29 June 2010

British or English

Hi, Im from the U.s. and I was wondering what is the difference between Britain, England, and the UK. Second, what do ya'll call yourselves, British or English(...U.K.ish...LOL ;))? Please Help!
John


Visit projectbritain.com for more about British life and culture.
Posted by at 17:34
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109 comments:

  1. This is an easy question to answer. I am British and English although I will refer to myself as english first.

    I am english because I was born in England.

    I am British because I live in one of the countries which form Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)

    The United Kingdom official title is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

    Check out this page
    http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/britain.html

    Sally
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  2. Young IrelanderMar 17, 2006 11:42 AM
    To Tom

    "Presumably someone from Northern Ireland is British,because that is the term to refer to someone who is a United Kingdom citizen."

    Actually,under the Good Friday Agreement,people can classify themselves as Irish citizens or British citizens.
    As for the debate on nationality,there is more to an identity that legal technicalities.Last century,Britain told Irish people they were British ONLY but Irish people refused to listen to that and because of that Irish citizenship exists.It's called self-determination.
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  3. its not a hard question to answer IF YOUR BORN IN ENGLAND YOURE ENGLISH, not british, the scottish, irish, or welsh dont call themselves british.. there seems to be no recognition of the english male / female anymore, and if anyone calls us european
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  4. I'm from Northern Ireland so I'm BRITISH ok lets make this easy for everyone

    You are BRITISH IF YOU ARE BORN AND ARE FROM :
    ENGLAND
    SCOTLAND
    WALES
    NORTHERN IRELAND = the U.K

    AS WELL as being English, Welsh, Scottish or Northern Irish
    if you met me and asked me my nationality i would say British but my regional Identity is Northern Irish like being an American and being from California that makes you a Californian as well as a American .....so I'm British but I'm also Northern irish and proud of both I hate it when people tell me that I'm not British excuse me I have a British passport with the words "British Citizen " inside ! of course I'm British !!!
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  5. Technically, the term 'British' doesn't exist anymore. So to anyone who would call themselves a British Citizen:
    You are a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and have a UK Passport. You are also an EU citizen (whether you like it or not). Or you could describe yourself as English, Welsh, Scottish, or Northern Irish.
    The British were a Celtic tribe who were subjugated by the Romans and eventually conquered by the Angles, Jutes, Saxons, and Friesians in the 5th Century. I doubt very much if anyone could prove they have an unbroken line of British ancestry. :)
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  6. Hello John,I don't just call myself Scottish, I AM Scottish. (Sorry, don't know how to make italic or bold letters)

    Scotland is only part of Britain, as is England.

    Our different kingdoms were united some time ago, hence the United Kingdom (U.K.).

    King James VI of Scotland became James I of England. Soon after becoming king of England he moved from Scotland to London in the south of England, where the centre of power in Britain still lies.
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  7. I am Welsh, and tend to get a little upset when anyone says: Oh! You're English then.
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  8. I was born in Scotland and live in London: so I'm proud to describe myself as British!
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  9. I personally dont like being called "British", I am an "Englishman" because I was born and raised in England. My Granparents on my fathers side were Scottish, but because I was raised in England I consider myself as an Englishman... Although I do like the Scots.. they are good people and am proud to have their blood in me too.
    I personally dont like this whole "U.K" thing, lets get our identities back! and live in piece with it.. think of the Welsh... my great auntie was Welsh and was a proud woman because she was... the Welsh deserve to be recognised as a proud country too... people always forget them somehow, its not fair... Lets stop being a "U.K" and be seperate...be proud.. but accept eachother... Feck the Fecking goverment that decides all in the capital of my country (England)... It's peoples choice... choose to be a nation by gathering and it will happen. God bless Wales, God bless Scotland, God bless Ireland, God bless England. Feck off U.K I say and Feck off Britishness.
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  10. I argree with scales.

    UK or britain is a country like the USA with states. A english and scotish are countrymen, and they must call themselves british, because there country is named britain. It is cool to be a british, and britain is a old country from year of 2000 bc or something like that, and not from 1707
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  11. Unfortunately Danish, just for the record, its not quite as simple as that! The different parts of the UK you compare to North American States have a tad more national identity and history behind them than their comrades across the pond!
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  12. My mother was born in England and my father was born in Scotland. I was born and raised in Scotland but although I have an English mother, I am proud to say that I am Scottish.
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  13. I was born in Scotland, i have always lived in Scotland and my both parents are the exact same. So that makes me Scottish. I am proud of my Scottish heritage but of course iam still British. But i will always be a Scotsman before i am British. For example: if i was on holiday and someone asked me where i was from i would say scotland. not Britain. Iam still proud to be British but when you usally say to a foreigner you are from britain they allways assume u are from England which I hate. I am not english i will never be and i never want to be.
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  14. Although offically i am a citizen of the United Kingdom i do not class my self as British. I always say im Scottish and i've noticed many times with people from other countries like the United States, Germany, Poland ,Russia and other countries they tend to refer to all of the United Kingdom as 'England' ignoring the existance of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Personally i think that we should all be independant countries once again and slit up the UK.
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  15. 23.04.07. HAPPY ST. GEORGE'S DAY

    People, it's not as simple as that. English is an origin same as Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Jamaican, African etc. You cannot be English just because you were born in England. For example, if you were born in China, that would not ever make you Chinese as Chinese is a race! If your past ancestors, four hundred years or so, have all been born in England and are their ethnicity is English, then, if you are born in England, then you are English, but have British Nationality. If your parents all come from somewhere else, anywhere else, and you are born in England, then you are definitely not English. You may not even be British if your parents do not have British Citizenship. In that case, you had better check with the Nationality Office in Scotland. So you see everyone, it is not so simple as you would think. You are NOT English just because you are born here, anymore than you are African if you are born in Africa!

    Jan (English) from London
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  16. I wish people would get it right, look at it in the big picture. The americans dont understand how britain works. As posted before Britain (short for Great Britain) is the make up of Scotland, England and Wales (although officially Wales is just a principallity- i.e There is a Queen of England and Scotland, but a Prince of Wales.) Of course then there is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. British Citizen is lazy term for "Citizen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". There is no such thing as a British Passport. It is a passport of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (dont argue with me here, if u dont believe me then read the front cover on your passport). In short you are either English, Irish, Scottish or Welsh. Being British is a title you have if you are one of these nationalities. One last reminder for you Americans. England is NOT AN ISLAND. It is a country on the Island of Great Britain.
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  17. ENGLAND IS NOT AN ISLAND. It is a country on an Island. The Island of Great Britain. Which when titled with Northern Island becomes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Primarily though you are either English, Irish, Scottish, or Welsh. British just means you come from one of these countries. Oh and there is no such thing as a british passport. It states clearly on the front cover that it is a passport of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It doesnot say British Passport.
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  18. well i agree and disagree with someof the last comments to me is a bit more complicated. im ENGLISH and when i get forms and stuff that ask the question of nationalty they nver rele state the english option. but a scotish or irish or welsh on is more likey to be there and it angers me anyway bk to ur question to be english to me u need to not only hve english grandparents but be born in england. i h8 it when people from other countrys and live here and start calling hm selves english ..so yeah britain is made up of ENGLAND. WALES, SCOTLAND AND NORTHERN IRLAND so if someon says the are british ask them when there blood line lays and then ur no if they come from one of the 4 countrys that make up GREAT BRITAIN!

    TOBY
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  19. The strange thing is that the only people in the UK who call themselves British are those that live in Northern Ireland. We don't call ourselves "Northern Irish" but would say "I'm British, I come from Northern Ireland" or something along those lines.

    Of course, that's apart from those in Northern Ireland who would call themselves Irish. They definitely don't say they're British.

    See my little discussion on this at www.northernirelandthemes.com .

    There are also untold numbers of complications for people who are "British" in some fashion but may not necessarily have the right to live in the UK. The rules are different for those from places fairly close to the UK such as the Isle of Man, Channel Islands and Gibraltar and there are other variations for those "British" who were born in places further afield such as the Falkland Islands, Hong Kong, and various places in Africa, South America, the Atlantic and Pacific.

    Overseas though the default term for "British" is usually "English". I'm in France at the moment and almost always when I fill in "British" as nationality, it is "corrected" to "English" or, worse, "Irish" (which causes problems in areas of health care as they as for information from Ireland where there is, of course, nothing recorded about me).
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  20. Personally i think that im english i was born in london and consider england as well a country on its own which is joined onto ireland scotland and wales it is only called britain for a name for all for it is just like calling all of france germany etc.... the e.u. But anyone that lives in englannd should NOT call them selves british because they are NOT.
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  21. My parents are welsh but i was born in England and have lived in England all my life. But i consider myself as welsh because i have welsh blood in me and its your parents that make you which has nothing to do with where in the world you are born.

    you'll still be the same person where ever your born the only time you'll change is when you have diferent parents.

    At the end of the day if a dog is born in a stable it doesn't mean that its a horse does it?
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  22. I was born in Scotland and have always said my nationality was Scottish not British and certainly not European. I live in Northern Ireland at present but I will always be Scottish.
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  23. I call myself British. I was born in Northern Ireland and lived there for a little while until my parents decided to move back to England. (they are both English) so I am a little confused as what to call myself. I also have an English accent but as we have moved around quite a lot (due to my Dad's job) it doesnt have an identity to it like my parents'. So I find it easier to call myself British. If this is wrong please correct me.
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  24. Hi This is a simple question to answer, but the answer is difficult to explain.
    If you are born in the British Isles you are Known as English.
    People falsly asume they are Britsh which we are not.
    Why..You have to research the word British which is a 4000 year old Hebrew word, which means Covenent man, Brit=covenent Ish=man. Or also known as contract man. Britania is Covenent Ship. When people realise this, they then become known as Freeman or freemen and is conected to Freemasonary.
    So the answer is if you were born on English soil you are English, a freeman and not British a contacted man. We are all subjects to the queen who owns us as a contracted man(British subject) until we have no more Kings and Queens then we will become English Freemen and women.
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  25. One of my grandparents was from poland, the other 3 were from various places in England. My parents were both born in England. I consider myself to be English first and british never. If asked where I come from I shall say england, if people then call me british I correct them. However on the forms that ask you your racial background (which is a stupid because it doesn't make any difference, people are people) I don't put white british, I put white other. It is a personal decision though, what nationality you consider yourself. Most importantly though, it has to be said that there is no 'Britain' football team.
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  26. I was born in British Guiana, then it became the Republic of Guyana on it's independence...What is my nationality?
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  27. I was born and raised in England, I am English. I was not born and raised in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. I agree with comments on this page, that there really is no such thing as 'British'. I also dislike the term 'Brit' - I live in America now and I have only ever heard it used in a derogatory way. Just my experience though.
    Also, I have noticed that recently in England, amongst the younger people (like myself, I am 21) there seems to be a much more anti British, pro English attitude around. I think it has been made worse by having a Scottish prime minister. It will be interesting to note how the situation develops. English independence maybe?
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  28. My name's MacDiarmada. I was born and raised in so called Northern Ireland. I am not British, I am Irish. My name and bloodline has existed on the island of Ireland for over 1800 years. This predates any 'British' influence here. How does the fact that a number of blow-ins from the east drawing a line in Irish soil cancel out my >1800 year Irish ancestry only to redefine me as British?
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  29. I am English. NOT British.
    It is the Government's fault that the English are too afraid to refer to themselves as English.
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  30. I live in northern Ireland. I live in Belfast, in County Down, in Ulster, in Northern Ireland, in Ireland, in the United Kingdom, in the British Isles, in the European Union, in Europe. These are all identities with which I would positively associate. I have both Irish and UK citizenship (I have the right to hold a passport of both Ireland and the UK). I would consider my national identity to be Irish. I do not live in Britain/GB, but in northern Ireland. I do live in the British Isles, but they are by deffinition a group of islands, not a nation. I live in Europe, but that is a continent, not a nation. I live in an area of my home island that is administered from Britain (rightly or wrongly - I don't really care), and thereofre I am offered a British passport. If Britain pulled out tomorrow, I would lose my UK citizenship. But if it was France who owned Northern Ireland, then I would have French citizenship instead. Nationality is not the same as citizenship. Your nationality could be Scottish, but your citizenship British etc. Likewise, i consider my nationality to be Irish - I have Irish citizenship because I live on the island of Ireland, and I have British citizenship becuse northern Ireland is owned by Britain.
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  31. Britain is a multinational State and not a nation. The people are, therefore 'citizens' of the State of the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".

    Now to set the cat amongst the pigeons: My nationality is "Cornish" and I speak the "Cornish language". I am from the suppressed nation of "Cornwall", which is one of the four historical, and cultural, nations of the Island of Britain.

    The language of "Cornwall, like Wales, derives from true 'British' origins.
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  32. In the late 1930's Hitlers economists formulated a 10 point plan for a New Socialist Europe (all of which have been realised by the EU). Point No.1 for example was to create an area named the European Economic Comunity or EEC. Point No.4 was the implimentation of a single currency. Point No.5 was to create a Central European Bank. Point No.6 was called the 'Central European Principal' and would divide the new EEC into 200 manageable 'Regions'. The UK would split into twelve and become Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and the nine English Regions. In 1959 a Franco/German treaty set out a new European vision dividing Europe into the same 200 Regions. These plans never came to fruition until 1992 when the Maastricht Teaty (under the innocent heading of 'Regional Funding') divided the EU into 200 regions. Hence we now have a Minster for Northern Ireland, a Minister for Scotland, a Minister for Wales and a Minister for the Regions. Listen carefully to the number of ministerial speeches that refer to the 'Nations and Regions of the UK', (paticularly Gordon Browns old budget speeches). England cannot be found on any official EU map. The catagory of 'English' has dissapeared from all government documents. (The last UK Census omitted the option of English). Every St. Georges day we have the annual debates about "What does it mean to be English anyway". If you insist on being English then you're obviously an old fashioned, narrow minded, xenophobe who votes BNP, hates 'coloured' people and let's throw in homophobic as well. In fact we'd all better keep a close watch on you because your probably a little bit dangerous.
    If the Scottish electorate were to go down the road of independence then the English will wake up to the fact that their country, technically speaking, no longer exists. So to avoid such a stir all party leaders must talk down the very notion of a break up of the Union. Then again how could there be an English Paliament... Hands up whoever would like to be First Minister of a people who don't exist, from a place you can't find on a map. As for me, I just miss having a place of my own, you know, the kind of place you can call home.
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  33. I am english, not british.
    i am british aswell, but only in theory.
    i think of myself as english. i was born english and will always be english.
    i think that its important that we are not all grouped togethor as being 'british' and that we have our own countries.
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  34. My father is from the republic of ireland, and my mother is from england. I was born in england, but am I irish or english or dual nationality ?
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  35. I would say you have dual natonality. English, British and Irish
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  36. i am from the north of ireland, no i dont like the term "northern ireland" ok!
    i am NOT british, i am 100%IRISH!!!!!!!!!!
    check my passport if you dont believe me!
    obviously the people from the north calling themselves british are not catholic
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  37. My brothers and I were born in England but our parents were born in India. I know we are British because we were born here and we have British EEC Passports, but can we call ourselves English or does English refer to White people who have been born and lived in England for generations?
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  38. I presumed that to be 'classed' as 'English' you had to be descended from 'anglo-saxon' origin. If I was born in China, I don't think I would say I was 'Chinese'. The danger is this is open to racial distortion, but is it right to deny your linage so you can belong to a group, purely because you feel more 'English'? It's a blur. Sure, you can. But technically, you'd be wrong. You can't own an 'English' passport, only a 'British' one.
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  39. Collectively the English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish are themselves British only in a polical sense, besides, the other three make use of enough Anglo-Saxon culture basis that they might as well be called English.
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  40. i am english-american, my parents are english, i was born in the U.S but i would still call myself
    an american, but more specificaly "English-American"
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  41. Yes well Im from Northern Ireland and would say I'm British the term British is to come from and be born in ENGLAND SCOTLAND WALES NORTHERN IRELAND ,ISLE OF MAN
    AND THE CHANNEL ISLES UNDER THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1981 THE CHANNEL ISLES AND ISLE OF MAN BORN PEOPLE ARE BRITISH CITIZENS LIKE THE REST OF US IN ENGLAND SCOTLAND WALES AND N.I...SO WE ARE ALL BRITONS I WOULD SAY I'M A "NON -ENGLISH BRITON" MEANING I'M BRITISH BEING FROM THE UK BUT PPL THINK IF YOU ARE BRITISH YOU ARE ENGLISH SO THE SCOTS WELSH AND US NORTHERN IRISH ARE ALL NON ENGLISH BRITONS !THERE ALONG SIDE OUR ENGLISH COUNTERPARTS
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  42. i hate it when people describe us as british, while the united kingdom is seen as a country, all wales, scotland, northen ireland and england are in some way seperate countrys

    the *british* goverment as it calls itself tho it only fully controls england now, wants everyone in england to be british, not english, so people who arnt from england and white dont get offended, your not allowed 2 be english anymore in public without being labelled a racist
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  43. im english and british im prouder to be britsih because we have a larger identity and we are so mixed, no1 else is like us!!
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  44. yes they can, nationality is just where you were born so if they are born in the UK their nationality is english. However ethnicity is different and refers to your ancestory. depending on how far back you want to go you can argue whether they can be english or not through ethnicity
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  45. my mother is Jamaican moved to england as a child in the 60's,my father is English was born and raised in England, they had me in 1983, I have been refused a passportas due my mothers passport details being required, the problem is my mother has lost her passport what can i do to resolve this situation. can anyone help.
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  46. Lets make this a little easier...

    If you are from Scotland or Northern Ireland your answer is 99% going to be affected by whether you are Protestant or Catholic

    Opposing views from different religions is still rife.

    To be honest its too complex a question to be put forward to multiple people as it is definetly on an basis of individual identity.

    As for myself, I consider to be Scottish foremost, but I recognise that im part of the (now nearly defunct) Treaty of Union that had been agreed on July 22, 1706 to unify these individual states in question.

    sorry for the long-winded article folks, but I felt this needs a scalpel, and not a hatchet.
    thank you.
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  47. If you're baffled, then you are DEFINATLY not the only one!
    If you are from U.K, You are also British or Northen Irish. If Your British, You are also English or Scottish Or Welsh. So, I come from England, which is in Great Britain, which is in the U.K.
    (Please note: People not from England somtimes get EXTREMELY annoyed if you call them 'English')
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  48. English lad has clearly never studied geography. England shares an Army,Navy, Airforce, Police service, Fire Service, Coastguard, Flag, Monarchy, the NHS and most Damningly a Government with the other constituents of the U.K. There is no written British Constitution, however that same constitution does not state anywhere in it that any of the constituents of the United Kingdom are countries. I am of the persuasion that they are not, as none of them can do anything relating to the rest of the world without the rest of the United Kingdom having to do so as well (They cannot declare war, form alliances, begin trade etc.). The problem with us British is that we are still of the persuasion that England is the entire United Kingdom (the Scottish, Irish and Welsh were often unfortunately of this persuasion during the Victorian/Georgian times, a great offence to themselves) because British people are taught hardly anything about the structure of the U.K. at school (at least I never was), and regardless legally you are considered British by the government of the United Kingdom (it says on every single U.K. passport "British citizen)and that is what any educated government will consider you(The French are not educated). And really, this nonsensical talk of splitting the U.K. MUST stop. The constituent parts of the U.k. would be worse off for it. Lets leave it lie, eh? I am British through and through and never even consider using the term English as a nationality. It seems that the truly intelligent people in the U.K. (Irish, Welsh, Scottish) are capable of understanding how it all works (perhaps because the air there is fresher?) End of, I am British not English (I wish my french teacher would stop calling me English) and the Union Jack is the national Flag. (The george cross is an ugly boring flag). Rule Britannia, and God save Queen Elizabeth(who is Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, not England!)
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  49. at the end of the Day we are all British and Britons be we Scottish
    Welsh English Northern Irish
    Manx (Isle of man ) or Channel Islander we are all British ...we should be proud of our regional identity but be Proud to be British...
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  50. Shwmae (hello) im goin to tell it straight and how it is! i add a little history lesson to clear up how the term British misleads people all over. A Briton or British was the name given to the people who occupied the island of Brittania as the romans called it.

    They were a celtic people, today living in what is now wales. They were called the Brythonic Celts and spoke a brittonic, celtic language of what is now Cymraeg(Welsh)and it was spoken all over britain including england long before english people came to britain, because as we know english people come from the germanic tribes the Angle's, saxons and jutes and are not the indigeonus people of Britain, the Welsh are!!

    Now it makes me angry when i hear and english person call themselves british! they are not, they speak no Britonnic language i.e Welsh, they are not decendants of the Brythonic/British Celts so how can the english call themselves british? They are anglo saxons who speak a western frisian language!

    The only ones who can really call themselves British are the Welsh people, as the saying goes - "The welsh are the last of the 'TRUE' Britons"

    And thats a fact of history, personally myself, i call myself welsh or a Briton! Diolch yn Fawr!
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  51. Someone mentioned earlier about Americans thinking that Britain and England were the same thing. The problem that most Scots have (and I assume the Welsh too), is that the English have the same problem, and consider the two interchangeable. This is the main reason most Scots react against it and promote their Scottishness.
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  52. It's interesting that at the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977 everyone waved little Union Jacks...at her Golden Jubilee, everyone waved little Cross Of St. George flags...does that not say something? People feel much more 'English' these days...the term 'Brit' was an insulting name used to describe us by the Irish. Like many insults...we have now adopted it as a shorthand name for ourselves.
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  53. So, what nationality are people from Eire/Southern Ireland? OR are they included in the England bit?
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  55. The Welsh or Wealas as we Anglo Saxons called them are Romano-Brythonic people ( hence the swarthiness of some of them)they are the of the tribes of Albion.The province of'Britannia'was just a Roman term.
    The Lowland Scots are Anglians like most of the English of Eastern England or Angle- land (as their placenames -all English, reveal)
    The English came from three closely related tribes,the Angles from Angeln in Southern Denmark, the Saxons in Northern Germany and the Jutes from Denmark.
    The English were originally invited to protect the ineffectual Romano-Brythons against the Picts ( Scots)which they did.Then the Brythons 'welshed' on the rewards promised so the Jutes with their warbands led by Hengist and Horsa fought them and eventually took Kent.
    The English have lived in this country England since 449AD when the tribes began to arrive as 'Vikings' or raiders,and in 937AD King Athelstan defeated, Welsh, Scottish and Dublin Norwegian Vikings to found a united England,whose borders are the same as today.
    The English are an ancient northern people with a distict identity, whereas the British state has only existed since 1707 when it was formed to further the ambvitions of empire as well as to bail out Scotland after it's disastrous, failed attempts to create an empire in Patagonia. This was called the 'Darian venture'.Since then England has continued to bail out the Scots-and Welsh,but no sane Englishman would wish this situation to continue.
    The only positive way to move on is for England to free itself from the grips of the 'British' state and regain it's independence allowing all three countries of the 'United Kingdom' to go their ways.
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  56. I see very few people seem to have taken into account that the modern United Kingdom is made up not just of Anglo-Celtic people but of many ethnic minorities as well. The term 'British' is as relevant as ever, as it covers ALL citizens who reside in the United Kingdom. The native peoples' of this U.K. are the English, Northern Irish, Welsh, and Scottish. Because of seperate historic cultural and linguistic traits that the Cornish and Manx hold, I would include these too. We must also remember that in modern age there are Asian, West Indian and Eastern European minorities who have lived in this state for many generations and are fully entitled to call themselves citizens of this country. The term 'British' is thus not only more relevant in today's modern United Kingdom but more accurate too.
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  57. I'm neither British nor English, but the topic is very intersting for me as a linguist. In Russia we call British a person from the UK and most people would call you English as well, regadless you are from Nothern Irland, Scotland or Wales. Only few people (who studied English history) diffirentiate between English, Welsh, Scotish or Irish. To call all UK citizens British comes from the fact that we are taught British or American variant of English, that's why we call Americans those from the USA and British or English those from the UK.
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  58. Scottish not British. Those people who insist someone "MUST" be this or that are of course fascists.
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  59. interesting debate, which is going on and on ... answer this ... My parents where born in Pakistan, but lived most there lives in Endland (they have a British passport), i was born and bred in England ... England is my country ... so what am i ... lol British as it says in my passport ... no Englishness here?
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  60. When I was travelling in Malaysia a couple of years ago (Malacca to be precise) an old man who took passengers on his three-wheeled bike looked proudly at my husband and I and announced "I'm British. I've lived in Malaysia all my life!" Sort that one out ... who would want to deny him his 'Britishness?'
    Vera T, English, British, European.
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  61. People are under the impression that the term "British" or "British Citizen" does not exsist anymore. That is not the case at all. I was born and live in Guernsey, Channel Islands. The Channel Islands are British Crown Dependancies (British Islands) BUT are NOT part of England or the U.K. therefore I am as it states on my passport a British Citizen
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  62. I'm British, and I was born in England. I relate more to the British flag than the English one, and when I've travelled in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland I don't really see them as other countries - just the same country, with a regional culture difference, and a different history.

    Now - as far as many people on here saying that when they go abroad and say they're 'British' people assume they're English - I get the opposite, I say I'm British and people think I'm Scottish :-s. I'm from Northern England and have a broad accent though. In fact, I was in Lincoln a while back, and that's in England! And yet whilst chatting to a girl in a bar there (Varsity to be precise) the question arose "So then - where in Scotland are you from?"...

    I can understand saying you're English, Scottish, Welsh, or Northern Ireland while abroad. But I'd still fly the British flag, and when I'm not abroad, when I'm talking about my own identity, I don't like to draw borders between neighbours. I'm British, and fuck it, I'm proud!
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  63. I wish I could understand this widespread desire for separation and distance between people. My family ancestry has little to do with my daily interactions with other people and I don't have a desire to make a claim to the actions or crimes of people I have never met. I feel lucky to have been born in the UK (a prosperous land with many opportunities) and call myself British. If someone comes to the UK and contributes to the success of a country then I believe they have a right to use that nationality as their own. Blood-line rights are a joke and a matter of historical perspective.
    We are human and don't need artificial boundaries to add to the difficulties of life.
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  64. Only 3% of people in Scotland now refer to themselves as "British" and considering that more than 3% of the Scottish population is of English origin it is quite remarkable!

    I think there must be little colonies of "British" people down south!
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  65. During the Queen's golden jubilee the St George's flag was most certainly NOT waved for the Queen north of the border - the Scottish saltire was waved.
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  66. Someone said earlier that the UK was like the united states ie 4 parts making one country as 52 states make up the USA. So why do you have 4 football teams and not one like the US
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  67. Sorry but I thought there were 50 states making up the USA !
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  68. Gilbert WatkinsonNov 7, 2009 07:50 AM
    'British' applies to anybody born in the British Isles, which includes Eire as well, and doesn't just apply to the island of Great Britain. And the island of Great Britain does not consist of England Wales and Scotland, because these countries consist of their mainland part (i.e. on Great Britain) and the islands offshore as well.

    Great Britain is just an island, nothing more.
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  69. There are only 50 states in U.S. But you never know do you? ;)
    Can someone make this clear to me:
    Okay so if your born in England your English? And if your born in Wales, Scotland, or Irish your British? Maybe I just don't understand the ways of a Kingdom ... But isn't England the same thing as Britain?
    Oh my love... I'm getting too confused...
    So this comes to the main question: What is the difference between England, Britain, and UK?
    And daniel when you say your British and born in England...? How is that possible? Maybe I'm just too young to understand this (only 12!) and probably just getting myself more confused...
    Honestly, your all lucky to live in UK! I'd do anything to live in London! America is NOT the best place to live...
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  70. Okay I know the difference!!
    England is the bottom half of UK
    Scotland is the upper half of UK
    Wales is the small part to the west
    Great Britain is England, Scotland, and Wales. Not including Northen Ireland.
    UK is England, Scotland, Wales, AND Northern Ireland.
    British Isles is UK, all of Ireland, and many islands not even part of UK.
    ~~From the help of a GREAT site: http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/CUSTOMS/questions/nationality.htm
    ( the site shows pictures!)
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  71. Anoymouous worte on the 7th of Novmenber that citizens of Ireland are British. They are not they are Irish only (except for six of the thirty two counties in Ireland). We have our own government head of state (The queen of england has nothing to do with us.We are not Scctland and walse or Northern Ireland. we are an Independent country just like the UK. It amazes me how many english/British still believe that Ireland is part of the UK and your Queen is our head of state. you really need to read more books on Irish history on how we did come part of the UK in 1801 and how we came out in 1922.
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  72. People from Northern Ireland who call themselves British are only on holidays. They will return back to the UK soon.
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  73. I am from england and i think that it can be offensive for people to call us british, as although we technically are, you wouldnt call someone from france european, or someone from india asian.
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  74. im from the North of Ireland, and yes i see the island of ireland as one country, and
    yes the president of the irish republic as my head of state, but it always makes me laugh when
    the United Kingdom is Slipping into Termole and Ruins it makes me feal proud and a bit sorry at the same time, i love the Scots, Welsh and English but hate and depise the United Kingdom , but lets think about 30 Years in the Future there wont be a United Kingdom, and there People will be Happy with there Englishness, Scottish, and Welsh, So Good Luck Friends on the Other Side of the Irish Sea on your Independence and Englishess, Welsh, and Scottishness And i Wish you know harm.
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  75. The same thing goes for Americans! You can say that you are from, let's say Texas, you are a texan, but you are also an American. You are English, but you are also British.
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  76. As a Scot i am most definitely British first then Scottish, how sad to see these insular inward looking opinions.
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  77. I am glad to see the above comments I think we all should be proud of where we come from. I am proud to say that I am British even though I come from England we all live on the same Islands after all and the britsh Isles is a wonderful place.
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  78. Pls our 4fathers are wismen to make us come together, therefore let live as one people.
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  79. What makes different Scottish and English people? I know Scotland has their own parliament, government,education.., but refering to values, folkways norms etc what is different between those 2 countries?
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  80. Same old debate. I was born in Wales and therefore I'm Welsh. My country rests on the British Isles so I can therefore be referred to as British. My country is also part of the EU so I can be referred to as a European.
    However, my country is Wales end of. Just because I'm British doesn't make me English just as being European doesn't make me German.
    lets look at the top of this page. We can see the Union Jack, some soldiers and a few english type houses. Where are the Scottish and Welsh representations?? That's the problem. The English constantly refer to Britain and England in the same context, you really shouldn't do this guys. Plus the using of the British National Anthem for English sporting events, instead of land of Hope & Glory doesn't help matters. North Americans and Asians seem especially confused with understanding the differences. I understand this is partly down to their education system but a lot of English people don't help with their failure to differentiate between the two.
    if you want to describe yourself as British or European that's fine. Although, I have a feeling that unless your English you won't want to be
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  81. There is a huge distinction in these matters!

    AND there seems to be a mass of misinformation, above.

    This may not be 100% accurate but it is VERY close.

    All persons in possession of, or whom are entitled to, a British Passport, affording them the right of abode in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, are known as "British Citizens"...

    Then there are the "British" who MAY also be known as English, Welsh, Scottish or (Northern) Irish.

    "British" as opposed to "British Citizen", applies to any person who is ethnically British REGARDLESS of where they were born (for example, a baby born in China to two English parents would not be Chinese).
    "Scottish" applies ONLY to a person ethnically of Scottish decent. - NOT anyone who happened to be born there, that is, unless they are ethnically Scottish. These other persons are known as British.

    The same applies to Welsh and English people, a little different for Irish/Northern Irish.

    Since the devolution of powers from the British Parliament, to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly and also to the Northern Ireland Assembly,
    the more English people prefer to be known as "English" and NOT "British".

    The British government makes laws and governs over England but has little or no say in the affairs of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, nor any other protectorates.

    Whilst Mp's from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have seats (and voting rights) within the British Government (which really is misnamed, as it solely governs England)!

    Rather strange to have a Scot as Prime Minister for - by default England!
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  82. This is a fascinating discussion - really.
    So, we're talking about nationality, citizenship, ethnicity - and perhaps most importantly, identity and how we are percieved by others and mainly - ourselves.
    Confusion is inherent, but so be it - I figure that so long as we can handle sweetly the confusion without angst, and anger to others about our/their identity - even embracing it - then that's cool.
    At the risk of being banal, first and formost we're human beings.
    Then I want to add some further confusion to identity cauldron (define me as you wish): - My grandparents came from Russia and Poland to England, my parents and then me born and raised in England. Add to this that I'm Jewish - a Jew (for those that don't know, Judaism is considered a nationality as well as a religion), which also historically makes me part of the Hebrew people/Israelites (thanks to 'Dr Paul's' earlier entry on the Hebrew ancient translation for Brit-ish - I speak Hebrew but never made this linguistic connection, thanks). I have lived now for many years in Israel, have Israeli citizenship (dual with British).
    There are those that say 'you can take the boy out of London but you can't take London out of the boy'. There's something in that.
    So how to define?
    When in doubt, have a party - I mean there's room for all of us right? And when there isn't, we should make room for them.
    St. Geeorge? Star of David? Hindu Cross? Union Jack?
    Let's Union....
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  83. You should ask the french to clarify this point.
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  84. English, not British and the (u.k. is not a country!)
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  85. I am british because i have a british passport i am also english because i was born in england
    the uk is england n.ireland scotland and wales.
    england is the bottom half
    and britian does not include n.ireland
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  86. Hello, first of all alan where do you get that the UK is not a coutry? Maybe you should check or recheck your facts again. Then again, maybe you just got (it) confused with England, which is the one that is said along with Scotland not to be(considered) countries? Everything that I have red says unequivocally that the U.K. is. Next, I am sorry to burst many of your bubbles here especially those of you from Northern Ireland who posted on here, but maybe you too need to go and recheck your facts or at least the history of your country. "British" or the Term "British" refers to someone who is or comes from Great Britain, meaning one of the "countries" that make up Great Britian. This is even though people more often associate it with people from England and that people from England call themselves or use the term to describe themselves more often than people from other Great Britain Nations. Now People, in clarification especially to those of you from Northern Ireland who wrote a comment here, Northern Ireland IS NOT PART OF GREAT BRITAIN. Therefore, one cannot be British if they are not from Great Britain. Using simple logic (for lack of a better term) here, since Northern Ireland is not part of Great Britain, people from Northern Ireland are not British. However, you too might have gotten confused here. Where Northern Ireland IS (a) part of the United Kingdom, it is not part of Great Britian. Let's take a (closer) look here. First, another clarification here. Great Britain, which is where the term British comes from is not the same as the United Kingdom. Great Britian, The United Kingdom, England, Scotland, Whales, and Northern Ireland are not the same. They each refer to a different Geographic area or location, although one may be part of another. Now, just incase you feel the need to dispute this (fact) with me, lets start by looking at its complete name, "The United Kingdom of Great Britian AND NORTHERN IRELAND". If Northern Ireland, and its people as the people from Northern Ireland who posted on here said or claim, is in fact part of Britain making them British, why does the name of the nation say "Great Britain & Northern Ireland," where it so very clearly states Northern Ireland as a seperate nation or entity, rather than including it under Great Britain and calling the nation The United Kingdom of Great Britain? Well, just incase this is not fact, proof, or satisfactory enough for you check out the following websites and some information a got from them". "Great Britain is the name of the island northwest of France and east of Ireland that consists of three somewhat autonomous regions: England, Wales and Scotland".

    http://geography.about.com/library/faq/blqzuk.htm

    http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/nationality.htm


    http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-great-britain-and-the-united-kingdom/
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  87. OK, Please let me clarify this for everyone once and for all. Since many people on here seem to be mistaken or have incorrect information. People from anywhere on the island of Ireland that goes for the independent country of The Republic of Ireland or Eire and Northen Ireland, yes Northern Ireland ARE NOT BRITISH. Follow, British refers to those people from Great Britain (like one poster said, though not nescerarly just because you are born there). Now, for the borders of Great Britain or what constitutes Great Britain. Great Britain is (made up of) one & only one single island. It is the island that consists of the autonomus territories England, Scotland, & Wales and nothing more than that. This means that NORTHERN IRELAND IS NOT (A) PART OF GREAT BRITAIN (IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FASHION), NO MATTER HOW YOU MAY TRY AND MAKE IT SO. IT IS NOT! Now I may be ignorant here so please explain to me, how is someone from Northern Ireland an autonomus location that is in no way shape or form part of Great Britain, how are they British? How can someone who is not from Britian all of a sudden British (unless of course they liniage is from Britain ie there parents, grandparents ect. . .). Simple they can't be and they are not British. I just don't understand how many people on here are saying that people from Northern Ireland are British. I do not know where they are getting there facts and or information from? However, if you are still having trouble with what I say or have said on here or you are still doubting me, by all means don't take my word check it out for yourselves. Check out the links I am providing. Google this yourself. Ask people. By all means find out for yourself.


    http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/britain/britain.htm


    http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-great-britain-and-the-united-kingdom/


    http://geography.about.com/library/faq/blqzuk.htm


    http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/nationality.htm
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  88. Graham the Uk government does NOT just govern england it governs the whole of the UK in regards to defense and foreign policy, it also dictates many powers that are not yet devolved to scotland, wales or N. Ireland. Typical misinformation that proves the point that some english people do have trouble telling the difference between the UK and england. The Government in London is the UK government made up of MPs elected from all parts of the UK not just england, rightly or wrongly england does not have its own parliament. The only way to end all of this confusion is seperation of the UK this would allow all the countries to be equal and we would all get along a lot better as a result. Finally I'm scottish not British, I'll always be scottish and never will class myself as british.
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  89. I was born in England, to an English mother and an Irish father. My dad was not from Northern Ireland, he was from the republic. Also, for long periods of time, I have lived in EIRE, England and Scotland. My accent supports this as its a mixutre of the 3. Because of all this I like to call myself Britsh, simply because it sums up the factors that make me who I am. I dont like saying I am English, beucase I prefere people not to think I am just Enlish and nothing else! I know Republic of Ireland is not in the UK, but its easier to say "British" to let others know I consiser myself to be a mix of nationalities. If you were born in England, of English blood, and grew up for the majority of your life there, I would consider them to be English. The same goes for NI, Scotland and Wales.

    Northern Ireland is part of island, Ireland, not on the island of what the romans dubbed as Britannica. However it IS still part of the UK. If it wasnt, it would be a republic as it wouldnt have a monarch, like the rest of the island of Ireland. So why would it be considered not to be part of EIRE? Because it IS part of the UK. So I would say Northern Irish folk have just as much right to call themself British.... because they are! For Americans, I would compare it to Hawaii and Alaska, although it is not part of the main piece of land that forms the USA (with the understanding that Alaska is on the same continent) people from there are Hawaiian/Alaskan but are still Americans! People from Northern Ireland are Northern Irish, but are a still British.

    I also, like many others, hate the fact many consider 'Britain' or 'The UK' to be England only. I think we should either be one big country called Britain (with no England or Scotland, etc), or be the complete separate, individual countries of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In either of these cases, I think Northern Ireland should be given a choice of either being given back its independance to become part of the island's republic, be its own separate country (in the case that the rest of the UK become their own separate countries) or just become part of one country called Britain.

    I hope I havent offended anyone one in anyway, but I just thought Id share my views!
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  90. Hi all,
    I look forward to English independence and the day when we have our own parliament.
    The sooner that happens the freer I’ll be. For over 300 years there has not been an English parliament and we have been ruled by members of parliament who have not been elected by or for the English nation.
    Home rule for England!
    Home rule for all!
    Good luck to all the constituent nations in this aim.
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  91. Davie fi ScotlandJun 30, 2010 02:10 PM
    Wow! This has become very complicated and confusing for some people. My parents and Grandparents and possibly they're Grandparents were born in Scotland as I was.I regard myself as Scottish, I couldn't be classed as anything else, other than British. I am British because of the 'Act of Union' signed and agreed in 1707, over 300 years ago where the Kingdom of Scotland and Kingdom of England united as one Kingdom. Some people will argue that from a Scottish perpective the Act was not something the majority of people in Scotland either agreed, needed or wanted but was agreed by the 'nobles' of Scotland for the benefit of their own prosperity and wealth (they were bribed). Nonetheless, 300 years on, I am in my 45 year and have no other way of knowing whether this has been a good or bad thing for the current people of Scotland, but do not feel as if I have suffered any more for it as I have known no other way of living.I feel overall the Union has been more good than bad, I can see no benefit to split the Union and as far as I am concerned I may be Scottish but I am definately British and proud.
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  92. We should all be proud to be from the unnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Nothern Ireland. The small island of countrys that offered the world so much, and lets not forget our ansestors who fort for this great union of four countrys under the union flag. Acording to the dictionary british referse to anything or any one from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Nothern Ireland.Yes Northern Ireland hard for some to accept. I dont see the point in this arguing. I was born in England and call my self both English and British depends on the confersation. Just as i would say i am European because the UK is in the continent of Europe. The rest of the world know us as the United Kingdom of GB & NI lets be proud and LONG LIVE THE QUEEN! Also do you all realy think that as seperate countrys we could go alone. For example if we where seperate countrys during world war 2 do you think we could have done it. I dont think so we are a island nation and our UK armed forces do a great job of defending our United Kingdom!
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  93. if youre scottish and welsh,does that mean your a squelch ?????
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  94. So who the heck is the Queen of England that the US media is always talking about. There has not been an English monarch since the early 1700s.
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  95. Why on Earth are some English commenters saying that they are "not British"??!!! This is absurd in the extreme, and makes me despair about the level of education, or even intelligence, being displayed.

    We all have multiple identities - I am 'male', I am also 'human'. They are not interchangeable or comparable, because they are on different levels ('human' is more general than 'male'). Likewise, I am 'English'; I am also 'British'. English and British are not interchangeable because they are not talking about equal-level entities. One is a subset of the other.

    With all due respect to those trying to argue that only Celtic people are true 'Britons', you are wrong. First of all, what you are referring to is a group of people who existed many thousands of years ago (such homogeneous groups of people no longer exist due to mixing). Second of all, in 1975 it was agreed that 'Britain' is an acceptable substitute word for the United Kingdom. Therefore if you have United Kingdom Citizenship, you have British Citizenship.

    For real, working purposes, a "country" is a political and economic entity. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are countries *in name only*. Devolution issues notwithstanding, there is nothing at all in our written statues that suggests that they are countries at all. None of them have seats on the United Nations. None fight independently in Afghanistan. None have their own Army, Navy or Air Force.

    It is NOT an insult to be called 'British' if you are English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish, it is simply a part of your extended identity. If you despise your British Citizenry (which was either earned or was your Birthright), revoke it - see what happens. The Northern Irish have the right to both Irish and British Citizenship. I am English but I do NOT have English Citizenry because that has not meaning at all.

    The only cause for taking offense is if you are Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish and someone (usually an American) refers to you as 'English'.

    Of course, there is nothing unusual with patriotism for the different UK 'nations' - we all have our patron saints, flags and national days. I am patriotic for England; I am also patriotic for Britain, which is the only entity which has any meaning on the world stage (unless of course the UK ever breaks up).

    As I hinted in my first paragraph, if you are English (or Scottish or Northern Irish) but claim to not be British, you are wrong, and you are coming across as profoundly stupid. I feel a lot of this dimness would be avoided if you were aware that 'Britain' now means 'the UK' (Great Britain is only the larger island, a geographical term).

    People are saying this is confusing, but it is not complicated at all. As a matter of fact, all of these points I have made can be found within seconds using Google, although really you should have learned them in primary school before you were 11 years old.
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  96. I was born in Lucknow India in 1936 with a Scottish Mother and an Irish Father and I have a British Passport. I hate it when people say to me "Do you have an English Passport". No, I have a British Passport and my birth was NEVER registered in India. My Dad was in the British Army, not the English Army (Cameronians)and my birth was registered in Britain.
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  97. Michael WilsonJul 17, 2010 04:49 AM
    Firstly, I'm from Yorkshire - born in York, so my answer is lad - get an education - look it up in a book at a library. We tell it like it is in Yorkshire.(that was an attempt at a joke by the way).

    Politely though , England is a country that is part of Great Britain. Wales is a principality not a country and Scotland is a country. The Act of Union with Wales came about by 1543. Wales had previously been under the control of the English Kings since the conquests of Edward I and had been ruled as a principality. Great Britain came into being with the Act of Union 1707 with Scotland. In 1776 of course the American Colonies became independant - the United States, and then you went off and did your own thing.
    In 1800 a number of additional acts specifically within and with Ireland came into place and on 01st Jan 1801 the union act came into force and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland came into being. Since then of course Ireland split and became independant EIRE around 1922, Wales has an assembly of its own and growing toward independance one suspects, Scotland has its own Parliament seperate from Westminster (the UK Parliament) and England? - well it has nothing, we don't have anything we are just British as it says on my passport.

    The differences are huge and Ireland (specifically Eire of course) are Irish - lomg may that be the case - love the place and the people. Scotlland are Scottish and - they can have it, Wales are Welsh and fantastic and the English are - well thats another story. But I am a Yorkshireman, trace my ancestry back a long way on my mums side - Normans(mostly Norsemen) and on my dads side probably real Norsemen but not Saxon. Romans?, too far back in time to concern me although the ruins around gloucestershire are pretty appealing.

    England, Its a great place, a bit wet and windy, dour at times and very dry humoured. Sanguin most of the time but lets not get rilled up as it all becomes a bit messy. We think the US is great but filled with crazy people - but actually really like you a lot - except when you preach. Why do we know that? Its becasue for a few hundred yesr we used to do a lot of that sort of thing ourseleves before we saw the light. England? football, rugby, cricket - thats about it flying the flag - all white with a red cross - mostly though we seem to fly the Union Flag.

    Now don't get me started on the US. The USA came into ......
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  98. Hi
    I am Scottish first and Britsh second mainly because I feel more connected to Scotland. I don't think your ancesters particularly matter. I have Scottish, English and Irish ancesters and relitives. I would still be the same person inside wether I am from Scotland, Austria, Norway or the USA and the labels that we give ourselves just divide and opress us. At the end of the day the UK is small country on a small planet. In years to come we will no longer be here, the continents will shift and none of this will matter anymore. We are all the same and should live in peace.

    Peace, Emma x
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  99. The mayority of the UK is made up of England and that is why they are only ruled by the Wesminster government and they have the highest number of seats. Scotland has its own parliament because the Scottish people felt that, as the majority of MPs are from English constiuencies, the Westminster Parliament couldn't understand their needs and they felt that they were also being used as a guinie pig. I am not sure wether this was the truly the case that they were used as one or wether it was the same in Wales and in Notheren Ireland. It was just in refrence to what Graham and others have said. I just think that Scotland, Wales and Nothern Ireland are more likley to become independant than England as Westminster controlls all of the UKs forgien affairs ect. and England orginised the union of the crowns in 1707 in the first place as Queen Elizabeth 1st of England had no other close realatives other than her cousin's (Mary Queen of Scots) son James VI of Scotland and I of England.
    Also I am Scottish (and British) and I feel that the Scottish Parliament has benifited Scotland greatly in the few areas that it does control. I do also partly belive in independence for Scotland as I belive that a government in Edinburgh that is closer to home could make better decisions for Scotland

    I do not wish to offend anyone with my opinions.

    Independence for Scotland! (or failing that more power to the Scottish Government.)
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  100. It does seem that everybody is into this kind of stuff lately. Don’t really understand it though, but thanks for trying to explain it. Appreciate you shedding light into this matter. Keep it up

    community
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  101. the uk is made up of scoland england n ireland and wales they are all separate countries not like the usa who are all the one country but with different states so if your born in scotland and your familys from scotland you would regard yourself as scottish, im scottish born and raised same goes for england..english, n ireland irish, wales welsh but were all separte countries that form the uk
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  102. i was born in england, i call my self a Britton, or a Celt or Pagan.
    Not White English nor English.
    English is a language,
    You Would not call someone from asia "brown asian"
    nor would you say the chinese are "yellow chinese", and so on
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  103. What a credit to you all this website is. I am sure you have learn a lot putting it together.

    Stay Well Stay Happy

    John
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  104. I would say out of habit that I'm "English" Anyway what on earth happened to the "united" part of the "united kingdom"? It's not united at all anymore. The welsh and Scottish refused in particular to be associated with England, to the point that during the world cup Scotland and Wales only cared that England DID NOT win, I mean we're from the same country! The fact that the Scottish begrudge us so much, I mean 1. We’re not the people who were around 1000's of years ago funnily enough (neither were you actually!) 2. It was mainly the Scottish beating up the Scottish anyway!

    My knowledge of the subject is Britain is the island, and UK is NI aswell. But the UK has never been that unfortunately "united" we can’t even have the same government the Scottish and welsh have independent parties (plus the Scottish insist on having different rules from us and their own Scottish house - like lords and commons but full of Scotts) and they just hate us so much! JUST GET OVER IT! It was 100's of years ago, just forget about it you weren’t even there!!

    This seems to be turning into a rant! But it annoys me so much! Don’t be hating on me I wasn’t there I didn’t hold the sword I didn’t start the war I’ve done nothing wrong! Neither have any English people we're just born here it’s not our fault we didn’t choose it! Just like no one chooses where they are born or wat the country’s history was like! so I’m really sorry but, you're not achieving anything by hating me so get on with ur life, plus if Scotland’s so great and English are so nasty why do you come here and work and get married to English people??? Go home if we’re so bad!

    >.< I feel better now. :D
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  105. Britain, or the UK, is a Country made up of old Kingdoms. It is not a smaller version of a UN or EU. A Briton is what we truly are, as all other decriptions of Scottish English Welsh or other are made up due to us being effected by overseas invaders. We are not ethnically and genetically different. Our blood is Briton. The fore mentioned Scottish English Welsh hatred of each other is probably down to a shared history of sad conflict, and the fact that deep down we know we are exactly the one and the same people, a very natural real Country, yet we decided to act dis-united. Britain is one of the most natural Country in terms of DNA and history, in the world.

    Other Countries have states which have thier own parliaments and governments, unfortunately we failed at having a normal federal system, instead we have expensive asymetric systems (Welsh Assembly, Scottish parliament) in which England has no parliament or government itself. It would probably make sense to split England into two, North and South as they are different from each other in outlook, culture, attitude (does not make them a different people). The North of England has always been the hardest hit part of Britain in history, and should be the most bitter and angry area of the Country, but due to it's hardness, it's not.

    Eu has played it's part in trying to break up Britain, and certain bodies in Britain have belittled Britishness and increasingly servile people are falling for this, hence they may say independence for Scotland or England, which is what eurocrats want. The break up of the worlds most succesful nation state would be the biggest disaster, and mistake of all time, and we should all hold our heads in shame of this failure, if it ever happened. Britain would still be my Country.
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  106. I would argue there are no people of pure English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish descent in the UK and it is somewhat tribalistic to describe oneself as English, Scottish etc. My parents were born in England but raised in Scotland. My siblings were born in Scotland. Some of my grandparents were from England, others from Scotland. I wasn't born in the UK. We have lived in both Scotland and England. I consider myself (and every other citizen of this country) to be British, a citizen of the United Kingdom. There is no such thing as English or Scottish citizenship; these terms refer only to ethnicity. Note also the term 'Great Britain' is very rarely if ever used in the UK because it is the name of our largest island and not our country. Americans, Presidents included, often seem to talk about 'Great Britain', we assume because the US gained independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. The 'United Kingdom', however, has been the correct name for this country since 1801. Britain is officially the short form for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it is NOT short for Great Britain. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are regions like Alsace, Bavaria or Andalusia, they are NOT COUNTRIES in their own right. There is a good resource at http://www.projectbritain.com/britain.html. The information of Wikipedia also seems to be accurate.

    To summarise, Great Britain is an island and not a country. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are regions of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is the only correct name for this country. Citizens of the UK are British.
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  107. I WAS BORN IN ENGLAND SO I AM ENGLISH NOT BRITISH THERE IS NO SUCH PLACE AS BRITISH
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  108. i don't really know because i was born in england however i am from great briton. also i proud to say i am from england or great briton!! :)
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  109. In reference to a post about the "Cornish nation", I too would add that I do not consider myself to be English, but Kentish. An independent nation in its own right for over 400 years before being engulfed by Mercia and later, wessex, I still associate myself more closely with my home land than I do anything to the west or north of its borders.
    After this, I would say I'm British, as I live on the British Isles. But never English, and never European.
    Its interesting to me (although not surprising) that the Scots and Irish have a lot more to say about their nationalities and how hard done by theyve all been by the English - even if they dont say it in as many words!
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