Editing Kent (section)

=== Kentish independence ===
Many Kentish people have long viewed themselves as Kentish first and British second, and to this day refer to themselves as either 'Men of Kent' or 'Kentish men' depending on whether they live to the East or West of the [[River Medway]].<ref name="k228500"/> After the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 Brexit referendum]] and subsequent proposals for "border checks" on the Kentish border, effectively making Kent a country within a country,<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 September 2020 |title=Lorry drivers will face de facto Brexit border in Kent, Gove confirms |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/sep/23/truck-queues-could-be-7000-long-when-brexit-transition-ends-ministers-warn |access-date=4 June 2022 |website=The Guardian |language=en |first1=Lisa |last1=O'Carroll }}</ref> this pride in being Kentish began to form into calls from some areas for an independent Kent or an autonomous republic within the UK, especially from the county's prominent newspapers, with the idea being discussed in detail in some areas<ref>{{Cite web |last=West |first=Patrick |title=An independent Kent isn't as ridiculous as it sounds |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/an-independent-kent-isn-t-as-ridiculous-as-it-sounds |access-date=4 June 2022 |website= The Spectator |date=24 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> – with some ideas such as mock passports<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 September 2020 |title=Welcome to the Republic of Kent! |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/welcome-to-the-republic-of-kent-234343/ |access-date=4 June 2022 |website=Kent Online |language=en}}</ref> and [[tongue-in-cheek]] manifestos being created.<ref>{{Cite web |last=James |first=John |date=24 September 2020 |title=The radical steps Kent must take to thrive as an 'independent nation' |url=https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/radical-manifesto-see-kent-thrive-4544383 |access-date=4 June 2022 |website=KentLive |language=en}}</ref> These calls for independence can be explained by the individualistic and rebellious mentality that has always existed in the county, which can be explained by the county's position in the very south-east of the [[United Kingdom]], having been a [[Kingdom of Kent|prominent and independent kingdom]] for centuries as well as being the source of many major rebellions that have occurred in the United Kingdom.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}