not2old

the United Kingdom is the union of four countries.

Pulaski

Historically that is correct, but they gave up their "countriness" when they became united as "the United Kingdom".

Unless you're talking about soccer, rugby, or cricket, the "home nations" have no international recognition.

not2old

Scot, kindly explain the 'state' or why you know it as such?

For the OP, they said they were born in 'Northern Ireland' (not England), which is one country of the four that make up the United Kingdom... sorted

I have never known or seen reference till this thread, that the United Kingdom being referred to as a "state"

not2old

good point, however, my reference point is the ONS & who would argue with the government definition?

The countries of the UK - ONS

Pulaski

I am going to assume you are talking about "Scotland", because that is the only way what you wrote is correct.

Pulaski

I would contend that that's still an internal administrative division matter, not how the countries of the world interact with the United Kingdom.

The British government could call Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland countries, bailiwicks, or pitches and it wouldn't matter one jot to the rest of the world.

not2old

I like what scot47 posted the other day "yookay", it works for me.

Common knowledge that 'Great Britain' isn't 'Great', so lets not use it. Many a poster on BE post that they are from or live in 'England' - likely because the biggest chunk of the population lives there, or could it be, using the 'UK' reference makes us all one & the same, other than [of course] the Scottish few that will forever never ever want to be referred to as 'UK citizens'?

Pulaski

A fine idea, but the flaw in your proposal is that Great Britain is a geographic construct, not a political one. Great Britain is the nineth largest island in the world, the largest island in the British Isles archipelago, and exists irrespective of whether it is one country, or divided into three countries, or twenty-seven.

Siouxie

Ask them to correct it when you 'land' so that you don't have to do it later.

If you do need to do it after you have landed, it can be quite a lengthy process (see link).

Guide 5218 - Request to Amend Record of Landing, Confirmation of Permanent Residence or Valid Temporary Resident Documents

DandNHill

So taking everything said above in to consideration I am neither English nor British but United Kingdomish?

MarylandNed

You're English and British and a citizen of the UK.

scot47

You are a Yookanian. Great Britain is not an island but an archipelago. I live on one of the many islands that make it up. I have other friends on other islands. The Local Authority where I live has a huge number of inhabited islands.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the State that is recognised internationaly. UKofGB&NI to its friends. Only the ill-educated refer to it as "England". Of such there are many, in England and elsewhere.

Pulaski

Agreed. "British" is the closest we have to adjective derived from "United Kindom".

Given that the whole archipelago north of France and west of Scandinavia is "the British Isles", even someone born in Northern Ireland could reasonably call themselves "British".

MarylandNed

To add to the confusion, there's even an issue with the term "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". It implies that the UK is made up of a simple union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. However, there are other islands in the UK that are not part of Great Britain or Northern Ireland.

Remember that Great Britain is just the largest island in the UK. The Isle of Wight is part of England but it is not part of Great Britain. The term therefore implies that the Isle of Wight is not part of the UK - which obviously isn't true. The same goes for other islands such as The Hebrides in Scotland and Anglesey in Wales.

MarylandNed

"British" has come to mean a citizen of the UK - not someone from The British Isles (otherwise someone from the Republic of Ireland would be described as "British"). So UK citizens born in Northern Ireland are actually "British". Even in the UK passport, UK citizenship is stated as "British Citizen".