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AIBU?

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Original poster

British or English

279 replies

Dellspoem · 06/03/2025 16:32

Currently having a conversation/ debate with a friend. Are you British or English? Do you consider one a nationality and one an ethnicity?

My Asian family members describe themselves as British Asian. Saying 'I'm English' is synonymous with something else, mainly because of the connotations with the English flag and nationalism.

They are both geographic locations, so technically this shouldnt be that different. And you don't get the same with Scottish or Welsh.

What are your thoughts?

OP posts:
Original poster
Dellspoem · 06/03/2025 16:49

What interesting answers! Thank you.

Yes it was sparked by the Rishi Sunak interview

@Tomatotater what would you consider yourself?

English = Heritage; British = nationality is I think a good sum up

OP posts:
Tooty78 · 06/03/2025 16:49

English.

whatnooow · 06/03/2025 16:49

I'm English.

Why are we the only country that has "connotations" about their own flag? And I don't see what's wrong with being proud of where you're from Aka nationalism.

Although England, and the rest of the Uk, is in a dire state at the moment and I don't feel particularly proud of how we treat our elderly and vulnerable members of society.

Bluevelvetsofa · 06/03/2025 16:48

English and British.

ScarletWitchM · 06/03/2025 16:48

English

Lolo2000 · 06/03/2025 16:48

British - mum is Welsh/Scottish however she was brought up with her Welsh family and would say she's more Welsh than anything, born in England though.
Dad is Nigerian, been here since 1972.

MrsSkylerWhite · 06/03/2025 16:48

Half Scottish, born in England so I’m both.
Husband is half German, born in Cornwall, so he’s both.
Kids born in Cornwall, so Cornish 😁

Rubyupbeat · 06/03/2025 16:47

English - didn't vote leave and am not racist, as was suggested further up.

user2848502016 · 06/03/2025 16:47

I think it's very personal- I'm Welsh and would describe myself as Welsh first and British second. I only really describe myself as British on official forms or if I'm abroad. My DH is English but lived in Wales for a long time so thinks of himself as British first English second.
I don't think anything negative if someone describes themselves as English though- I just take it to mean that they were born and raised in England

Maray1967 · 06/03/2025 16:45

British and European.

Mixed English, Scots and Welsh heritage - born in England but I have a Scottish name and DF tells me I was ‘made’ in Scotland.

Doggymummar · 06/03/2025 16:43

English, from the UK

Dilbertian · 06/03/2025 16:43

I was not born in England, so I cannot be English. I am British.

My dc are both English and British.

English = heritage
British = citizenship

BeCyanSloth · 06/03/2025 16:43

I was born in England to an Irish mother and Welsh Father
I have lived in Wales for the past 5 years I class myself as English

KimberleyClark · 06/03/2025 16:43

Welsh and British.

sanityisamyth · 06/03/2025 16:42

English then British, despite living in Wales.

faffadoodledo · 06/03/2025 16:42

I'm both, with a bit of Cornish thrown in.
I assume your conversations have been sparked by Rishi Sunak's assertion that he is English. And the subsequent fallout where people who have no business to question someone else's identity claim he can't possibly be English.

Tomatotater · 06/03/2025 16:42

NetballHoop · 06/03/2025 16:37

I'm British despite being born in England. None of my grandparents were born in England and only one of my parents.

Would you say you were English as well as British?
I was born in England, but am ethnically Asian. Neither of my parents were born in England. My DH would say he was Welsh as he was born in Wales, even though both his parents are English.

Happystrider1 · 06/03/2025 16:42

Apparently according to my search in ChatGPT you are more likely to identify as English if you voted leave in the Brexit referendum. How true that is I don't know

I've always identified as British but then feel naturally more drawn to being European. This is despite being born in England to several generations of English family members.

Iwishiwasapolarbear · 06/03/2025 16:41

I’m Welsh and British

Seeline · 06/03/2025 16:41

English - as far back as I can research my family tree, all my family members have been born in England.
Then British.

SockQueen · 06/03/2025 16:40

I say I'm British - I'm born and raised in England, but have Welsh and Scottish heritage too.

Hadalifeonce · 06/03/2025 16:39

English

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 06/03/2025 16:39

Both!

PauliesWalnuts · 06/03/2025 16:38

British - born in England.

KIlliePieMyOhMy · 06/03/2025 16:38

British - English born now emigrated to Scotland.