An Old Firm Match

[steepholm]

So, I thought to myself, why rant here for nothing when I could be ranting in a national newspaper for money? Thus was born this contribution to the debate over the current constitutional crisis, in which I propose moving the capital of the UK from London to Glasgow in the event of a No vote in September.

Unfortunately, it was published on the Guardian site just as I was leaving to catch a coach to (ironically) London, where I spent yesterday evening at a fabulous concert given by my brother and the folksinger Chris Wood. It was a great evening, but one devoid of internet (bar 15 minutes at a cafe) so I wasn't able to keep up with the comments, of which there are now around 500. They divide between those that think I'm being serious (which I am) and those that think I'm joking (which I also am) - so, just what I would have hoped for, really. One thing that did surprise me was that some commenters appear to believe that the English don't habitually conflate the UK and England. I was glad to have it Engsplained that the innumerable occasions on which I'd observed this happening were all in my imagination, and if I were on Twitter I might be considering a #notallsassenachs tag.

Comments

[steepholm]

I'm more forgiving of foreigners in general than of people who actually live in the UK. The Americans too are frequent offenders, and in Japanese the word for someone from the UK is "Igirisu" (guess what English word that comes from?). But in the case of the English - it's just our old friend privilege at work, I fear.

[lilliburlero]

Oh, I don't mind it at all in people who aren't from the archipelago--I'm sure there are lots of equivalents in other countries that I'm not aware of. But the same people are often deeply indignant over Northern Ireland being considered 'British' or part of 'Britain', which is fine as long as you don't also cheerfully wipe Wales and Scotland off the map with a casual comment.

[steepholm]

Fair point!