The not so United Kingdom
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The UK is a country that has ruffled a few feathers in its time. Everyone seems to have an opinion of the Brits, but what do the four nations in one think of each other? Our stereotypes series takes us to the British Isles to find out how the Scots, Welsh, Northern Irish and English get along.
The rest of the continent may view the UK - or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to use the correct title - as one country, but its inhabitants are not so sure. On the ground, centuries of rivalry between the English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish are still going strong.
Just who or what is a Brit? It turns out that despite the parts of the UK having been united for over 200 years now, no one really knows the answer to this question.
Of the four, it is the English who are most likely to describe themselves as British, as they are the ones who struggle most with a sense of national identity. The other three nations, which can draw on a historical hatred of their former conquerers as a rallying cry, are less quick to use this label. Many Scots, for example, see it as a just a psuedonym for English or even just a completely made-up concept.
Euranet’s Lars Bevanger spent some time on the streets of Britain investigating local stereotypes.
Jim McAuley from Belfast said that when he first came over to Manchester: “We went to a pub for a drink, two guys ran in with starting pistols and masks on and shot over our heads because they thought that would make us feel at home.”
“The Welsh have this reputation of being slightly devious,” said Welsh MP Adam Pryce, adding with a wry smile: “The other stereotype of course is that the Welsh are far better lovers than the English."
There is a growing sense that all these jokes, stereotypes and sports rivalries between the four nations - usually taken with a pinch of salt - mask a deeper divide in the country.
Scotland and Wales, which now have their own parliaments, are now pushing for even greater autonomy. If the pro-independence movements continue to gain strength, then other Europeans may in the future find themselves left trying to deal with a not so United Kingdom.
For more in our series on European stereotypes see:
European stereotypes: Don't mention the wars!
When in Rome... Italians' views on their less stylish neighbours
A Dane, a Swede and a Finn walk into a bar...
Blinging, dull and diplomatic...Welcome to the Baltics!
Other
It is rare for someone who is English to describe themslves as British unless they have a non-indigenous hertitage. We were English until the Scoto-Welsh-Communist Labour party decided to destroy both England and its culture. Government forms allow one to be Scots, Irish, Welsh, Black British, Asian British, Chinese British, Afro-Caribbean British----but not English!
The Labour party is dominated by Non-English apparachniks who channel Englis money away from England and promote any values but English ones.
