Britishness

BRITISHNESS

Britishness is the state or quality of being British, or of embodying British characteristics,  and is used to refer to that which binds anddistinguishes the British people and forms the basis of their unity and identity,  or else to explain expressions of British culture—such as habits, behaviours or symbols—thathave a common, familiar or iconic quality readily identifiable with the United Kingdom.

BRITISHNESS:

GEOGRAPHY
Island nation
Britishness was fundamentally linkedto the idea of an ‘island nation’.
ation to Scotland
and Wales than in relation to England.
NATIONAL SYMBOLS
The ways in which Britain was imagined reliedextensively on a few
potent national symbols, chiefly the Union Jack and the royal family.
er different headings.
PEOPLE
At the heart of the idea of Britishness, we foundthe ‘British people’.
VALUES AND ATTITUDES
Freedoms, rule of law, fairness, tolerance and respect
CULTURAL HABITS AND BEHAVIOUR
Queuing
Being British was related tovarious cultural habits and behaviour, such
as queuing, which was seen as emblematic of Britishness; a small,
everyday manifestation of the great British values ofrespect and
fairness, of law and order, of politeness and courtesy. Queuing was
understood as a sign of civilisation among all groups.
CITIZENSHIP
Britishness wasvery much associated with holding a
passport, with being formally recognised as a British citizen.
LANGUAGE
English was seen as a common language that united theBritish people:
to be British is to speak English.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Political and historical
Britishness was associated with great historical and political
achievements,