Like many of you, I've been all over "this big old world".

And it is true that the Brits have a reputation for being arrogant and racist.

Often, this criticism comes from more "enlightened" european nationals in the netherlands and france amongst others.

Yet I have seen more skinhead activity on the continent than I have in the UK.

Jean Marie le Pens Front National has been a serious contender of late and he has been supported to a significant degree in France in local and national elections.

Here in the UK there is the oddd scare when the BNP wins a seat on a council, but generally, Nick Griffin is seen as a laughing stock. And that's how the Brits keep the fascists in their place - they lampoon them. So far it has been a successful approach.

I don't write any of the above in some misguided attempt to set the UK up in competition with other countries as regards their levels of racism, I do so to be fair to the Brits who have in my opinion grown up more than any other european country with the exception of germany when it comes to racist ideologies.

Britain had its culture shock when the Windrush arrived in 1948, bringing with it a new community of West Indian immigrants.

It had another in 1972 when Idi Amin exported 70,000 Asians from Uganda and many came to England.

The Brits reacted badly a first and made their guests feel very unwelcome to begin with, but now in 2008(9), attitudes are very different.

An employer will choose someone with an Irish accent to man the phones over someone with an english accent whereas in the 60's and 70's, an Irish accent was a definite hindrance.

In fact the stereotype of the educated Irishperson (lets be honest - woman) is about as contrasted nowadays as it could be from the old stereotype of the drunken brawling thicko that "need not apply" of the old days.

Since Ireland started to make a bit of cash and became a net contributor to the EU, it has had to open its doors to refugees and other new immigrants, something it was allowed to avoid when it was a poor country.

And as it has happened, Irelands holier than though "I'm on the side of the under dog" attitude has been shown to be a bit weak in substance in the face of increased immigration, with relatives of mine coming out with Alf Garnetisms galore, such as "they bring their crime with them" and "they're lazy" etc.

I have witnessed intimidation of people with dark skin by skinheads in the supposed liberal capital of the world, Amsterdam and encountered a surprising amount of racism in peoples attitudes there.

One of the things about being Irish in Europe is that people automatically assume that you're a nice guy, fun, honest and have a big heart. People feel they can be open with you because you just understand.

As a result of this I have had it 'reasonably' explained to me (cos I'd understand of course) why you can't trust an Englishman. Sometimes this has happened while I have been with an English friend and I have had to labour to demonstrate that "he's ok" and then to prise that chink open a bit further to make the point that the English are all human, not just my friend.

The Brits have a history ... just like everyone has a history ...

but they aren't any more racist than anyone else, and institutionally they are a great deal less so than many other nations.