British, not English

Watching the BTCC, one of the commentators was talking away during a safety car phase, but stated that other than Giovanardi, everyone in the field was English. Now I know that clearly no offence was meant, but this irks me. While the majority of the field are English, there are some who hail from Scotland and Colin Turkington, championship leader is from Northern Ireland, so correctly we should say British.

Historically it's only relatively recently that the term 'British' has emerged. Before then 'English' was used as an umbrella term for all of the UK. But now, using 'English' when you mean 'British' is just a lazy habit.

I have been told in the past that I'm an awkward sod for insisting that I'm British and not English. Yes, I was brought up in the home counties and I do sound very English, but if you classify me as that it's essentially writing off half of my family, which I refuse to do.

The other reason I think that British is a much better term is that it's far less divisive than English, Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish. Not that I'm trying to do down anyone who identifies as any of these, but at the end of it we are all British and our country is amazing; each nation of the union has a distinctive culture and traditions and we work together better as a country.

I think that if people want to celebrate being Welsh/Scottish/English/N. Irish it's all cool as long as it's positive and pride in your home nation, and not at the expense of another (and yes, this is normally the English). The idea that the Scots actively want England to fail at football to other nations is bizarre to me, but then I accept I will never understand the passion that some people devote to football.

It's cliched but together we are greater than the sum of our parts. I am British and I am proud of that.