definition: Britain

Despite urgings from both the left and the right, Britain and Britishness are two terms that remain undefined. Gordon Brown and the Labour Party are both keen supporters of defining a Britain of equality, tolerance and fair-play. Right-wingers tend to define Britain as simply a collection of countries and Britishness as simply citizenship. Either way you look at it, society is not benefiting from this state of an undefined Britain.

Believe me when I say I am not encouraging any kind of American over-patriotism, however there are many key areas that a defined Britain would encourage an enriched society. A defined inclusive set of British values and principles would tear down many of the very real cultural boundaries that exist between different social groups.

Unifying these groups under the term Britain would encourage tolerance, equality and the development of new social relationships. Used to good effect the term could also increase the confidence of minority groups, encouraging them to become more involved in a Britain that is theirs also. Society would benefit from greater cultural diversity and respect between each area of this unified society would grow and mature.

Eliminating this unconscious segregation under the traditional sense of Britons and non-Briton is essential to the unity of modern society. As much as independence parties such as UKIP may hate to admit, Britain is more than simply a series of islands. What makes Britain is the people of Britain, and in our multicultural society we must ensure that minority groups along with larger groups remain united under a banner that belongs to them all. The banner of a modern Britain.