There have been some commentators telling us that including the Island of Ireland in our icon is wrong because Ireland is not British – now politically that is, of course 100% correct, and rightly so, but we are using the term British Isles in a geographical sense, not political. However, to avoid confusion, to avoid people becoming upset with an appearance of “colonialism”, we thought it would be wise to clarify matters.
Introduction
Few terms in modern discourse provoke as much confusion and misinterpretation as “the British Isles.” Misunderstood by many and frequently weaponised by online polemicists, this geographically rooted term is often wrongly equated with political identity, specifically with England or the United Kingdom. This article seeks to clarify the term’s proper usage, explain the differences between England, Great Britain, the United Kingdom, and the British Isles, and explore the political history that has contributed to today’s fractured understanding.
What Are the British Isles?
The “British Isles” is a geographical term, not a political one. It refers to a group of over 6,000 islands off the north-western coast of continental Europe. This includes:
- Great Britain (the largest island, comprising England, Scotland, and Wales)
- Ireland (including both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland)
- Isle of Man
- Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland Islands
- Anglesey,
- Isles of Scilly,
- other minor outlying islands
Not included
The Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, etc.) are not geographically part of the British Isles, not only because they are located closer to France, but they are geographically part of continental Europe. However, they are self-governing Crown Protectorates and thus, indirectly, part of the UK politically.
Despite its ubiquity in atlases and academic writing, the term “British Isles” is controversial, especially in the Republic of Ireland, due to the perceived colonial overtones of the word “British.”
Sadly, the actions of numerous English Governments and Generals have left an indelible and unsavoury perception in the soul of the Irish, and quite rightly and understandably too. Alternative terms like “Britain and Ireland” are often preferred in diplomatic or politically neutral contexts, and if speaking politically, it is polite to use this term rather than lumping the Irish in with the English.
Geology vs Geography
Geographically and geologically, these islands form a single archipelago. However, some islands have geological origins that differ significantly:
- The Shetland Islands are geologically distinct and more closely aligned with formations near the Faroe Islands.
- The English Channel was formed approximately 8,000 years ago, when rising sea levels, and a catastrophic flood event, at the end of the last Ice Age submerged the land bridge known as Dogger land, physically separating Britain from mainland Europe.
This geological history has contributed to Britain’s island identity, but it does not define political boundaries.
England, Great Britain, and the UK – Clarifying the Terms
- England – One country located on the island of Great Britain. It is not synonymous with the UK.
- Great Britain – The island comprising England, Scotland, and Wales.
- The United Kingdom (UK): Short for The United Kingdoms of Great Britain, Wales and Northern Ireland, the UK includes:
-
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland (on the island of Ireland)
To equate “England” with “the UK” is both factually wrong and politically charged, this should be avoided at all times, it is often seen as erasing the identities and autonomy of the other nations within the UK which is divisive and insulting.
The Emergence of the United Kingdom
The UK as a political entity has evolved over time:
- 1603 – Union of the Crowns — James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne, becoming James I of England. The crowns were united, but the parliaments and legal systems remained separate.
- 1707 – Acts of Union united the Parliaments of England and Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. This was partly driven by economic incentives and dynastic concerns. Ironically, the English Parliament ceased to exist as a separate body; both it and the Scottish Parliament were dissolved.
- 1801 – The union was extended to include Ireland, forming the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
- 1922 – Most of Ireland left the UK to become what is now the Republic of Ireland, leading to the modern configuration – the United Kingdoms of Great Britain, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This means that the UK is a political union, not a geographic one.
Devolution and Political Identity
Since the late 1990s, the UK Government has created the devolved governments.
- Scotland has its own Parliament
- Wales has the Senedd
- Northern Ireland has the Stormont Assembly
England, paradoxically, has no devolved parliament. English affairs are handled by the UK Parliament, which also includes MPs from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This creates a strange situation where England has less national political autonomy than the others, despite being the largest constituent part.
Scottish, Irish and Welsh MPs are able to vote in debates about matters that only impact England, but the English MPs are barred from taking part in debates and votes in the devolved parliaments, distorting democracy!
The EU is Not Europe, and the UK is Not the British Isles
Just as it is absurd to equate the European Union with the whole of Continental Europe, it is equally mistaken to conflate the United Kingdom with the entire British Isles. One is a political union, the other is a geographical space. The Republic of Ireland is part of the British Isles, geographically, but it is a rightly independent nation state that is not part of the UK or under British governance.
These distinctions matter because confusion over terms leads to misinformed opinions, toxic debates, and nationalistic distortions. It is possible to describe Ireland as part of the British Isles geographically while still respecting its political sovereignty – how you descibe it depends on the context of the conversation and the message you intend to convey.
The Term “Briton” – Origins and Misuse
The term Briton has historical and cultural roots that predate the United Kingdom by at least 1500 years. Originally, it referred to the Celtic speaking inhabitants of the British Isles prior to, and certianly, during Roman times, known as the Brittonic peoples. Today, it is often used more loosely to refer to people from the United Kingdom or from the British Isles more broadly, but this is inaccurate.
Historically speaking.
· The Irish, Welsh, Cornish, and Scottish Highlanders and Islanders are among the most direct descendants of the ancient Britons.
· Much of England, particularly the southeast and east, was heavily influenced by Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Roman migration and settlement, creating a different cultural and genetic blend.
To object to being called a “Briton” on the basis of political grievance is therefore misguided. It is a historical and geographic identity, not a contemporary nationalist label. In fact, those who are most upset by the term are often the least aware of its historical context.
Many modern Scots, Irish, and Welsh who vocally reject the term “British” or “Briton” are often more authentically descended from the ancient Brittonic peoples than the majority English people are. Meanwhile, the average person from southeast England, especially in counties like Kent, Essex, Norfolk, and Sussex, is more likely to descend from Anglo-Saxon, Norse, Norman French, and later European immigrants than from the original Celtic Britons. To clarify.
- Welsh – Often considered the most direct descendants of the original Britons. Welsh is a direct continuation of the ancient Brittonic language.
- Scottish Highlanders and Islanders – Though influenced by Gaelic Irish culture, they retained many ancient Brittonic and Pictish traits.
- Cornish – Closely related to the Welsh (in fact, Cornwall and Devon where once called South Wales), their language is a surviving Brittonic tongue, and their cultural lineage is undeniably Brittonic.
- Irish – While technically Goidelic Celts (not Brittonic), the Irish are ethnically and culturally distinct from Germanic England and share pre-Anglo cultural continuity.
- English (especially in the southeast) – Heavily mixed with Anglo-Saxon, Danish Viking, and Norman elements. By the 11th century, the majority of English elites were French speaking. The Brittonic language had almost entirely died out in England by the 9th century.
So in truth, those labelled as “British” today for political reasons, especially by unionists, are often less “Briton” than those who reject the term because of politics.
The Brittonic languages (Welsh, Cornish, and the now-extinct Cumbric) survived outside of England.The term “Briton” originally didn’t even refer to what we now call “English” people at all, it referred to the pre-Saxon Celtic peoples.
- Many who proudly call themselves “British” today (especially from parts of England) are genetically and culturally less Briton.
- Those who refuse the label (in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland) are often the closest living cultural heirs to the actual ancient Britons.
Yet, nationalism and modern politics warp these definitions into absurdities. It’s a perfect example of how words change meaning, and how history gets selectively reinterpreted.
Final comments.
In an age where misinformation spreads faster than facts, clarity matters. Understanding the difference between the British Isles, Great Britain, England, and the United Kingdom is not just pedantic wordplay — it is vital to informed debate, respectful discourse, and historical literacy. Geography does not equal politics, and identity cannot be meaningfully discussed without a firm grasp of both.
If we want better conversations about who we are, where we live, and how we relate to our neighbours, it must begin with knowing where the borders really lie — not just on the ground, but in the mind.