What's the difference between being 'British' and being 'English'?

Question

Lots of questions here. 1) A recent survey suggests that for the first time more English people feel English rather than British. What's the difference? 2) Or was 'Britishness' (whatever that is - received pronunciation, 'stiff-upper lip', queuing, etc.??) was this actually '(southern?') Englishness'? 3) More importantly, does it matter to anyone if we calll ourselves English, Scottish, Cornish, etc.? 4) Anyone, that is, apart from the governent, which appears to think that talking about "British values" is a way of stopping Scottish referendums on independence and Islamist terrorism, and something that should be 'taught' in schools: is the government wrong? Aren't 'values' supposed to occur 'naturally' within a people? Can they be 'taught'? 5) The government claims that - in part - British values are those that, say, English people have in common with, say, Scottish people. Which ones are they, and which ones don't we share? Thanks for reading this. Thoughtful answers only, please

Answer 1

I think the English took greatest pride in being British and were happy to be British until they realised that Scotland and Wales had strong national identities whilst they had a British identity. Devolution and English qualification for major football tournaments seem to have played a part. Part of being Scottish / Welsh is clearly defining yourself as 'not English' (because everyone on the continent hates the English. It's good to see the English realising they are English as that increases the chance of Britain being seen for the exploitative construction that it is and letting the Scots have their freedom - although not before greedy English scumbags have stolen all our oil. I think being English means you have a superiority complex over other nations, whereas being British means you are a spineless tea drinker...

Answer 2

Englishness is in danger of being wiped off official records for good. In the last census, in the question about nationality the options were:

Asian British
Black British
Chinese British
White British
Scots British
Welsh British
Other (please state).

What about English? We were not given an opportunity to state that we are English. I chose 'other' and wrote "English". We have a Scottish parliament and a Welsh assembly, but no 'English' representation and the Westminster parliament is full of Scots people, passing laws that half the time don't apply in Scotland. Why? I know the Scots and the Welsh have a bee in their bonnets about their nationalities, but they actually have much more freedom to express their nationality than we English do. They can wave their flags with alacrity (and quite right too). If we wave the St George's flag people start saying it's racist. Why? I'm not racist in any way, shape or form, but resent being made to feel that saying I'm English rather than British is somehow wrong. When it comes to sport I will support Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland against all comers, except obviously England. Why do so many of you lot support any and everyone rather than England? Also, and far more seriously, why are certain cancer (and other disease's) drugs available in Scotland but not available in England and Wales? It's supposed to be one country and I think it's outrageous.

Answer 3

Englanders are for England
Scots are for Scotland
Welsh are for Wales and
Unionists are for Britain

It does matter to the Nationalist but not to the Unionists.
I agree with point 4. and point 5 i think it isn't so much in Values but Culture.

But there isn't too much difference culturally but Englanders hate the 'sweaty socks' and Scots hate 'En-ger-land' but the Welsh seem to hate everyone including other Welsh folk.

Untill their is equality for being Scottish or Welsh this problem won't go away. And before someone mentions the Assemblies etc. I mean by that that when Scots or Welsh visit England they are treated as equals not second class citizens. This also goes for England visitors to Scotland or Wales. Then there is the England Broadcasting Corporation (BBC as its otherwise known)

Answer 4

To define yourself as English as opposed to British just seems to disassociate yourself from the Scots / Irish / Welsh. In this age of inclusion should we really be doing that? Should we not bond as the nation of Great Britain and embrace our differences?
R.P. and 'stiff upper lip' used to be a sign of class rather than Britishness whereas now it is more of a regional difference - more southerners speak with R.P. as that is their accent.
I think values such as 'love', 'respect' and 'tolerance' should be accepted as the values of this nation whether we call them British or English values. These values can be taught in schools and should be taught in schools so as to help children to develop into well rounded citizens

Answer 5

I am British but most definitely not English - I am Welsh.
There is a massive difference between the two. I have a strong sense of and pride in my country's heritage and history. Also I think that there are fundamental differences in the attitudes between the people of each country in Britain because of the varied histories. Yes there are some traits/ values etc that all the countries have in common but for the most part I think each country's pepole are different.

Answer 6

I am a born and bred Isle of Wighter (Vectian or Corkhead) and when i fill out any form asking for ethnicity i always tick the other box and write Vectian (English). I think it is wrong to forget our roots. Incidentally i now regard myself as an expatriate islander as i live and work in Norfolk.

For those people who may not have enough knowledge of the geography of Great Britain. Britain is a large island situated to the north of the Isle of Wight.

Answer 7

i was born in scotland this makes me british not english...it matters alot to me to be called scottish after all that is my place of birth and up bringing.
yes we have everything in common with english people,but the goverment tend to lean on the english for votes.as for values they do come natural we dont need to be taught this in schools.

Answer 8

in answer to part one of your question-anyone in the world, born to parents of british passport holders,are british.Only people born in england are english.Tell a scotsman,welshman,or irishman he is english and see the reaction.Each one is proud of their own nationality.When abroad,and asked, i say i am english,scots say scottish,welsh-welsh,and irish-irish.There is no such thing as British values,each has their own.Some are simular,but most are miles apart.As an afterthought, fill in any government-form and where it says nationality,write English, and they will change it to british.Write scottish,welsh or irish and it will remain unchanged.Even foreigners know and can pick-up on the differences-we all have differing traits.

Answer 9

large Britain is England, Wales and Scotland. uk is England, Wales, Scotland and northern eire. As you have been born in England you're extremely English. Tim Henman is Scottish.

Answer 10

When someone asks me what I am I say I'm English because I'm the first generation born in America, but I would assume that if I lived in England I'd say I'm British. If I lived in Scotland I'd say I was Scotish. But I never knew there was a difference between British & English.