pasty
A different kind of pasty
Part 2 of the messy row was why then does the flag of Great Britain (Union Jack) contain Ireland.
It doesn't. The Union Jack is the flag of the United Kingdom, not Great Britain.
Part 2 of the messy row was why then does the flag of Great Britain (Union Jack) contain Ireland.
Does Canvey Island count? Shirley not?
You need to distinguish between the Kingdom and the nations that the King rules over. Scottish independence would not affect the rule of the House of Windsor. Scots will still be subjects of the Crown (and the Crown of Scotland was united with the Crown of England in 1603 - which was a long time before the 1707 Act of Union that joined the two nations together). What this means is that, even if Scotland becomes an independent nation, the United Kingdom will remain - as a plaything of the Windsors. I'm sure they will want to hold on to the Naming Rights. As Mr Barber has taught us, naming rights are worth a fortune.United Kingdom is a political term that has no geographical significance at all, and could change at any point, eg if Scotland grow balls. Scotland could leave the UK tomorrow, but can never leave Great Britain (er, unless some future technology enables them to turn the remains of Hadrian Wall into a combined laser drill and landmass transporter).
The phrase "British Isles" is not acceptable to the government of the Republic of Ireland. They never use it. The closest they come in any official communication will be a vague reference to "these islands".And the British Isles includes all of Ireland.
... United Kingdom is a political term that has no geographical significance at all, and could change at any point, eg if Scotland grow balls. Scotland could leave the UK tomorrow, but can never leave Great Britain
It doesn't. The Union Jack is the flag of the United Kingdom, not Great Britain.
So the Union Jack is not the British Flag?
nope, if Scotland leaves there's no Great Britain any more. We'd correctly become "United Kingdom of England and Northern Ireland", though im not sure that would happen (it'll piss off the Welsh no end), reckon will just simply truncate to United Kingdom.
One is GREAT. The other is just Ukay...
I don't think that's strictly true. The land mass on which we're currently stood would still be known as Great Britian, regardless of the political status of the countries that occupy it.
Much like the island of Hispaniola would remain Hispaniola even if Haiti and the Dominican Republic decided to join forces and become one nation (which would never happen anyway). The island has one name and the countries on that island have their own names. Similarly Borneo remains Borneo, regardless of how Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei choose to split it up amongst themselves.
Thus, in the plainest terms, in answer to your original question: Great Britain is the name of the largest island in Europe, on which you'll find the majority of England, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom is the political entity that is, officially, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This also includes the islands surrounding the island of Great Britain which also come under British sovereign rule, even though this isn't expressly stated.
i can see your point. though theres no "less" or "lesser" Britain to contrast and we typically just refer to Britain. they arent called the "great british isles" for example. my main point was objecting to the idea that Great Britain isnt a political term when theres a treaty that says otherwise.
A pub argument? It always ends in a fist fight!
Right hook upper cut and then knee his nose in.
i can see your point. though theres no "less" or "lesser" Britain to contrast and we typically just refer to Britain. they arent called the "great british isles" for example. my main point was objecting to the idea that Great Britain isnt a political term when theres a treaty that says otherwise.