I think it is really hard to explain because of the rise of negative connotations surrounding the use of the word British with Nationalists. Its not a distinct culture, it can not be because of the cultural differences not only between the constituent nations of the Union but also between the regions of the nations. It shares a common language but has secondary and distinct languages, it remains class riven whilst some areas have more in common with others such as maybe Manchester sharing a common industrial heritage with Glasgow, Manchester and Glasgow will share nothing but language with a village in Berkshire. It could be said Britishness is forced upon the other nations of the Union by the dominance of the English but without that enforcement there would be no metaphorical Great in Britain. So it could be argued that each constituent nation contributes to the overall sense of Britishness. That Britain would be one with a long history that is not all good but dominated the world, a Britain that has the mother of Parliaments and the Magna Carta but one that also forced the treaty of Union through with Scotland and was brutal in its oppression of Ireland under Cromwell.
I think Britishness only comes to the fore in times of national crisis, then it can be formidable but in normal times each part of the nation gets on with being itself and revels in its own identity. The English have always been at the core of Britishness as the dominant partner which is why the rise of English Nationalism makes me so fearful for our combined futures. I see our collective values of tolerance, understanding, democracy and fairness as being under threat.
I know that doesn't really answer your question at all, it is just muses, so how do i identify myself. I am foremost a proud Mancunian and everything else is secondary to that. I tick the box British if I am answering a questionnaire, I rarely consider myself English because English identity is distinct from Mancunian identity in my eyes. I see England as London and the Home Counties. I just don't have much in common with them and they don't with me.
In fairness Rascal, ramblings or not, it's as good an insight as I've encountered. Thanks for that and to Bob and MetalBiker too.
Combined, it gives me a picture that is not that far removed from my view of Britishness.
MB referred to the Acts of Union. Do other colonies around the world count as British? Are/were Indian people born pre: 1947 British?
Bob referred to being British abroad. There is no doubt a lot to be proud of at home, when you are away, but is home England or Britain?
I found the highlighted line above very honest and very interesting, as it is I think, how it is viewed by a lot outside of England. (co-incidence - spell check keeps trying to change Britishness to Brutishness ;) )
Britishness was forced upon many violently. It involved the dispossession of indigenous people and it demanded loyalty to an English Monarchy.
There is no doubt that being part of the union of GB and the UK has it's benefits. It must do otherwise why would it be supported.
My view has has always been that the main beneficiaries of the Empire as it was and the Union as it is now have always been the rich and the ruling classes.
I never understood what the Scottish or the Welsh got out of it, but there must be something.
But look at Ireland. Getting out of it has proved more difficult than the 3 years you have endured since your Brexit vote.
I look at English people now wanting an English identity and think why not? Seems logical to me.
There is a great deal to be proud of in your heritage and I don't want this to be a Brit bashing exercise.
If NI people can have dual citizenship where is the problem with English people being British and English?
Regarding being British and being in the EU?
Brexit has really thrown a spanner in the works though as there is a conflict between being in the union and being in the EU. (The whole point I know)
By population UK has nearly 67million. Scotland has 5.5m approx. Wales over 3m and NI about 1.8m I think.
So basically even if 100% of Scotland Wales and NI had voted to stay in the EU, really the way England votes is the key to their future?
Am I misreading this or have I missed something subtle in the referendum? Because if that is how it is, it reinforces my view that Britain has always been more about the English ruling classes and an empirical view on the union.