little Englander

Boris Johnson gave a perfect example of a little Englander when he described Obama has half Kenyan

Yes! I can't believe he said that.

cherry You'll get used to the occasional derogatory pops taken at American on GN. Heavens, one would think they are all like Trump!

interesting take on it here

(That was to ab about Boris)

Thank you Jingle, but it was in the Spectator ! It was the arrogance that angered me, dismissing the American born president of America as being half Kenyan hung up on on old colonialism . I think it's Boris who is clinging to old colonialism

Anya - at present I am inclined towards voting OUT - this is for many reasons and nothing to do with the little Englander mindset I can assure you.

However, I do take your point and this has been one of my arguments against the whole idea of the referendum from the beginning. There will be those who will vote out for atavistic reasons rather than thinking through what it might mean for us all.

To call those who intend to vote out as little englanders is daft, I know some Welsh people who are thinking of voting out

I do think some English voting out are little englanders , not all

I agree with sunseeker, Cheerytree59, rosesarered.

It is ok to be patriotic but not too patriotic. Is that the right idea?

Can I also ask, can Englanders have and feel the same level of patriotism that other countries in Great Britain have?

They can, and do, obione but being reserved by nature, do it quietly usually.

I know I am simplifying here but perhaps different attitudes in the four home countries stem from different histories? England was subjected to or threatened with invasion by the Romans, Spanish, French (many times) whereas for Scotland, Wales and Ireland the 'Auld Enemy' was always England.

The first and second WWs certainly had a unifying effect because we were all under threat together but as these wars are now, for the majority, simply part of history, old enmities (eg England/France) and alliances (eg Scotland/France) have resurfaced.

Also do English People realise how much it annoys people in the other Home Countries when constant reference is made to 'the Queen of England' or '3 future Kings of England' or the particularly galling, in a WW commemoration 'When England stood alone against the Nazi threat' - presumably the Jocks, Taffys and Paddys were safely tucked up in their beds at the time.

'Little' has often been used in a sniffy way.

'She's a nice little person means she's harmless but nothing much between her ears.

'She's a good little driver means she can just about make it into town providing she doesn't have to turn right!

Little Englanders are looked down on in a similar way.

But they will be everyone's equal when their votes are counted.

Granny23, I luvs you . I have tried so many times to explain but every time am shouted down . I am not anti English but I do get fed up , every Commonwealth games I am constantly on the telephone to the BBC about their sports commentators . I accept Americans etc think Wales is a county in England , bless them , but some English seem to think the same . The UK is four countries not one with a few bits stuck on

When people are losing the argument re in or out, little Englander, racist, they say because they do not agree with your views on EU immigration, perhaps that makes them bigots.

Not that old chestnut

Racists are very easy to recognise - usually because they start the conversation by saying 'I'm not a racist but.....'

Well said Granny23 - that sums it up neatly.

Ths UK is four countries not one with a few bits stuck on

Spot on Annie

Thanks merlotgran. I always thought that they meant "little Englander not little Englander if you see what I mean.

Granny23. That is what I was sort of thinking and wondering. It has to do with history.

I understand your third paragraph.

Thank you Anya .

I wish those who accuse those of sometimes referring to Little Englanders stop calling them racists, bigots, anti English etc.

Wales is a small country but we pay the same tax, obey the same laws as England , have the same head of state. We don't pay the same tax total , England has a population of over 53,000,000. Ŵales just over 3,000,000, we are told we are given our money by the English

And whilst I am at it , we cannot build in the wide open spaces, they are either farms, national parks or mountains , who want's to live on Snowden or the Brecon Beacons , would give popping up to the shops a new meaning

Sorry, what does your second paragraph mean? Are you missing a word or two?

I'm waiting for the link from a poster who likes to use the expresion.

Anniebach just a slight detour from the OP.
When you cross the bridge from Wales to England you do not have to pay. When you cross from England to Wales, you do. Why? One always has to pay for quality.

I don't really get it either, I don't think I know of anyone on here who has actually said, I live in England. will die in England, my holidays are in England, England is the centre of my universe . On the other hand AB you evoke Wales so often in your posts, I don't think anyone would label you Little welsher but here we are again with the pejorative Little englander.

Personally I despise the term. It is used IMO a lot by people who for various reasons don't much like their own country and sneer at anyone who does. At the same time they would not dream of sneering at e.g. anyone French or Spanish or Italian, or from any other country, who displays any hint of patriotism.

They reserve their sneering for England and the English.

What a pity, what was a friendly discussion has turned into another attack