English or British

If asked where I come from, these days it's normally asked in the UK, so I say I am from London.

When I worked / lived abroad, I always said I was from the UK, normally met with the response, oh you are a Brit, to which I agreed.

Obviously I am European but I never recall, on any occasion in my life, when asked where I come from, replying that I am European. 

I definitely identify as English because that it is the country in which I was born, and I always support the English teams above all others. As has been mentioned by others, in the Olympics I support Team GB, and the Ryder Cup, the European team.

Bottom line, how do I identify myself? Primarily as a Londoner, and (probably because of the sporting context) then English. I am also British and European, a fact that cannot be denied, and am lucky to be so. A significant part of my heritage is from Ireland, so I am also proud of my Irish ancestry, and feel an affinity to the City of Cork because of this.

It's a non-question to be honest. Most of us were born in England and are, therefore, also British. 

English. 

cfgs said:

PrincessFiona said:

I say I am British but that is partly because I have an English accent but my parents and grandparents were Scottish and all my relatives live in Scotland. I do think England should have it's own national anthem not the British one and it annoys me imensely when people say English about something that is actually British.

But then again it is a confusing (and complicated) scenario with most foreigners (and many of our own) not knowing the difference between UK/Britain/Great Britain/British. I always think Team GB shoud be called Team UK for those from NI who don't live in Great Britain but do live in the UK (of GB and NI) and are British!

Check out the full version of God Save The Queen, one of the verses mentions crushing the Scots.

And the Scottish anthem talks about sending the English home “tae think again”! 

I’m sure I read that the British & Scottish national anthems are the only two anthems in the world that specifically reference defeating a foe - and the reference is to one another! 

I just don’t identify someone with a Welsh & Scottish accent as coming from a ‘different country’ to me, it’s just an accent variant exactly the same as Geordie, Scouse, Brummie, West Country etc. English is my immediate family, but the others are all part of an extended family.

Northern Ireland I probably feel slighty more detached from as there is the break definition provided by the Irish Sea. But I’m still proud they are part of the Union though and as a country don’t identify them any less than Scotland and Wales. 

British my birth, English by the grace of God.

Plumstead Boy, Londoner, English. It that order!

British by birth, English by the grace of God, well, gods if you have any Pagan leanings...   

I like Stonemuse's, "where do you come from?" question and thinking about it I can't remember ever answering this with Essex, England, GB, UK or Europe. For me it's always a more defined place rather than a wider regional one, and I'll choose the most specific place that I think the person I'm talking to will have heard of.  If I'm talking to someone from Essex I'll tell them my village, Great Wakering. If I'm talking to someone from elsewhere in the county I'll tell them my nearest town, Southend. If I'm talking to someone from abroad I'll say my nearest city, London. Sorry Chelmsfordians, but your city may be physically nearer, but its scores on Pointless tell me that people abroad wouldn't have a clue where it is.

The London one may be a bit strange, because I wasn't born there and have never lived there, but I still feel strongly associated with the place. In no small part, I guess, due to Charlton. 

English

seth plum said:

I regard these labels as being down to an accident of birth anyway.  if I were in a war I am prepared to fight against evil oppression and threat, like for example the Nazis, but I would never ever fight for the Irish, the British, the English or the Europeans.

Exactly this

Stig said:

Both. European too.

This, and citizen of the world.

British. More a statement of fact than anything I'm particularly proud of. 

Would be prouder to be part of my family name than imaginary lines on the ground. 

British.

To the best of my knowledge I am 7/8 English 1/8 Welsh which makes me British.

It's more of a debate for my children and grandchildren as both my wife and son in law have some foreign ancestry.

Earthling.

Scouse, not English... :-)