I prefer to call them just 'The Isles', which is the title an excellent tome by Norman Davis charting the domination of these Islands by England, with an emphasis on the south-east as the dominant economic and political region of the country.

In truth, most inhabitants of the Isles will have Celt, Norse, Saxon, Frank, Jute, Norman (which is norse anyway) and more than a fair amount of the indigenous population that settled here after the retreat of the last ice sheets.

And here's the crux - the modern concept of nationhood is a relatively modern invention. Until the inhabitants of the Isles recognise their common heritage and the value of all our indigenous cultures, whether they be Scot, Welsh, English or Irish, then this pointless bickering, racism and predujice will go on, and we'll all still be governed by a bunch of morons who do not represent the vast majority of people who live under their rule.

Our heritage is being constantly hijacked by nationalists who insist that the only way to live with your neighbours is to be divided from them. Shame really, because underneath, on these Islands at least, we all have a lot more in common than some would like to admit.

Got that off me chest.

StigWeard