In the interests of accuracy I beg leave to differ with the Dec. 12 Reuters article " 'Britishness' campaign highlights identity crisis." If I were asked my nationality, I would surely answer not "British" but "English." The queen herself is not queen of Britain but queen of England. From the time of King Alfred (ninth century), my country has been proud of being called "England." The Tudors may have brought in a Welsh influence in 1485 and the Stuarts may have brought in a Scottish influence in 1603, but it wasn't till the Act of Union in 1707 that the three countries came together under the proper description of Great Britain.
So I am all in favor of the Scots calling their country Scotland and the Welsh calling their country Wales and, of course, the Irish calling their country Ireland, so long as they will allow me to call my country England. Prime Minister Gordon Brown (like former Prime Minister Tony Blair and many other parliamentarians), being a Scotsman in Westminster, may want to promote the "Britishness" of his fellow countrymen, but I would advise him -- with the approval of lexicographer Samuel Johnson -- to cherish that "Britishness" (if he wants it) in his native Scotland without forcing it down the throats of us natives in England.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.