Question of nationality divides Union Street
ARE the English feeling less British? We visited historic Union Street in Plymouth – which connects the city centre to the Devonport naval shipyard – to find out.
Sean Lodge, 24, a medic in the Navy from Plymouth: “I describe myself as British but in future English people will be more likely to describe themselves as English. It would benefit England if Scotland were to be independent. We pay high taxes to subsidise tuition fees and cheap prescriptions in Scotland which we don’t see the benefits of.”
Kizzy Dowding, 20, a shop supervisor from Plymouth: “I describe myself as English rather than British. If Scotland wants to be independent they should go for it. Scotland has its own parliament so I don’t see why it can’t.”
George Peart, 48, a plasterer, originally from Newcastle: “I describe myself as British as it is all encompassing. Britain as a whole has its customs and traditions and I feel a sense of pride at being from Britain, not just England. Being from Newcastle I feel closer to Scotland than people living in the South. But Scots have always considered themselves to be independent.”
Vilma Glanville, 80, a retired auditor for the Ministry of Defence: “I would describe myself as English and I always have. My family are English and that’s where my heritage is. Scotland gets a lot of advantages that we don’t. They can sit in our parliament but we don’t have a say in theirs.”
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Comments
There are 20 comments to this article
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Robb Collett
Monday, November 28, 2011 at 06:15 PMI am English and like the majority of Scots have a strong devotion to my country. Above all, I believe in freedom of both the individual and the nation. Of all the countries in the world both England and Scotland have set the standards of national pride and are, arguably, the two most nationally committed loyalists to their country. Oddly, even most immigrants to both countries become indoctrinated within these two, quite precious, enclaves. I believe in an independent Scotland and not because of any financial advantagedisadvantage and nor because of any sectarian ignorance or dogmatic and political bigotry. No! Simply stated, the sole basis of the union of the united kingdom was to discourage rampant Scots from marauding south and “beating us up”. Why did they do it? Well, frankly, considering what the Romans did followed by centuries of rich southern landowners paying mercenaries to “pillage ‘n loot” in Scotland, who on earth could blame them? The Scots have no reason to like or respect the English. And not many of them do. I believe in an independent Scotland because (in a tribal and cultural sense) they have nothing in common with the English. The English are Saxo-Norman, ie. they come from Saxony and Normandy. Scots are Celtic. In my own book, ne’er the twain shall meet. Yes, the union did survive long enough to jointly share in the victories of two World Wars but now is the time for concluding what some see as a glorious partnership but it was never a gracious one. The only ones wishing to preserve it are those who profit from it and they are reducing day-by-day. And, if the SNP dared to include English constituences in the Independence Vote then they would win handsomely. Why? Simply because Scottish independence is the fast-track to English independence. Neither England nor Scotland have any need to fear independence. This is one of those rare instances whereby united we fall. It’s just a matter of compromise and good faith in dividing what assets remain and most of those are debts anyway. Vive la freedom and independence.
Maximumrider
Friday, November 25, 2011 at 04:10 AMas an american, i find this rather amusing. from our point of view, you are all british. we can distinguish whether you are a scot, welsh, or english by your accents. only ireland confuses many american. the republic are irish, the north, well, not so easy. americans say we are americans, but if you break it down, we can say i am from____(name a state).
Enigma
Monday, November 21, 2011 at 07:27 AM17 Oddly enough some Scots people are equally ignorant and have very strange not to say bigoted and ill-informed views about the English. I find it hard to believe that in your `40 years` travelling the UK, that all English people conform to your description. Over egging undermines your argument
Jibeethehibee
Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 11:47 PMAre the English being less british! Don't make me laugh! I have been holidaying abroad for the best part of 40 years , but it does not matter how many English people you meet ,in what ever country you care to mention,They know I'm. Scottish ,I tell them I'm from Edinburgh ,they know by my accent ,but when it gets to a few days before the end of my holiday I get asked when I'm going HOME to England ,they think home is England.On my last holiday ,this summer I was at my friends house with four of five English people having a drink and a game of trivial pursuit ,one of the questions was what country's took part in the d day landings and fought against the germans ,without hesitation one of them (English) Answered ,America , Canada ,Australia and England ,I just swallowed hard and bit my tounge . I then asked one of the wives of the English gentlemen if she knew where Perth ,just north of Edinburgh ,was ? She told me she did not know ,but thought it was all part of England . It's just second nature to them,the. Uk is England and England is the Uk. And they wonder why we north of the border get so annoyed with them .
Scotindy
Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 07:35 PMWhat a load of crap................
Enigma
Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 05:14 PM14 The big clue is `retired MOD auditor`. Even civil servants are free to have opinions when they retire. 12 I`m guessing there must be a reason you think the English are denying the Scots their independence? I get it, you don`t understand that in a devolved Scotland, the choice for independence or not is entirely up to the Scots, they could all choose to vote SNP at the next general election. It`s not, as you imply, anything to do with the English, unless of course you believe every soap box pundit that pops up on this site
G HARDIE
Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 04:03 PMBit of a give away by retired MoD auditor "They ( the Scots) can sit in our (the English) parliament but we don't have a say in their's" Is this official Mod attitude to the status of Westminster ? I think we should be told.
Cynicus
Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 02:08 PM1 Wardog Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 12:07 AM Superb, the scotsman best wee journalists in the world visiting south of england cities to stir up unrest. _______________________________________________________ The SECOND FRONT, Wardog. While the SNP abandons its independence heritage for a mess of DEVOMAX pottage, the Tory 'garagistes' of Middle England look the best bet for delivering a velvet divorce.
Aussie Aussie Aussie
Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 01:04 PMWith the Scots being such a drain on English society I wonder WHY Scotland is denied independence ? Hmmmm.......must be a reason. hmmmm.......must be a damn good reason too.
Enigma
Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 12:23 PMNo surprises here, 20 years ago most English people would describe themselves as `British`. All that has changed since the Blair years, as far as many English are concerned, devolution is unfinished business and within the UK, we are the `elephant in the living room`, to paraphrase the late Sir Lunatic Kennedy. It seems odd, to put it mildly, that there is no English only legislature.
samcoldstream
Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 12:18 PMA natural progression is taking place and the UK is moving towards a Federal or Con-Federal State.
subliminalfish
Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 11:59 AMIs it Unionist policy to keep these people in ignorance?
neoloon
Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 11:47 AMPolls like this show up the increasingly pathetic stance of Scottish unionists: the more they plead for the union the less English people support i
Jimson
Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 10:15 AMFrankly my dear(s), who gives a damn!
jack hobbs
Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 09:29 AMWhy go to Union Street when hardly anyone walks down it as there are no shops only run down pubs. To get a good sample of opinion you should have gone to Royal Parade where virtually everyone goes locals and visitors.
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