeddah
• Marrakech
• Mumbai
• Toronto
• New York
• São Paulo

are all larger and "more modern and provide better getting about" than the capitals of the countries they are in.

What's your point?

Don't forget Sydney and Auckland...

 

[SS4]

Perhaps Salmond can ask the Scots to further divide the vote?

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Suprisingly, Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland.

Eh?

What is surprising about it?
From where have the Kings and Queens of Scotland ruled their nation and where have their governments met?

And what on earth has population got to do with anything? The Capital is the centre of feudal and democratic society, finance, trade agreements, taxation, research, medicine, education, religion, law and policy-making as well as the hub of defence and the repository of assets.

There are many centres and outposts of rule across the nation, but Glasgow has never been one of them.

Is there any suggestion that its 'surprising' that Canberra is the Capital City of Australia, Washington is the Capital City of the USA, etc?
There are some nations in which there might be legitimate argument to support other cities as their capital, I'd propose St Petersburg as an example, but if an alternative 'capital' was to be sought in Scotland, then you might as well look to Stirling or Inverness.

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

Don't forget this is the 21st century where everyone is ahead, so I have to assume that the most futuristic city would be capital. I guess it's not like that here...

 

[Eagle]

Don't forget this is the 21st century where everyone is ahead, so I have to assume that the most futuristic city would be capital. I guess it's not like that here...

Look at a dictionary.


The definition of capital city is "A city that is a seat of government." and nothing else (Wiktionary). Nothing to do with size or futurism or anything.

 

[flymo]

Don't forget this is the 21st century where everyone is ahead, so I have to assume that the most futuristic city would be capital. I guess it's not like that here...

I think part of your signature is apt in this case......

~Tez~
Still doesn't have a clue what he's doing

If I were you I would walk away quietly.......

 

[90019]

Don't forget this is the 21st century where everyone is ahead, so I have to assume that the most futuristic city would be capital. I guess it's not like that here...

Would you like a bigger spade?


Seriously, though, do you actually have any idea what you're talking about?

 

[Eagle]

Seriously, though, do you actually have any idea what you're talking about?

He doesn't remember the 20th century, he's a very space-age creature... :roll:

 

[Lampshade]

You do realise the capital of England used to be Winchester, which was smaller than London even then?

 

[WestCoast]

Off the top of my head

• Milan
• Istanbul
• Jeddah
• Marrakech
• Mumbai
• Toronto
• New York
• São Paulo

are all larger and "more modern and provide better getting about" than the capitals of the countries they are in.

Add Zurich to that list.

 

[scotsman]

JCB for Mr Tez...

 

[Harlesden]

The capital of Nigeria is an inland village despite the fact that Lagos is a city and port of 12 million people.

Nigeria is rather a unique case with tribal implications, the south of the country being mostly Yoruba and the north of the country mostly Hausa. British interference during colonial days created this situation which indirectly caused the Nigerian Civil War (1967-70).
The shifting of the capital from the south to the centre of the country eased Hausa concerns that their interests. lack of representation and welfare were not being taken seriously.
Prior to colonisation, the Hausa people, the Yoruba people and the Ibo people were totally independent communities with their own lands. They would never have willingly entered each other's land except for purposes of war. The British colonists forced these three warring peoples into one land which the British called Nigeria. The name Nigeria was the invention of one Flora Shaw, wife of Baron Lugard, a British colonial administrator in the late 19th century.

 

[WestCoast]

The definition of capital city is "A city that is a seat of government." and nothing else (Wiktionary). Nothing to do with size or futurism or anything.

There are some exceptions to 'seat of the government' rule. The Hague (Den Haag) is where all the government and royal institutions are located in the Netherlands, but Amsterdam is the capital. Bolivia and Benin also have similar arrangements.

 

[Eagle]

There are some exceptions to 'seat of the government' rule. The Hague (Den Haag) is where all the government and royal institutions are located in the Netherlands, but Amsterdam is the capital. Bolivia and Benin also have similar arrangements.

Then of course there's South Africa with its three capitals.

But still in most cases the presence of the government makes a city a capital (even if, in countries like Switzerland, there is no legal definition of a capital). Notice that when Myanmar decided to build a new government city at Naypyidaw that became the capital and Rangoon was dempted.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Look at a dictionary.


The definition of capital city is "A city that is a seat of government." and nothing else (Wiktionary). Nothing to do with size or futurism or anything.

If thats the case, then the capital of England should be the City of Westminster because that is where government is. However the capital of England is in fact London - even though London is a seperate city is it not?

 

[Eagle]

If thats the case, then the capital of England should be the City of Westminster because that is where government is. However the capital of England is in fact London - even though London is a seperate city is it not?

I'd say the capital of the UK is London (as a whole), not just the City of London.

All de facto, of course. There's no such thing as a "capital city" defined in British legislature (due to our lack of a formal constitution).

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I'd say the capital of the UK is London (as a whole), not just the City of London.

All de facto, of course. There's no such thing as a "capital city" defined in British legislature (due to our lack of a formal constitution).

It true that study of Constitutional Law is not everyone's idea of having a good time!

But it does constantly surprise me that :-
most people (most of the English in England, anyway) don't seem to realise that England doesn't have its own Government, and
most people (most Londoners, anyway) don't realise that most of London isn't a City (though when reminded, they'll remember the 2 small Cities which are in London).

You'd think people would know whether they had a national Governement or not, or lived in a City or not. Surely?

Anyway, and returning to the OP. Apart from its moderately impressive population (what has size got to do with this?), has anyone proposed any sustainable argument for transferring the Country's Capital from Auld Reekie (Edinburgh) to Weegieland (Glasgow)?

 

[atomicdanny]

Off the top of my head

• Milan
• Istanbul
• Jeddah
• Marrakech
• Mumbai
• Toronto
• New York
• São Paulo

are all larger and "more modern and provide better getting about" than the capitals of the countries they are in.

For the US alone add these to the list! (didn't think there would be this many!) - Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, San Jose, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Austin, Columbus, Fort Worth, Louisville, Charlotte, Detroit, El Paso, Memphis, Baltimore, Boston and Seattle

 

[SS4]

For the US alone add these to the list! (didn't think there would be this many!) - Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, San Jose, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Austin, Columbus, Fort Worth, Louisville, Charlotte, Detroit, El Paso, Memphis, Baltimore, Boston and Seattle

You can add Anchorage to that list

 

[Badger]

If anything I'd say London was the exception to the rule that capital cities normally aren't the largest! (Not entirely serious.)

 

[DaveNewcastle]

If anything I'd say London was the exception to the rule that capital cities normally aren't the largest! (Not entirely serious.)

The population of the City of London is a measley 12,000.

Even the entire Sussex district of Adur hosts 5 times that population, and the semi-retired East Midlands rural community of Rutland has 3 times that population.
Still, I wouldn't want to be seen as being dismissive of London! Oh no! It has some big advantages in terms of numbers!

The Grand territory of the Scilly Isles is one of the few constitutional areas with a smaller population than that 'City of London' having a mere 2 thousand inhabitants. So no fear you Londoners! You are mightier and greater than that ancient rival, the ledgendary Scilly Isles!

Is there any other City, borough or constitutional territory within the UK with a smaller citizenship than the City of London?