Saint's Day for 9 EU regions
Many years ago, St George used be the patron saint of a place called 'England'.
England was one of four countries - with 'Scotland', 'Northern Ireland' and 'Wales' - making up what was hilariously named 'The United Kingdom'.
The nine regions are still governed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom; there hasn't been a Government of England since 1707. All of the other countries of the United Kingdom have devolved governments.
MPs from Scotland and Wales sit in England, and vote on legislation affecting only England. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is from Scotland.
English MPs, however, have no right to legislate on devolved matters in Scotland or Wales.
England contains 84% of the population of the UK, but is the only country of the United Kingdom not to have free cancer treatment. Or free prescriptions. Or free residential care for the elderly. Or free top-up university fees.
It also used to be that the 'English' flag was flown on this day. However, it is now considered xenophobic - even racist - to do so, so this practice is strongly discouraged.
So, there's much to celebrate today.
Happy St George's Day!
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9 comments:
We do have top-up fees in Wales too, btw.
@Anselm
Dammit - that'll teach me to trust Wiki-fucking-pedia..
He was Turkish. We don't want the likes of THEM in the EU, now do we?! Are you ADVOCATING that the state pays for all those things that you mentioned? Just wonderin'.
Jill said...
He was Turkish.
...................
Delightful, but others claim he was a Malteser.
Either way it makes no difference, he's our English patron saint.
Hold on, are you saying that the flag with the red cross on is NOT the emblem of the England Football Team?
[stands corrected]
Jill said...
He was Turkish.
Goes to prove the English have never bothered too much about people's origins, just their good deeds.
I fear my comic timing is somewhat lacking... ho hum!
You forgot to mention that the four men who have helped destroy England are all Scottish....Blair, Brown, Darling, Oh and Fred Goodwin. Send them back to the paradise that is Scotland and lets devolve England.
Greetings from district 4
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