Britannist

It is true that for its population size England takes a larger share of immigrants than its proportion of the total UK population warrants.

And large part of those immigrants who come to England - legal and illegal - head for the London area.

Britannist

I understand that sales of the Union Flag (Union Jack - the UK flag) at flag shops in Scotland have virtually ceased.

cassie

It seems to me that your idea of Britain as a state is to allow very minor component nations amounting to less than 16% of its citizens (I'm including N Ireland here with its paltry 1.7 million!) to have separate political differences, and rights and privileges withheld from England and the English comprising some 84% of Britain's (the UK's) population! One of your apparent reasons for this blatant discrimination is simply because you love visiting your relatives in Scotland! (If not, why on earth did you mention it?)

If this is your idea, well you can keep it, and I find that increasing numbers of English people are coming to this position!

You say: "Scotland actually gives a lot to the Union its proud tradition and culture enrich British life in my view." So what?

Is it not equally true that England contributes vastly more to the Union? If its "proud traditions and culture" do not enrich British life, it is because all kinds of obstacles are placed in the path of that, especially by that malign Scot who squats in 10 Downing Street insisting (for example) upon flying the Union Jack to an extent he neglects to impose on either Scotland or Wales! THERE they can fly THEIR national flags from official buildings 365 days per year whilst here there is no requirement fly the English flag even once on the 23rd April! [See also Britannist's posting about sales of Union Jacks in Scotland. The fact is that they don't like it there!]

It is only in England's schools that Brown & Co are imposing 'Britishness' lessons but not in either Scotland's or Wales' schools.

If pointing out these discriminatory practices is what you are calling 'sniping', I plead guilty, but I will not be silenced by an apologist for holidays in Scotland!

You need to get your facts established. Scotland is a sparsely populated country which enjoys disproportionate financial and other support from England by reason of Scots, like Brown and others who (taking advantage of positions they occupy by reason of being allegedly 'British') siphon off employment and public funding to Scotland to an extent they do not direct at England. One only has to look at the plethora of banking and other finance organisations based in Scotland now, primarily in Edinburgh. Why are the BBC's and Tesco's Complaints Depts based in Glasgow. Both Tesco's and Sainsbury's finance operations are located in Scotland - Glasgow and Edinburgh respectively. A British Army brigade HQ was re-located from York to Edinburgh in 1998 for no operational or financial benefit with a consequent loss of posts in England. (Incidentally, the Army's single largest area of recruitment is in the north of England, not that you'd know from all the noise that goes on about saving 'Scottish regiments'!

If you want to call this 'sniping' you are free to do so! I call it citing facts!

With Englishmen like you, no wonder we are up the Khyber! I am proud to be English, but I am no longer proud of being British! Anyone can be British now, and the PC (minority dominated) brigade have allowed the newest foreign-born recruits to British citizenship to live here separately and to retain their own identities. Why? To dilute the English. It is only belatedly now that those in government appear to realise that assisting foreigners to live here without learning English is dividing our society! Moreover, not being able to speak English absolves them from legal requirements and responsibilities placed on the rest of us: the good, old fashioned, original English inhabitants! Health & Safety legislation imposes duties on all of us (whether or not you realise it) but, for example, an asian shopkeeper who relies upon his daughters to communicate in English with his customers will probably be excused HIS shortcomings even though it is his enterprise and under his control.

I could go on, but on the evidence it is a waste of time trying to inform someone who seems thoroughly indoctrinated with false notions of being British and who seems bent on maintaining his position for the most superficial of reasons.

Don't get me wrong! I do not hate the Scots; they are often admirable. I agree that they do make a valuable contribution to the UK, and often punch above their weight! I am happy for the UK to continue. In fact I think that suitably adapted it is better that the UK continues to exist, but not at the expense of self determination to a degree enjoyed elsewhere in the UK continuing to be denied to England and its people!

Unlike so many unionists, I am a democrat, and if the will of the people is for the UK to be abolished, so be it! I would not have it continue to be imposed as I believe some here would have it!

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rjt

With regards to your last sentance i compltely agree with you and I am glad you note Scotlands contribution to the union.

With regards to false notions about being British I would point out that Identity is a fluid thing it is not static. I do agree with your points about foreigners, little has been done in Britain regarding intergration and boy are we paying for it.

The points about ineqaulity you raise are very valid and we both know that we need an English Devolved body to help readress the imbalance.

I note your comments about the present PM, I would concentrate more on the fact he is a known liar and supported Blairs war crimes as well as mucking up the economy for the UK more than the fact he is a Scot.

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Mr Delors said that he wanted the European Parliament to be the democratic body of the community, The Commission to be The Executive and The Council Of Ministers The Senate. NO! NO! NO!
(Margaret Thatcher 30 Oct 1990)

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