You didn’t, and I didn’t say you did. You did, however, say this:

> I almost choked with laughter at Squander’s claim that racism is not as prevelant in the South as elsewhere. He must have been on the moon when Steven Lawrence died.

Sorry, but if that isn’t supposed to mean that Steven Lawrence’s murder is, in some way, evidence of the prevalence of racism in the South, what does it mean?

> Perhaps you’re feeling a wee bit defensive over your own original rant (graciously amended) against an entire population based on two cowardly thug’s despicable actions.

No. What I ranted about, and said that I was ranting about, was not the two stories but the fact that they are not unusual. Any criticism of the Scots was based not on the two thugs but on eleven years’ experience of living in Scotland.

> I can only defer to the McPherson Report.

I’ve not read it and have no idea what proportion of it is fair or correct — I have no idea whether the whole coloured-versus-black thing was addressed in there — but that doesn’t change the fact that there was a lot of shite spoken about the police at the time and a lot of the alleged racism was no such thing. For all I know, McPherson was as dismissive of some allegations as I am, and only left in justified ones. Doesn’t mean the unjustified allegations weren’t made.

> Try telling that to my Cornish friends who all hold British passports.

What, you think holding a British passport proves that you’re not English?

Your Cornish friends may not like being English. Neither do I, come to that. But they are. Also, just because you happen to know a bunch of Cornish separatists, doesn’t mean there aren’t thousands of Corns quite happy with or even proud of being English, who would be rather surprised to hear your theory that they’re not.

> Monarchs can take their own name when they ascend the throne

Yes, they can, if they want. Or they may choose not to. And not only when they ascend the throne; any other time they like, too. In fact, monarchs aren’t unique in that regard: I can change my name if I want, and have done. So can you. What on Earth this has to do with misguided Scots resentment over the name of their queen, I have no idea.

> The previous one was queen of England not the United Kingdom of Gt Britain.

Same throne.

> If this is correct, why did JamesVI have to become James 1?

Because he ascended a different throne. He was the sixth James on his old throne, but the first on his new one.

> The number refers to royal lineage, not to geography.

If this is correct, why did JamesVI have to become James 1?

Accepted.

> Steven Lawrence was killed by five blokes. Extrapolating from that to an entire population seems risky to me.

Where did I extrapolate, or even infer, that an entire population was in anyway guilty. I am claiming that bigotry and prejudice knows no geographic or societal borders and is often expressed in murderous fashion. Perhaps you’re feeling a wee bit defensive over your own original rant (graciously amended) against an entire population based on two cowardly thug’s despicable actions. As for the rest of the sad, ugly Lawrence affair, I can only defer to the McPherson Report.

> It’s very simple: her name’s Elizabeth; there’s been one previous Elizabeth on the same throne,

The previous one was queen of England not the United Kingdom of Gt Britain. Monarchs can take their own name when they ascend the throne, hence why Charles has indicated that he may take another title than Charles III (he thinks Charles is unlucky name for a king) should he succeed his mother.

> Anyone who gets offended by that needs a hobby.

I feel so chastised. *Rushes off in tears to tell Scotland to get a hobby*. They want to know if supporting Portugal counts?

> Yes, they are. Cornwall is in England. People born in England are English.

Try telling that to my Cornish friends who all hold British passports. ; )

> I wonder how much of it has been stirred up by the mid-market tabloids?

Very much tabloid stirred (particularly foreign owned – which is ironic in itself) although a number of the more serious papers have climbed aboard on what is a matter that must be addressed and resolved without rancour.

I wonder how much of it has been stirred up by the mid-market tabloids?

Peter Preston wrote about it in today’s guardian, although it seemed a little unfocused to me; then again, thanks to my delightful dog I’ve been awake since silly o’clock and I’m running on sod-all sleep…

Gary’s right: that’s certainly not what I claimed. Nor would I, as it would be obviously wrong.

> He must have been on the moon when Steven Lawrence died.

Steven Lawrence was killed by five blokes. Extrapolating from that to an entire population seems risky to me.

There was a lot of shite spoken about the police at the time. For instance, their use of the word “coloured”. When I was at school in New Cross, “black” was considered borderline racist, and “coloured” was considered polite. At some point over the following decade, the offensiveness of the two terms was swapped, without a nationwide advertising campaign to let everyone know. Had I joined the police and moved back to London, I’d have used the word “coloured” precisely because I’m not racist and I’d want to avoid causing offense. And I’d have been labelled as a racist as a result.

Yet another good example of how political correctness helps no-one. Actions matter; language doesn’t.

> the Cornish are not English

Yes, they are. Cornwall is in England. People born in England are English. “Anglo-Saxon” refers to a historical people who no longer exist, and has nothing to do with whether anyone is English.

> Elizabeth the Second of Great Britain

But that’s what she is. Similarly, Henry V of England was also Henry V in Angers and other parts of France, regardless of how many Henries they may have had there previously. The number refers to royal lineage, not to geography. It’s very simple: her name’s Elizabeth; there’s been one previous Elizabeth on the same throne, hence “the Second”; and then you put the territory over which she is sovereign after the word “of”. The territory is subject to change; the lineage, having already happened, isn’t. Anyone who gets offended by that needs a hobby.

I agree entirely with your Scots/SNP observation. Also, can confirm that within the last twelve/eighteen months I have experienced an upsurge in English nationalism (some quite vitriolic) especially when Scots MPs voted on England only legislation. The West Lothian question is at the heart of this. As well as recently with McConnell saying he was supporting England’s football opponents.

Returning to the question of racism down in this neck of the woods – it is just as open, and wider spread, depending on the company ones in. By the way, this applies equally within non-whites. Indian (Hindu/Sikh) v Pakistani (Muslim), Somali v West Indians (Marcus Howe’s recent TV programme highlighting and lamenting this in south London) as well as Asian v Blacks (recent riots and murders in Birmingham) are only some of the sad facts on this subject.

As to our love/hate relationship with our big brother England (where I’ve enjoyed a good life – and yes, some of my best friends are English. Correction, my best friends are English). However, I’ve constantly had to remind them that there is no such person as the queen of England (more on that later*) Gt Britain is not another name for England or vice versa and that the Cornish are not English (Anglo-Saxon).

*It was with horror that I, and the rest of Scotland, heard the new queen (1953) announce her title as Elizabeth the Second of Great Britain etc. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

Right, got to dash and watch England beat Ecuador.

> I almost choked with laughter at Squander’s claim that racism is not as prevelant in the South as elsewhere.

To be fair, I think he said that it was more acceptable to be *openly* racist in general company, rather than saying the North was more racist than the South. Having lived in neither place, I’ve no idea.

I’ve come across to your site from Squander Two’s following the ‘Scots hate the English’ thread and thought I’d add my tuppence worth.

As a Scot who’s lived and worked in London for forty years I almost choked with laughter at Squander’s claim that racism is not as prevelant in the South as elsewhere. He must have been on the moon when Steven Lawrence died.

Anyway, lets say that this is one Brit who’d be sorry to see the Union break up, as I believe – should that happen – the biggest celebrations would not be in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh or London but, in the Cabinet Offices in Berlin and Paris.