This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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The Values of Britishness
28/11/2005
Most Scots do not have a problem with Britain and Britishness, First Minister Jack McConnell told a conference in London today.
A problem only arises when British institutions - government, politics, media - fail to distinguish between England and Britain, or patronise Scots through self conceit or ignorance.
Read the full text of the FM's speech
In a speech at the Values of Britishness conference, Mr McConnell said:
"Too many in England, as well as Scotland, have confused the celebration of identity with nationalism.
"But we can celebrate different identities without threatening Britain. We will not be greater than the sum of our parts if we start by denying the parts don't exist or that they have their own validity.
"A shared national purpose for Britain should be a shared national commitment to truly delebrate the diversity that makes us strong.
"There is danger in trying to develop a single notion of Britishness, but significant reward in recognising and encouraging the renewal of the different identities that have made us strong in the past.
"If we are to agree that Britishness is anything, then it can only ever be a definition of diversity."
Read the full text of the FM's speech