IT is interesting to see that John Whittingdale MP thinks that “Britishness” goes beyond Union Jacks and the monarch, but once again we see English characteristics taken to represent what is British.
Apart from Derry Girls, with humour that could have been made in Eire as easily as Father Ted, he has presented a list of TV shows that are quintessentially English from the Great “British” Bake-off featuring a line up of contestants all from England to Dad’s Army, where the only nod to the involvement of any nation other than England in the Second World War is the inclusion a parody Scotsman in the cast. It is clear that when this government minister talks about “our nation” he means England.
READ MORE: Shona Craven: Are dated sitcoms really the epitome of the 'Britishness' the Tories want?
While the government in London ignores other nations in the toxic Union by conflating England with Britain they are in breach of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Minorities. Surely our Holyrood government should formally petition the United Nations for their support in pursuit of our rights under this declaration.
Ni Holmes
St Andrews
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