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How British are you?

119 replies

Frequency · 06/08/2024 19:45

Obviously, when the "protesters" say they are protesting immigration and want "the boat people" to go home what they mean is brown people, not immigrants, but they cannot say this because they are not racist.

So, in their minds, how British do you need to be? The young man who committed the crime that triggered this was Welsh with immigrant parents, so clearly, the children of immigrants are not welcome. What about grandchildren of immigrants? Or great-grandchildren? Are you allowed to stay if you have one British parent?

I'm musing because based on the people I know the country would be empty if we went more than 2 generations back. My Grandmother was an immigrant so I assume I would have to leave, not sure about the DC but DD2 is clearly of Romanian descent so I'd not fancy her chances of being able to stay.

Would you be able to stay?

OP posts:
CharlotteRumpling · 06/08/2024 21:03

You have to be white and/or Christian, no? At least in the minds of the EDL and quite a few people, some of whom are on MN.

mathanxiety · 06/08/2024 21:04

MrsTerryPratchett · 06/08/2024 20:37

Once they have done so, they are perfectly entitled to be in the UK until their claim is assessed. Only when it has been refused do they become “illegal”. It is not their fault that UK public services are so appalling that their claims take sometimes years to be processed.

This bears repeating.

Everyone, pretty much, wants the same thing; swift processing of asylum claims. The migrants want it because living in temporary accommodation while waiting is awful. Racists want it because there would be fewer 'men in hostels and hotels'. Everyone else wants it because it's humane and cheaper to process asylum claims quickly.

The ONLY people who benefit from delays and hold-ups are divisive politicians like Farage and the Tories. They benefit from division, hostility and having someone visible to blame. None of the rest of us do. Unfortunately they are the ones with the power to speed up the system.

This ^

camelfinger · 06/08/2024 21:04

I like tea and I apologise if someone bumps into me.

GingerPirate · 06/08/2024 21:04

I'm Czech.
Would have loved to fuck off back to Prague
a decade ago, but, obstacles....

ContactNightmare · 06/08/2024 21:10

Saschka · 06/08/2024 20:39

This is English racism. I don’t see any mobs in Scotland, Wales or NI shouting about wanting their country back or looting Greggs.

And they are very clear they mean “England” not “the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”

Yes it is. White English nationalism. And if you seem to be gay or some sort of leftie then don’t think that’s enough either. The point is they set the rules, no one else

Auvergne63 · 06/08/2024 21:10

camelfinger · 06/08/2024 21:04

I like tea and I apologise if someone bumps into me.

Do you tut loudly too?

Usercoxiditsustxoycpucpyc · 06/08/2024 21:12

98% according to a DNA test, with a little French and German thrown in. I’m basically a Celt

TomatoSandwiches · 06/08/2024 21:14

camelfinger · 06/08/2024 21:04

I like tea and I apologise if someone bumps into me.

The litmus test is your view on queuing....

Frith2013 · 06/08/2024 21:16

I'm white and English and have been shouted at, chased and spat at over the years, purely for being quite dark with black hair and unusual cheekbones.

One of my children is similar looking and had a problem getting back into the UK from abroad.

ScribblingPixie · 06/08/2024 21:26

I am English with a bit of Welsh going back hundreds of years to farmers and agricultural labourers - I like knowing that although I'm very much a city person. Sometimes I've visited small towns or rural areas and had a huge sense of contentment and belonging, and when I've researched my family tree found that my ancestors lived there. It's a big deal to me. My DH would be out on his ear though.

Scentedjasmin · 06/08/2024 21:31

Tbh, I think that the colour of skin is less of an issue than the poverty and social backgrounds. I don't think that people want unplanned illegal migrants or asylum seekers regardless of skin colour. People don't want unskilled young males coming into the country with no or limited employment opportunities or with differing cultural views on say, women. However, I don't think that people particularly object to all the Nigerian and Indian Drs in the NHS or anyone who is skilled, has a job lined up and is going to contribute towards the economy, regardless of skin colour. If you are poor, young, male and illegal you are more likely to turn to crime than someone well qualified or require more state handouts. I don't think that it's just about skin colour. As for Britishness, I think that the degree to which someone regards themselves as being British varies according to whether they were born in the UK and how they were bought up by their parents. If their parents were born in another country with differing culture and they bought their child up according to their own cultural norms and celebrated their own culture, then it's not unreasonable for their child to regard themselves as of dual nationality and culture. I'm married to a foreigner and my children regard themselves as being of dual nationality and are very proud of this. I see them as being more British because they have spent most of the time in the UK. To me it's absolutely fine to recognise that some children whose parents were born in this country will feel more integrated than perhaps those whose parents were born elsewhere. Ultimately though it depends upon their individual circumstances and upbringings.

Magehemela · 06/08/2024 21:35

I am English (and therefore British) but if we are solely basing nationality on genetics I am 0% British.

Both parents are Irish. Irish family going back generations, I have a very Irish name. Ethnically I am 100% Irish.

I happened to be born in England so have a British passport (my sister was born in Ireland so can't get one!) I have been brought up and educated here, I have a very English accent and am proud to work for the NHS (a great British institution).

I feel very English, and I'm very white so would probably never have my Britishness questioned 🙄

SockQueen · 06/08/2024 21:42

I'm British as far back as we have family records. Mostly English but with smatterings of Welsh, Scottish and Irish along the way. Rumours of a Portuguese ancestor many generations back but you'd never guess that to look at me.

My DSis is an immigrant to another European country though. They are fascinated by her ginger hair but otherwise seems to have fully integrated.

CharlotteRumpling · 06/08/2024 21:42

However, I don't think that people particularly object to all the Nigerian and Indian Drs in the NHS or anyone who is skilled, has a job lined up and is going to contribute towards the economy, regardless of skin colour.

Some people are pulling brown and black people out of cars and beating them up. Some people are attacking mosques. They aren't enquiring whether they are skilled, employed or contributors. They are just beating up people of a different colour.
In the last week, MN has been absolutely teeming with posters saying non-white people are not British, can never be British, have different values blah blah blah.

IncompleteSenten · 06/08/2024 21:47

CharlotteRumpling · 06/08/2024 21:42

However, I don't think that people particularly object to all the Nigerian and Indian Drs in the NHS or anyone who is skilled, has a job lined up and is going to contribute towards the economy, regardless of skin colour.

Some people are pulling brown and black people out of cars and beating them up. Some people are attacking mosques. They aren't enquiring whether they are skilled, employed or contributors. They are just beating up people of a different colour.
In the last week, MN has been absolutely teeming with posters saying non-white people are not British, can never be British, have different values blah blah blah.

Yeah, if it wasn't for the fact my husband and sons currently are not leaving the house through fear they'll be attacked, I would have laughed out loud at that gem.

emmetgirl · 06/08/2024 21:48

Both parents born in ROI.
Hold both Irish and British passports

Yuja · 06/08/2024 21:50

Not very. My mum was born in England but her parents were Austrian and Polish. My dad was born in England to Chinese immigrant parents. I would imagine I belong in the 'send back the boats' category according to these thugs

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 06/08/2024 21:50

I'm British. Two British parents, born in Britain. Going back several generations there are Irish and Dutch immigrants but I couldn't claim to be anything but British. Not that I do very often, only when I'm filling in forms.

hattie43 · 06/08/2024 21:51

IncompleteSenten · 06/08/2024 19:56

In what I generously call their 'minds', I believe that it depends if the person is white.
If you were born here and you are white and you've got a local accent then you'll do. If your parents have an accent from elsewhere that's a mark against you so you have to be extra English to compensate.

If you're brown then it doesn't matter how many generations your family has been in the UK, they will never accept you as English. Even if your family has been in the UK for more generations than theirs has.

Make no mistake, this is about colour.

This

Lovelysummerdays · 06/08/2024 21:51

I’m Scottish and therefore British I suppose. I rather miss being European.

Ketzele · 06/08/2024 21:53

I have one UK grandparent. Refugees on one side, immigrants on the other. But I am white, so they don't mean me. They possibly mean my daughter, who isn't.

newtomoney · 06/08/2024 21:54

My mothers family descend from Robert Burns sister Margaret.. my fathers from Somerset Quakers in the 17th century... couldn't be more 'British' ... and yet I am concerned for the safety of my half Asian children .. as my first husband is Malaysian...

AdiLane · 06/08/2024 21:55

Scentedjasmin · 06/08/2024 21:31

Tbh, I think that the colour of skin is less of an issue than the poverty and social backgrounds. I don't think that people want unplanned illegal migrants or asylum seekers regardless of skin colour. People don't want unskilled young males coming into the country with no or limited employment opportunities or with differing cultural views on say, women. However, I don't think that people particularly object to all the Nigerian and Indian Drs in the NHS or anyone who is skilled, has a job lined up and is going to contribute towards the economy, regardless of skin colour. If you are poor, young, male and illegal you are more likely to turn to crime than someone well qualified or require more state handouts. I don't think that it's just about skin colour. As for Britishness, I think that the degree to which someone regards themselves as being British varies according to whether they were born in the UK and how they were bought up by their parents. If their parents were born in another country with differing culture and they bought their child up according to their own cultural norms and celebrated their own culture, then it's not unreasonable for their child to regard themselves as of dual nationality and culture. I'm married to a foreigner and my children regard themselves as being of dual nationality and are very proud of this. I see them as being more British because they have spent most of the time in the UK. To me it's absolutely fine to recognise that some children whose parents were born in this country will feel more integrated than perhaps those whose parents were born elsewhere. Ultimately though it depends upon their individual circumstances and upbringings.

Tbh, I think that the colour of skin is less of an issue than the poverty and social backgrounds. I don't think that people want unplanned illegal migrants or asylum seekers regardless of skin colour.

And yet ‘we’ welcomed Ukranian refugees, mostly into our homes. Is that because that is planned immigration? Is it ok to come here and be supported by our systems if it is planned?

GreenMarigold · 06/08/2024 21:58

My family are English, Welsh and Irish at least 5 generations back. My DH had a great grandmother who was from Belgium.

Oblomov24 · 06/08/2024 21:59

I guess I look ok to them because I'm quite white, both parents Scottish.

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