Britishness tests essay

“Britishness” goes beyond any emotions that are attached to it. British is often used instead of English, foreigners and citizens alike, make little difference between “English” and “British”. This essay will identify what was meant as “British” before the 21st century and how people view it now in contrast with being ‘English’

The English, on the other hand, are more likely to describe themselves as British than as English. (The whole question is rather different in Northern Ireland, but as MORI and the other Great Britain based polling companies do not normally poll there, and as Messrs Blair and Hague do not campaign for votes there, we shall leave it well alone.)

Let me give you some examples: Belisha beacons, fish 'n' chips, Chelsea pensioners, Highland games, Marmite soldiers, Blackpool rock, Jimmy wigs, Yorkshire pudding, prawn cocktail crisps, red telephone boxes, afternoon tea, the Greenwich pips, a pint of foaming bitter (or, if north of the Border, make that a pint of heavy).

Lastly a person who is stereotypically white and can speak English doesn’t necessarily mean that they are British. This makes it hard to define ‘Britishness’ because English is a widely spoken language around the world. So many people can speak fluent English, not just people in United Kingdom can.