A question of identity

[Scotsgait]

The Herald reports that residents of Scotland are likely to be asked to be given a revised choice of options regarding ethnicity and nationality at the next Census in 2011. For the first time, options will include "Scottish" and "British". (The Herald suggests that the options are mutually exclusive but the questions on the SG website suggest otherwise.)

Apparently Scottish Government statisticians want to get to the bottom of who the residents of Scotland think they are. Polls have persistently shown most people living in Scotland feel more Scottish than British.


Two questions are being proposed:

1) What do you consider your national identity to be ? (tick the boxes you identify with most)

Scottish
British
English
Northern Irish
Welsh
Irish
Other (to be written in)


and;

2) Which nation or nations do you identify with most ? Tick all boxes that apply

Scotland
England
Wales
Northern Ireland
Britain
Republic of Ireland
Other (to be written in)

More details can be found on the SG website
A mock-up of the possible question can be found here.


Scottish and Scotland for me !

[Polwarth]

Ditto

[Celyn]

Oh, I think I might just want to be Scottish. And from Scotland. My my, now these census people are beginning to get a clue, aren't they?

Re. the second question, as to which nation one identifies with. Weird!

Scotland
England
Wales
Northern Ireland
Britain
Republic of Ireland

"Britain" might work as a geographical term but it is not a nation. Or at least "British Isles" might work as a geographical term. And "Northern Ireland" is a nation? That's news. Oh, well, government forms have ever been full of fun and amusement.