(Though most of Ireland is now independent)
Most people however say "Britain" or "Great Britain", usually "Britain" refers to the mainland and Great Britain includes Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man and have different institutions of governance.
But some "British" can get confused with these different names and usages.
The Scottish and Welsh if asked "What is your citizenship?" they will almost always answer "British" but when asked "What is your nationality will always answer "Scottish, or Welsh.
In contrast native born English who are asked the same question will confuse the two.
British is a citizenship. English is a nationality.
The English outnumbering the other nations by approximately nine to one, and being educated in all things as British often confuse nationality with citizenship and answer "British" as if his or her nationality and citizenship were one and the same.
So why is it that all over the country and indeed all over the world people are accepted by their nationality, are in many ways proud of their nationality, and recognize their Saints day via bank holidays which is often printed on yearly calendars as the norm.
Yet England which stands with proud traditions, a rich history, and heritage is not recognized.
Children at an early age should be taught all about their nation, what it stands for, it's history, achievements, and failures.
In return this would also give them pride in knowing exactly from where they came.
A fine example of England being ignored is St George's day which, in some circles, is regarded as racist or offensive to other nations or cultures. WHY?
St George is part of our culture and history, as it is for other nations and cultures and should be recognized as do St David's day, (Wales) St Andrew's day (Scotland) and St Patrick's day (Ireland)
"BRITISH" conveys those constitutions, values, and belief structures that all four nations of the UK have in common. These are laws and customs of these constitutions, the crown as a symbol of unity and for over three centuries, parliamentary and representative government, and all under the same banner of the union flag.
However there are real and valued differences in the broader cultures and ways of life of the four nations of the UK.
For instance, we name poetry, novels, and folk songs as either English, Scottish or Welsh, rarely as "British" also Scotland, N Ireland, and Wales all have representative governments or assemblies with important but somewhat limited powers except England. England is the only nation that has been denied any independent governance.
Common democratic, and, with a few exceptions mutually tolerant politics binds us all together. But apart from politics, the differences in our sense of national identity make us four separate nations. Football for example, these "teams" are recognized in international competitions! Nothing is simple however; for rugby union the Three nations also compete separately but the republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland combine in one team.
In international cricket, England stands (or falls) alone, though it may include players from Wales.
So why did I join the English Democrats.
English nationalism is a nationalism that asserts that England is a nation in its own right and promotes the cultural unity of the English.
In a general sense, it comprises political, social movements and sentiment inspired by the love for English culture, language, and history as well as pride in England and the English people.
English nationalists often see themselves as English first, rather than "British".
On a political level, some English nationalists advocate self government for England, which could take the form of a devolved English parliament within the a federal United Kingdom or the re-establishment of an independent sovereign state of England.
Coupled with my sentiment and the above mentioned, also seeing what the "British" political elite have done to my country over the years, I joined the English Democrats.
Their (our) manifesto in principle is a way to at least try and re-establish England as a recognised nation and the English as a people or race.
The British establishment has denied the English their birthright, as Englishmen and women and sold us out to foreign lands with the signing of treaties that take away our very own right to be who we are.Which in its narrowest form is illegal under law.
Although many of the common laws have since been modernised to meet modern life the principle is still the same.
Article 61 Magna Carta. "Inasmuch as, for the sake of God, and for the bettering of our realm, and for the more ready healing of the discord which has arisen between us and our barons, we have made all these aforesaid concessions, wishing them to enjoy for ever entire and firm stability, we make and grant to them the folIowing security: that the baron, namely, may elect at their pleasure twenty five barons from the realm, who ought, with all their strength, to observe, maintain and cause to be observed, the peace and privileges which we have granted to them and confirmed by this our present charter. In such wise, namely, that if we, or our justice, or our bailiffs, or any one of our servants shall have transgressed against any one in any respect, or shall have broken one of the articles of peace or security, and our transgression shall have been shown to four barons of the aforesaid twenty five: those four barons shall come to us, or, if we are abroad, to our justice, showing to us our error; and they shall ask us to cause that error to be amended without delay. And if we do not amend that error, or, we being abroad, if our justice do not amend it within a term of forty days from the time when it was shown to us or, we being abroad, to our justice: the aforesaid four barons shall refer the matter to the remainder of the twenty five barons, and those twenty five barons, with the whole land in common, shall distrain and oppress us in every way in their power - namely, by taking our castles, lands and possessions, and in every other way that they can, until amends shall have been made according to their judgement. Saving the persons of ourselves, our queen and our children. And when amends shall have been made they shall be in accord with us as they had been previously. And whoever of the land wishes to do so, shall swear that in carrying out all the aforesaid measures he will obey the mandates of the aforesaid twenty five barons, and that, with them, he will oppress us to the extent of his power. And, to any one who wishes to do so, we publicly and freely give permission to swear; and we will never prevent any one from swearing. Moreover, all those in the land who shall be unwilling, themselves and of their own accord, to swear to the twenty five barons as to distraining and oppressing us with them: such ones we shall make to wear by our mandate, as has been said. And if any one of the twenty five barons shall die, or leave the country, or in any other way be prevented from carrying out the aforesaid measures,--the remainder of the aforesaid twenty five barons shall choose another in his place, according to their judgment, who shall be sworn in the same way as the others. Moreover, in all things entrusted to those twenty five barons to be carried out, if those twenty five shall be present and chance to disagree among themselves with regard to some matter, or if some of them, having been summoned, shall be unwilling or unable to be present: that which the majority of those present shall decide or decree shall be considered binding and valid, just as if all the twenty five had consented to it. And the aforesaid twenty five shall swear that they will faithfully observe all the foregoing, and will cause them be observed to the extent of their power. And we shall obtain nothing from any one, either through ourselves or through another, by which any of those concessions and liberties may be revoked or diminished. And if any such thing shall have been obtained, it shall be vain and invalid, and we shall never make use of it either through ourselves or through another".
The Magna Carta gives us the basis of all our present laws.
Kevin Riddiough, additional research Jayne Riddiough.
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