England Expects

 At what stage does someone become British, especially if there's immigration in your family history?

It may seem a simple question, but not when you think of it. Is it a question that I pondered when watching David Olugosa's latest TV programme about the union that we call the United kingdom, but refer to (mistakenly) as Britain.

I consider myself British, despite not having been born here. But can I lay claim to the 'we' when people say 'we' beat the French at Trafalgar? I can lay claim to 'we' beat Napoleon at Waterloo, as the Dutch formed part of Wellington's army.

My passport says British - despite not being able to lay claim to being English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish. My kids can claim to be English, as England is their place of birth, but are they truly British in the way a certain section of people lay claim to Britishness? Does it take a certain number of generations of being born here?

Is it, perhaps, a claim to the cultural legacy, rather than 'blood and soil'?

One thing that came to light in Olugosa's programme was Nelson's famous signal at Trafalgar; England Expects that Every Man Will do His Duty. England expects, despite the fact a large proportion of his navy was not English, but Scottish, Welsh and Irish. The United Kingdom had already been established before Trafalgar, so was he a raving English nationalist?

What Olugosa misses, however, is that the signal book used was created in 1800 and didn't have a signal for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or indeed Britain. The Acts of Union 1800 united the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801, forming the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. However, before 1801 it was known for nearly 100 years as Great Britain. It would have had to be spelled out letter by letter, which would waste time.

I wonder if any Brexiteers watch Olugosa's programme? It charts the history of a number of separate nations which came together in a political Union that has lasted hundreds of years - a political Union they defend vociferously, while denigrating another Union that has yet to achieve full, political union. It's ironic that the United Kingdom's Union is under threat from the same forces of nationalism that led to Brexit.

It's also ironic that a number of Conservative Brexiteers are calling on Nigel Farage to rejoin the Tory Party and change it from within. A bit like staying in the EU in order to change it from within. We live in strange times when what's good for the goose is touted as not being good for the gander.