The State Of England

by Neil Bamforth

A recent article was about the rise of English nationalism – aided in no small part by a successful World Cup. By the time this is published England may be World Champions or they may have lost the 3rd place playoff and finished 4th.

That’s 4th place in a World Cup we didn’t expect to progress much beyond the group stages, is no mean feat.

The debate in the comments, rather than being about English nationalism, meandered all over the place about how many states America had and whether the Union Flag was a Jack or not.

It wasn’t where I’d anticipated the debate going but there’s nothing like a bit of unpredictability to keep the mind active.

One thing that was said – and similar things have been said before at different intervals – showed some possible confusion regarding the status of England.

It was quite rightly pointed out that, in order to be a country, you need a duly elected government for a start and clearly England hasn’t got one.

The government is British, not English.

However, through the devolution process, Scotland has its own Parliament and Wales and Northern Ireland their own Assemblies.

England is being discriminated against as we have only a central British government.

Of course, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh and Northern Irish Assemblies do not have complete autonomy.

That would only happen if those nations voted to leave the United Kingdom – Scotland being the likelier if it happens.

So yes, it is correct to say that, under accepted criteria, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not independent countries as we know them but it is wrong to assume they are akin to US states for example.

If you tell a Californian they are not a country but a state, they will probably look at you in a bemused way and avoid you as some kind of nutcase – given that they never thought they were a country.

If you tell an Englishman, Scotsman or Welshman their nations don’t count as countries they will probably pour a beer on your head – at the very least.

Northern Ireland is much more problematic and complicated so I’ll leave them out of it on this occasion.

During the Olympics, for example, it is Great Britain & Northern Ireland competing as one nation or country.

During international tournaments in rugby, cricket or the World Cup it is England, Scotland etc competing as individual countries.

It isn’t as simple as saying “Oh you aren’t a real country because you are part of The United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland and that is your only government”

Well, it isn’t that simple if you don’t want an irate Englishman, Scotsman or Welshman emptying his beer over your head anyway.

It’s in the hearts and minds of most English, Scots, and Welsh.

We are countries in our own right and you can stick your logic where the sun doesn’t shine.

You disagree? Fine. Walk into any pub in any of the three countries and try arguing your belief that we aren’t.

Make sure it’s a friendly pub though or it might be the glass on your head, not just the beer. 😀🍺

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